Highmoon Media Productions

[Highmoon]

Show Notes for Episode 05 of The Gamer Traveler:



Brugge, Belgium:

• Brugge - Official Tourist Bureau site (English/Dutch/French/German). Info on the town, tourism, directions, guesthouse listings, events, etc.
  
• Rick Steves: Bruges - Info on Brugge from my favorite travel writer. Also check out these articles on the food, charm and beer of Brugge!
  
• Wikipedia: Brugge - The Wikipedia entry for Brugge.
  
• Wikitravel: Brugge - The Wikitravel entry for Brugge.
  
• Map of Medieval Brugge - Perfect to use in a fantasy/historical game. Large file but worth it.
  
• Virtual Brugge - VR 360º visuals of Brugge.
  
• The Gamer Traveler Flickr Gallery: Brugge - A gallery at Flickr of photos I took during our trip. You can complement these images with Foto Brugge (Press-quality official photos from the Brugge Tourism Board, only for personal use), Wikimedia Commons: Brugge, and Terra Galleria: Brugge.
  
• The Mechanical Tiger, Shiva - See the video of Kezanti's mechanical tiger, Shiva, talking its first steps in Brugge. You can see pics of Shiva in the Flickr set above, including a shot of the new mechanical man sculpture.
  

News Stories:

• Open Skies Agreement Signed - Hopefully we'll see lower air fares between the US and Europe as soon as next Spring.
  
  

Promos:

• Goblin: Gaming Broadcast Network
  
• Gen Con 2007 - an invitation from Peter Adkinson
  
  

Games Mentioned:
Remember you can also get these books at your local gaming store.

• Ars Magica by Atlas Games (Get the free Ars Magica 4th Ed. rules here)
  
• Medieval Player’s Handbook by Green Ronin Publishing
  
• Legends of the Dark Ages by RPGObjects
  
  

Travel Info:

• Kwalito Bed & Breakfast - Our home during our stay in Brugge. Highly recommended.
  
• Rick Steves’ Amsterdam, Bruges and Brussels 2007 - My favorite travel guide, with info on Brussels.
  
• Rick Steves’ Europe DVD: France and Benelux - Featuring an episode on Brussels.
  

Music:

• The Gamer Traveler theme music is “Ragasutra“ from the album All Strings Considered by Jamie Janover and Michael Masley, and is provided courtesy of Magnatune.
  

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Daniel M. Perez
Highmoon Media Productions
The Gamer Traveler Podcast
The Digital Front Podcast

[noctambulist]

I just recently discovered your podcast from the Dragons Landing guys, and I really enjoy it. I was especially thrilled to see that your last two episodes were on Brussels and Brugge. I traveled there last September and really enjoyed it. In fact, I proposed to my girlfriend in Brugge (it was planned) so Belgium will always hold a special place for me. She said yes, by the way

I had always thought of myself as pretty sophisticated about beer, but I was totally blown away when I went to Belgium. It's a must-see destination for any beer lover.

I can't wait until I get a chance to go back, and hearing these podcasts brought back many fond memories.

Keep up the great work.

[Highmoon]

Welcome to the forums, Noctambulist, and thanks a million for the very nice words.

I'm happy you found the show and that you liked it. Belgium was extremely cool indeed; for us it was very much a surprise, because we really didn't know what to expect, and the country delivered with flying colors.

Congratulations on your engagement, as well! I wish I had proposed in Brugge, too. As it was, my wife and I had a lovely nighttime bike stroll around town; Brugge is just beautiful at night.

The beers... what can I say. Yum!

Welcome to the show. I hope you like everything we have in store.
_________________
Daniel M. Perez
Highmoon Media Productions
The Gamer Traveler Podcast
The Digital Front Podcast

[runester]

Hello, Daniel;

I've only recently started listening to your podcast, The Gamer Traveler. I especially enjoyed the episode in which you and your wife recount your honeymoon trip to Ireland. It was long, but very thorough. I wish your wife would join you more often, as the chemistry of you two talking together and describing a trip you took was quite wonderful! There is just something about a husband and wife team, exploring a new country together that makes for great listening.

Anyway, last Saturday I spent all day moving out of my condo, and listening to podcasts. I took that opportunity to catch up and listen to all of your episodes in one run. I wanted to write and thank you for producing this excellent show and sharing your love of travel with all of us. I was especially enheartened to hear your description of Belgium, as that is one of the few places I've been able to visit - including Brugge. You really captured the medieval feel of the town and the friendly people who live there.

There was a few things I'd like to add, about Belgium, if you don't mind. First, there (sadly) seems to be a rift between the French speakers and the Dutch speakers; with a north / south, "they're lazy" / "they only care about money" type of dichotomy. The host I was with, back in 1998, was convinced that eventually Belgium would split into two countries due to this. I hope it doesn't. Second, you mentioned the hundreds of beers ... but not the peculiarity of only drinking beer in a glass (never from the bottle or a stein) and every major beer having their own, very specific glasses in which to drink their beer! Finally, and this may be more about Europe then Belgium, I don't know, but they were perfectly happy to share a table in a pub with strangers and strike up a conversation if they were in the mood. We went to a little pub in Antwerp, and there were no more empty tables available. My host was completely surprised by my reticence at sitting at a table with other people - whom we didn't know. Once we sat down, they went about their conversation quite casually, and even joined ours when they overheard something they found interesting. This was a surprisingly friendly way to go about!

There is one question that I am dying to find out, though. How is it, that you are able to travel so often? Do you have a special job that requires / allows it? I know you are a licensed travel agent, is that part of your secret?

Finally, if you ever put together a gamer-centric travel package, I would most certainly be interested. My fiance' and I love to travel, and having a theme like that would make it even more fun. What a great idea!

Well, that's it. Thank's, again, for the wonderful podcast. if you ever travel up to the Boston area, then please look me up and I'll do my best to show you around this very historical part of America. Until then, I look forward to your next episode; take care!
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[Phil]

Man the map is awesome and I hope to use it in a setting sometime. Real places often help build a better eviroment for your players. I can dig this.