A quick update to let you all know that Ray and I had a lovely overnight B&B stay, just outside of Stratford-on-Avon. We explored Shakespeare's hometown before heading off to the theatre to see Anthony & Cleopatra. The next morning (Sunday) we went to the Communion service at Holy Trinity church - the church Shakespeare was a lay rector at before he died and where he and his family are buried. It was an enervating experience.

We arrived safely in Brugge today. We decided to do the drive from Birmingham to Dover the night before we got the ferry to Calais. Just as well, as the motorway was often jam packed and what we would have estimated (in Australia) to take us a couple of hours took us 4. Many thanks again to John and Di for the loan of their very comfortable Peugot.

Ferry trip went smoothly and it was wonderful taking in the white cliffs as we sailed out of Dover. Ray negotiated the right hand side driving masterfully and we arrived at our accommodation - a youth hostel, in the centre of Brugge, mid afternoon. The youth hostel takes me back to my backpacking days as a student and I think it's a great experience for the girls. Our room is on the 3rd floor = up 3 flights of narrow winding steps and no lift, we have bunk beds and share the bathroom with everyone else on that floor = but the hostel has lots of character and free internet!! We managed to fit in a visit to the Church of Our Lady to see Michelangelo's Madonna and child (the only Michelanglo sculpture outside of Italy) and a boat trip down the canals before it got too late. We found a cute little pasta house down a side street. Chilling out in the hostel lounge room now. Ray is already sitting quietly tasting the brew made famous by the Trappist Monks over the last 400 years and writing in his journal. Looking forward to going to Ypes tomorrow night for the Last Post. All the best = Marg