Belgium is, without doubt, a beautiful country, but can it rain! As I caught the train from Brussels to the northern city of Bruges, my mind went back to history lessons and the knowledge that Napoleon faced his Waterloo in the mud of Belgium. Those First World War photographs of mud and more mud certainly rang true as the train pulled into the station.

I was quite unprepared for the amazing beauty of this ancient city. From the cobblestone streets to the misty canals, I felt like I had fallen through a time warp into another ... (more)