Weekend Travel Inspiration: Belgium, Chocolates, Father's Day and a Birthday

  

Do you find it hard to think of gifts 

to give to your significant other?

Bruges, Belgium April 2011

After 25+ years of buying Birthday and Father's Day gifts 

for Mr. Goo Shoes, 

I always have a tough time coming up with what to get him. 

Bruges, Belgium April 2011

It didn't help matters that Mr. Goo Shoes' birthday and Father's Day fell on the same day this year, so I had a double gift dilemma.   

Bruges, Belgium April 2011

There's very little that Mr. Goo Shoes wants. 

He's not a clothing kind of guy.

It's just not his thing. 

He likes electronics, tools and car stuff. 

Exactly 180 degrees different from what I like.

Bruges, Belgium April 2011

Every year, I pray that the technology gods 

will come up with a new gadget to get me off the hook. 

Thank goodness for iPhones, iPads, cameras, head phones, 

radar detectors and the like. 

And then, a couple of years ago, I came up with a brainstorm…

The. Most. Brilliant. Idea. Ever.

Chocolates. 

Not just any chocolates…Belgian chocolates. 

Dumon Chocolatier  - Bruges, Belgium  April 2011

Not just any Belgian chocolates…

chocolates from an amazing store 
we discovered on our trip to Bruges, Belgium

 a couple of years ago, called Dumon.  

(Please forgive me for blurring their faces…they don't want to become famous yet.)

To appreciate just how ingenious this idea was, 

you must understand that Mr. Goo Shoes 
loved these chocolates so much, 

he once actually said, 
(and I swear this is the truth...)

"We should fly to Belgium next weekend 

just to go to Dumon."

I ran upstairs and packed. 

This was totally out of character for him.

Turns out, he was in a chocolate stupor at the time, 
so he didn't really mean it. 

I unpacked.

Dumon Chocolatier  - Bruges, Belgium  April 2011

There was only one problem with getting him 
Dumon chocolates for Father's Day, 

and that's was how to actually get them, 

because the only place they are sold 
is their store in Bruges. 

Markt Square, Bruges, Belgium   April 2011

I contacted the store. 

They don't ship directly, but they do ship 

via a site based in London called chocobong.com.  

I placed my order. 

Not only did I have to pay by the pound, 

I had to pay with pounds (the British kind), 
which made it a pretty pricey box of confections.

But Mr. Goo Shoes is worth it.

The Belfry --  Bruges, Belgium   April 2014

I went all out and got him a "Giant" box of 64 chocolates.  

I also ordered a small box of 17 chocolates 
for Junior Goo Shoes and me, 

because you can't give someone a gift, 
and then eat half of it, can you? 

Mr. Goo Shoes was thrilled! 

This is the third year I have ordered them,

so it has become an annual Father's Day tradition. 

Believe it or not, he was still surprised this year.

When the Fed Ex package came the other day,

he wanted to know what I ordered

that needed a signature for delivery.

I told him a purse.

I think he believed me.

He's so easy to surprise.

I once planned an entire surprise party right under his nose. 

Bruges, Belgium April 2011

Mr. GS is very disciplined, 

and will only eat a few chocolates a day...

Junior GS and I? 

We ate almost our entire box right away.  

  It will take a lot of willpower for me to not eat 
any of Mr. Goo Shoes' chocolates,
but then again, 

 I'm not above sneaking one or two or five when he's not looking.

Bruges, Belgium April 2011

I hope the Dads in your life had a great Father's Day!

Linking with:
Weekend Travel Inspiration
Mosaic Monday 
A Return To Loveliness 
Our World Tuesday