246 Travelling Particularities: [Sxupr. 
interests is such, that the arrangement and correspondence of the various 
boats in which the day’s journey has been performed, has not allowed 
him a single quarter of an hour for refreshment, &c. 
Fripay.—As the particular nature of our plan does not admit of 
more than one day being allowed to that which might well enough 
occupy five or six—(as ia the case of Bruges, for example)—our travel- 
ler will, of course, make the most of the little time he has. He does not 
travel (this time at least) to “take his ease at his inn,’ but to cast fur 
tive glances at a vast variety of objects, and not permit his attention, if 
it be ever so disposed, to dwell and repose upon any. Whatever, there~ 
fore, his habits may be at home, here he must contrive to be up and 
_ abroad not long after the sun ; especially as he can, without any preju~ 
dice to his views, gain at night what he loses in tie morning. 
Before breakfast, to day, he cannot do better than wander about at 
random, from the central point where his hotel is situated, and let things 
in general produce their own impressions upon him. But after break- 
fast, he had better take some one with him, to conduct him, by the 
shortest road, \to the most noticeable objects and points of observation: 
He will find plenty of “ guides” at his inn door, and the worst of them 
will prove quite as useful and instructive as the best he can purchase at 
the booksellers’ shops. 
In a Flemish town the churches are always the chief points of interest, 
and not one should be passed by without a visit. Among the other 
public edifices of this fe and most characteristic old town, there are 
two of peculiar interest—the spire of the Town Hall, in the Grande 
Place, and the belfry tower, in the Great Market. 
In the matter of meals, our traveller will of course have the good 
sense to follow the customs of the country he is in—which, in Flanders, 
will conveniently divide his day into three parts, and thus allow three 
agreeable intervals of rest from his pleasant labours. He will return to 
his inn to an early breakfast ; dine at the Table d’Hote at between one 
and two; and sup in the same manner at between eight and nine: for 
every thing of this kind goes on like clockwork among the sober- 
thoughted Flemings. 
Before retiring to rest to-night, he will make his arrangements for 
starting by the boat to Ghent, at nine to-morrow—an hour which allows 
him time to take another wander through some of the two hundred and 
fifty fine old streets of which Bruges consists. His bill, on quitting 
his hotel after breakfast to-morrow, will be twelve shillings, includmg 
the proper gratuities to servants, and also wine, and such like wn-ne- 
cessaries—which, however, he is not expected to take, unless it suits 
his views and habits to do so. Twelve shillings for two nights’ lodg- 
ing, two breakfasts, and three dinners !—for the suppers may be looked 
upon as late dinners, and are served as profusely as if they were so— 
soup only excepted. It is in fact a “ vulgar prejudice” to suppose that 
travelling is not singularly cheap on the continent, and a still more 
vulgar practice to make it otherwise (as most of our countrymen do), 
by not falling in with the hours, habits, and tastes of those whom. they 
come among. An hotel keeper in Flanders had rather you would dine 
for a florin (about one shilling and eight-pence) at his Table d’Hote, 
and partake of ten different dishes, than pay him treble that sum for 
preparing you two or three at an unseasonable hour. i 
Sarurpay.—Having taken his ramble, and then- his breakfast, our 
traveller will, at-nine o’clock, step: on-board the Ghent boat, and com~ 
