We got up this morning to find that the beautiful weather of yesterday had been replaced by dark clouds and rain. We went to breakfast, which was very similar to yesterday’s, and then donned our cold, wet weather gear. Not only was it raining, it was also very cold and windy. We made our way to the very large 
market square that dominates the city in it’s size and scope. We had wanted to see the Saturday market, and perhaps the fish market, but very little was in evidence due to the weather. There were horse carriages for hire, and many were clopping around the square and throughout the city. The passengers were warmly dressed and covered with blankets provided by the drivers, who acted also as tour guides.
We 
decided to leave the square and head for the Diamond Museum, which promised a history of diamonds and a diamond polishing demonstration. On the way we crossed one of the canals that used to carry goods into and around the city. Now tourists may take guided tours aboard a canal boat, but we decided to wait for another day and better weather. We continued our walk, and noticed that we were on a street devoted to museums on one side, and also that there were a few brave souls who had set up their market goods on the other side. We opted to continue to the Diamond Museum, which is located in another part of the city. This area also has loads of shops, many of them chocolatiers. It all looked very yummy, so we decided that after the museum, we would have lunch and then buy a few goodies at one of these shops.
We were grateful to finally see the museum and enter into its lovely warmth, for by that time Maxine felt like an ice cube. The displays were very 
well done and tell the story of diamond mining and processing that goes back to the 1400’s. Bruges used to be a center for diamond cutting and polishing, but now Antwerp is where most of the world’s diamonds are finished. We very much enjoyed the diamond polishing demonstration given by a young man who did an excellent job of explaining everything in both English and French.
We went briefly into the diamond shop that is on premises, but decided not to buy anything. Instead we went to lunch at a salad 
and sandwich place called Manna and Co. The sandwiches were made to order with loads of choices of fillings and garnishes, and the baguettes were freshly baked on premises. After lunch we bought some chocolates at one of the many shops nearby. There are 50 chocolate shops in Bruges, a true paradise for a chocoholic like Maxine! We walked 
back to the hotel, where Maxine decided to take a break from touring and the weather, while Bob and Sue ventured onward to see more of Bruges.
(Bob now writing) We headed back towards the older part of town to take a look at the museums and older areas. The churches are quite magnificent, with high vaulted roofs and beautiful stained glass. As we were nearing one, I remembered that we had earlier seen a sign for a “free” harp
concert. Had to check it out. I seems a very nice retired man has rented a store slot in a building and puts on harp concerts for the donations and to sell his CDs. He played concert hart, Celtic harp and a Chinese harp in a variety of his own compositions for about 40 minutes. At the end, a few coins in the box was all he asked. I guess enough people pay enough and he sells enough CDs to make it work for him. After that browsed quickly though a small antique street market that was in the process of closing, nothing worth buying, before Bob returned to the while Sue continued to the art museum.
For dinner, the proprietor of the hotel had suggested a sea food restaurant where she had worked before buying the hotel. She made a reservation and we wandered through the rain and found it with only a little difficulty. Bob should have followed Maxine’s directions and it would have been easier. The dinner special of the day was lobster, the Maine kind even though it was from Canada, served with a starter of smoked salmon and white asparagus. Dessert was chocolate mousse. All were very good.
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