Seasons and ferries roll on and off

Travel Time
SPRING or summer, or for that matter, autumn and winter, tourists head their cars for Dover to go on European tours.
If you prefer to avoid the queues at this venue then try Ramsgate. Sally Line sails from here to Dunkirk. We chose Ramsgate because of the long delays due to industrial disputes at Dover earlier this year.
After a very speedy loading of cars, we were on board and to our surprise found that Sally Line is French. Somehow the word "Sally" had not suggested anything but it being English. The time of the crossing is just right, you have time to enjoy an excellent meal in the carvery where you can help yourself to as much as you desire; your first taste of French cooking, excellent wine, and all at reasonable prices. Then you feel ready to tackle a long drive on the "wrong" side of the road, at least after a little sleep and there is time to have that and still complete your duty free shopping. It is this sort of crossing which will be the answer to the channel tunnel, not speed. Sally Line have built a lavish new terminal at Dunkirk which ought now to be fully operational. It was not two months or so ago but it promised well.
Just before completing our plans for a European holiday we came across a useful hotel guide; "Minotels". Their head office in Britain is: South Lodge, Pontargothi, Carmarthen, Dyfed, Wales SA32 7NE. We planned to head for Bruges, which is only a short drive from Dunkirk. The guide had one hotel in Bruges with a photograph of an attractive simple-looking hotel which encouraged us to take a chance.
We telephoned and using a credit card secured the last vacancy at the Hotel 't Putje; we were somewhat surprised that it should be so heavily booked in the middle of June. Our room was modest, with a small bathroom and TV, the stairs to it were a little awkward, but all was forgotten at the dinner table.
The restaurant was certainly not confined to patrons of the hotel; it is obviously a favourite venue for the citizens of Bruges, for the street is lined with other restaurants which were relatively empty whereas the 't Putje" was packed.
Monsieur and Madame Muylle supervise everything themselves. We recently received a tourist brochure of Bruges and found it was categorised as a four star hotel. Incidentally, the address is: 't Zand 31, 8000 Brugge. Tel. (050) 332847.
Bruges itself is frequently described as the Venice of the North, a description which is also accredited to Amsterdam. Bruges is a typical Flemish city and whether you choose to view it by boat from the canals or stroll about the narrow streets, around every corner you discover yet another fascinating old building.
We were a little disappointed that the 15th Century Church of Our Lady was not exactly crowded for Mass on Sunday but you have to take into account the fact that there are many churches of cathedral-like proportions.
On the other hand, we were delighted to admire the magnificent sculpture by Michelangelo of the Madonna and Child which graces the Church of Our Lady.
Jonathan Kemp
Sally Line can be contacted at 81 Piccadilly, London W1 (01-409 2240)