I sat in IZY Coffee yesterday morning.  I asked Arjen, the barista, if Bart and Larisa were back yet from Munich.  They own IZY.

Arjen said they got back a few days ago and that Bart was working at the store in Brugge today.

As I sat there working on yesterday’s blog, I startled.  “I could surprise him!”

And so I did.  A thirty-minute train ride later from Ghent, there I was in the Brugge station.  Google Maps told me how to get to centrum and IZY.

I was fourth in line.  When Bart’s eyes met mine, he startled too.  And smiled.

He would finish his shift at 5:00 pm, four hours down the road.  I told him I wanted to take him out to dinner.  And off I went, into the world of ancient buildings and rampaging tourists.

I decided to just wander – no destination, no purpose … turn left, turn right, and why not turn right again?

I sat at the end of a bench in front of the Belfort – the bell tower with its carillon melodies.  I saw a couple, maybe in their 60s, approaching.  I sidled over, right against the handrail of the bench.  She said “Thank you”. And we began talking. I smiled to think that the simplest action can start a conversation.

Jane and Michael were from Cambridge in the U.K. I can’t remember what we talked about but we sure laughed a lot.

Now I remember something. They were on a cruise – Amsterdam yesterday and Paris tomorrow. They’d picked Brugge since it was famous. They’d heard of Ghent but thought Brugge was a better choice. I tried to correct their understanding of reality … and we laughed some more.

Nice people. I gave them my contact info, and my wish that they stay with me on a future trip. Bye.

There followed a lingering beer in Bar des Amis, full of people easily watched. Then more meandering, more benches, more searching for tiny side streets.

At some point a text from the USA:

In my excitement to surprise Bart, I forgot that I had scheduled a Zoom meeting with a friend in the United States for 4:00. Randy was going to coach me about subtle details of being a Zoom host for big meetings.

Oh no! I blew it. My friend had been counting on me. It wasn’t an error of intent, it was an error of omission. But it still impacted him. I texted him right away, falling over myself in apology.

Now I had a decision to make. Would I let my sadness and embarrassment affect my dinner with Bart? How long would I hold onto this? It turned out to be minutes. And tomorrow (now today) I would set things right with Randy.

(Sigh)

Bart suggested Otomat for pizza. I suggested a photo. He’s so easy to talk to. We traded stories. I gave him a piece of my chicory and ham pizza.

“Let me tell you of Larisa’s favourite travel memory.” I was all ears. It was a long story, only some of which my brain has retained.

Here’s a snapshot:

Bart and Larisa, last minute vacation to Venezuela, Christmas time – everything closed, no trains or buses, no access to money, friendly local folks offered them a ride across the country, very hungry, somehow Bart finds a big bag of potato chips, presents them to Larisa, she’s the happiest, decides that Bart is her forever man. Voilà.

It was a fine afternoon and evening

Bart is très cool

Maybe I am too