A Christmas In Europe - Day 3

Stop 9 - The next morning we headed back to Grote Markt square to get a quick breakfast of waffles. After breakfast we came across the horse-drawn carriages and decided a carriage ride would be a fun way to entertain the kids while seeing the city.

Stop 10 - Kerstduik (Christmas Dip): During the carriage ride the driver told us about an event going on that morning that consisted of members of the local swim club jumping into the freezing cold canal water. We knew we couldn't pass up a chance to see it for ourselves and headed over to the Rozenhoedkaai to witness the event. We couldn't believe how many of the swimmers were just hanging out in the cold in their swimsuits before and after the dive. We agreed that they obviously have a greater tolerance for the cold than us Arizonans.

Stop 11 - Antwerpen Centraal Station: After leaving Bruges we headed to the city of Antwerp. After getting checked into our hotel and unloading our gear, we headed to the Antwerpen Centraal railway station. The architecture of the station was stunning with trains going right through the main building on multiple levels. The kids loved watching the trains as we ate a quick lunch in the main terminal.

Stop 12 - Disney Dreams Ice Festival: After the train station we headed to one of the most anticipated events of our trip, the Disney Dreams Ice Festival. The kids were super excited about the festival as it featured Disney themed ice sculptures. The pieces were amazing but unfortunately, we didn't anticipate the 20 degree temperature that was required to maintain the sculptures. Due to the intense cold, the kids were eager to leave the festival and warm up. It was amazing how the 50 degree weather outside almost felt warm compared to the freezing cold temperatures in the festival.

Stop 13 - Antwerp, Belgium: After the ice festival we headed over to the Antwerp Christmas market. When we saw the dreamy ice rink at the market we knew it was time to put on some skates and hit the ice. Maeli did really well on the ice with the help of a large penguin that helps kids maintain their balance. She loved going around the rink holding onto the penguin with me pushing her. I'm pretty sure she would've skated all night long had the boys not be freezing cold on the sidelines. Milo was happy going around the rink a few times in my arms. Between the kids' smiling faces, the vintage wood fence, and the lights sparkling on the trees scattered through the rink, it truly was an experience to remember.