This may well be the only images of all 29 of us as I was usually taking the group images each time. There ay be others but I haven;t seen one lately. We had just finished our breakfast and went outside where The Manifique was moored in Bruges/Brugge. The old core of The Rediker Travel Group along with new friends that we had just recently met. There seems to be some function of six degrees of separation in action here. all of these people knew someone and probably none of us knew everyone before the start of this trip.
Had our last breakfast and walked to the train station. Missed the earlier train by one minute. We are now sitting on (hopefully) the correct train to Brussels Centraal Station. Peter just walked back and verified that we are on the right train. Train left on time. 1 hour ten minutes after this we will be in Brussels. We actually has a conductor punch our tickets this trip. First time that has happened. I guess it's a good thing we didm't try to not buy one We have been told you have to pay a hefty fine if you have the wrong ticket or none. We purchased class 2 tickets - about half the price of 1st class. We were in the right car so no worries. Hoping for free internet on the train like there had been in Holland. 10 Euros and hour on this train! I think I will wait for Brussels.
Cool uniforms for the conductors.
Made it to our hotel - Very nice boutique hipster hotel a couple blocks from main square. Room not ready so we headed out for the Grand Platz. BIG Gay Pride Parade right down the street from out hotel . LOUD music. Sounds like one of our other trips?
Had our last breakfast and walked to the train station. Missed the earlier train by one minute. We are now sitting on (hopefully) the correct train to Brussels Centraal Station. Peter just walked back and verified that we are on the right train. Train left on time. 1 hour ten minutes after this we will be in Brussels. We actually has a conductor punch our tickets this trip. First time that has happened. I guess it's a good thing we didm't try to not buy one We have been told you have to pay a hefty fine if you have the wrong ticket or none. We purchased class 2 tickets - about half the price of 1st class. We were in the right car so no worries. Hoping for free internet on the train like there had been in Holland. 10 Euros and hour on this train! I think I will wait for Brussels.
On the platform waiting for train to Brussels.
Cool uniforms for the conductors.
Brussels train station.
First of MANY chocolate shops. Dipping strawberries.
First view of the Grand Platz
Incredibly detailed buildings!
John, Richie, Bobi, Mardy, Peter and Connie with bridal party in background.
Small room - very comfy
Bath right there by the window,
Lunch here. Mussels in Brussels for most. Pork chop for me. Yum!
Mannequin Pis
We're meeting Richie and Bobi and the Shaplands for dinner here in a few minutes. Everyone knows where this statue is. This seems to be an incredibly big deal in Brussels (pun intended).
Found the others PLUS John (brave soul that he is) and had dinner around the corner from our hotel (and The Marriott where Rich will be staying). A Vietnamese/Thai Restaurant called Reve d'Asie.
John had some soup and then bolted back for Peter and Mardy's hotel to grab his bag and head for the airport. He was cutting it pretty close but he did come a week early! I had some pho bo (beef) and the others had other Vietnamese and Thai dinners. I tasted some of Connie's chicken and eggplant and it was really good.
We brought Peter and Mardy to see our rooms and we walked over to see theirs. Twice as big as ours and pretty swank. AND in the quieter part of town.
Yikes!
Who knew that we would be in the MIDDLE of Brussels Gay Pride Weekend? Back in our room and we can hear them "pretty, pretty good" as Larry David would say. Earplugs? I think so - hopefully they will stop or pass out soon.
We walked back to the train station to get our bearings for the morning (track 3) and buy some last minute chocolates and cookies for the folks back home. Saw the sunset over the Grand Platz - beautiful pink sky and clouds (yes the sun was out today).
Had a waffle with powdered sugar from this place right next to the Mannequin Pis statue.
John had some soup and then bolted back for Peter and Mardy's hotel to grab his bag and head for the airport. He was cutting it pretty close but he did come a week early! I had some pho bo (beef) and the others had other Vietnamese and Thai dinners. I tasted some of Connie's chicken and eggplant and it was really good.
We brought Peter and Mardy to see our rooms and we walked over to see theirs. Twice as big as ours and pretty swank. AND in the quieter part of town.
The museum steps right around the corner from our hotel was the center of the music!
Yikes!
We walked back to the train station to get our bearings for the morning (track 3) and buy some last minute chocolates and cookies for the folks back home. Saw the sunset over the Grand Platz - beautiful pink sky and clouds (yes the sun was out today).
Grand Platz at sunset.
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