Today we broke camp with the intention of heading to Brussels. The great thing about RV'ing is we can change course on a dime. Instead of going to Brussels we hankered down in the medieval town of Ghent population 250,000 Ghent, is a great place for a day trip with plazas and nice cafes, but not really a destination city. The great thing about Ghent is it's proximity to Brussels, only 30 minutes by train and 35 minutes by car. We met the nicest people, George and Margaret from England. They were expert caravanners ( what we in the states call RV'ing) and gave great advice. We were invited over for a nice bottle of wine and very pleasant conversation. One of the highlights of travel is meeting fellow travelers and sharing the excitement and experiences of the open road. Margaret was a wine drinker and George a bier drinker. We shared a nice Barossa valley Shiraz. George and Margaret gave us an informative book on caravan parks. The information has proved invaluable and has made the journey much more enjoyable,(more on the book later.)
Famous statue of young boy relieving himself
As we drove into the city of Brussels the first thing to grab me was the striking architecture. Grand palaces, large plazas and the wide boulevards welcome you. Brussels is one of those cities that you instantly fall in love with. It's hard to say if it's the friendly people, the cafes, the blossoms, or the international flair and ethnic diversity that draws you in, but once you start to be drawn in, there is no turning back. Two of the main institutions of the European Union - the European Commission and the Council of the European Union - have their headquarters in Brussels, thus contributing to the international flair. We found a great cafe on the square perfect for sitting back and watching the world go by. People watching in Brussels is an art form. Pick a spot with a mixture of sun and shade, order your favorite adult beverage, and watch the action. It's a great forum to meet with friends, discuss politics, current events and the latest blue note jazz re-releases.
Brussels is French speaking and the Parisian-like atmosphere is very evident. However, this is Belgium so bier is still king. As a loyal subject of the king, I felt it was my duty to try as many biers as possible. Considering Belgium has over 700 different biers, it's not possible to try them all in such a short period of time but that didn't deter me from giving it the old college try. Almost 30 different biers did their part to expand my waist line. In this montage of pictures are some of the standout biers that helped lead to this gluttonous accomplishment.
The world travelers aboard an open air bus.
Traveler's hint: Whenever I visit a new town in Europe I buy tickets on the open air bus. For 12 to 18 euros you get a 24hr pass that lets you hop on and off the bus at various stops. The driver gives commentary at the main points of interest. I find this is a great way to get the lay of the city, thus making your experience broader. It is a tad bit touristy but its much more interactive and enjoyable than a folding map.
I can never pass up the opportunity to search out the local wine shop and check out what's hot in their particular area. While seeking out signs of the vine, I happened upon a great wine shop. Christian Demulin the proprietor, at Nicolas Wine Brussels and I had an informative discussion on the state of the wine world. I gained lots of insight from a true wine afficianado. We talked at length about the unusual European weather and how it has affected the grapes this year. Word is that the very rainy spring and summer will make this a tough year in Europe.
Here's the first installment of my, "What are you drinking?" segment. While sitting in a cafe an idea came to me. The cafe environment seems to foster ideas that seem great at the time but are later forgotten. This idea however, stayed in my consciousness and had soon become the most fun parts of the blogging experience. The idea was simple. Approach patrons and ask them the question: "What are you drinking"? This question has lead to many informative conversations on what and why people drink particular beverages. I always come out of these experiences with a greater insight into how people have come to choose their favorite adult beverages. It's also a great way to meet fellow travelers and the locals alike. So be on the look out you never know when someone might come up to you and say "What are you drinking?" Anne Marie was drinking a rosé from Provence and John was enjoying a Maes bier. I want to know what everyone reading this blog is drinking as well. I will eventually have a forum on this site where we can exchange information and tasting notes about your favorite wines.
The Atominium is a structure that resembles an iron molecule enlarged over a 165 billion times. This structure was incredible, I felt like an ant beneath it. It has an elevator as well that takes you up to the highest atom.
Brussels was a city that I found very hard to leave. The kind of city that makes you think...I could live here, work here, play here, start life a new here... BUT tomorrow I will be in Amsterdam and will probably feel the same way about the "city of canals." The live, work, play idea will have to be postponed.
The journey from Ghent Belgium started with the usual plans of “lets get an early start.” These good intentions soon faded into barely making it out of the campgrounds by check out time. On the advice of a fellow traveler, we decided to put Amsterdam on hold for a few days and visit the town of Antwerp. This way we could enjoy one more city and arrive in Amsterdam right before the weekend. We broke camp and headed north. A drive through the countries of Belgium and Holland is a feast for the eyes. The country side is filled with windmills, cows, green pastures, cows, canals, cows, uhmmm you get the picture. There are cows everywhere. I'm only guessing, but I'm sure the bovine out number the people by far. This of course makes sense in a land where cheese is so central to everyday life.
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