It's been a while since we last made a real post, we're spending Christmas in Amsterdam right now, making our way through Benelux to Berlin on the 29th.
We managed to properly book a train ticket from Zurich HB to Brussels, but it was still a very long trip (around 8 hours). We managed to do some speed-mapping and arrive at our check in point 5 minutes before they closed (since the hostel we were staying at was new, we had to go to another hostel in the chain to do the check in etc). As it turned out, the 'hostel' was actually a 3 star hotel recently bought over by the hostel chain, so while we didn't enjoy a free breakfast or a common room, we did get a TV and full ensuite facilities (even a bath). Not only this, but the hostel was located right in the Grand Place - the heart of the City. The night we arrived there was a Christmas show on in the Square.
Unfortunately due to availability issues we had to relocate to another (cheaper) hostel over the other side of town. While we did get free breakfast here, the bar was always empty, the showers were terrible and they had a baffling rule where everyone has to vacate their room - baggage and all - between the hours of 10:00am to 2:00pm for cleaning, every day.
While in Brussels, we spent a lot of time sampling the Belgian delecacies - Chocolate (I think Biddo has hit the point where supply outweighs demand), Waffles, Fries, and Beer. We also took a day trip to Bruges - where we took some great photos and met some more Australians (from Perth again) while we toured the town.
We've since taken an Inter-City train to Amsterdam, where we've been able to sleep in after a tiring few days in Belgium. Time's running short, and we're about to head off on a city tour, so I'll cut this off here, and wish everybody a Merry Christmas from us both.
3 comments:
Dear Michal amd Daniel,
Belux sounds interesting if rather strange. Why on earth you would have to take all your belongs with you so they can clean rooms seems odd. Perhaps there has been a bit of pilfering by cleaning staff, but it seems unfair to make the vistors suffer.
Belgian chocolate is renowened but might set high standard so Michael might ease up on chocolate which is not up to that standard in future. We can always hope.
The film'In Bruges' has a wonderful tower. did you see it? The film shows a really beautiful , fairytale like city where awful things happen. And my Amsterdam book tells of a country with really sensible laws where awful things also happen.
Ralph and I did our usual ignoring of Christmas and spent some of the day driving back from Aireys.
Keep up the good work and love to you both. Why do I have to fill in the word verification? I'll ask Tom.
Judy and Ralph
Dear Michael,
The last comment just goes to show I should read what I have written carefully. Belongings and renowned are misspelt. Did at the beginning of a sentence should have a capital letter and there should be a space before 'In Bruges'
Dear Michael and Daniel,
Hope you had a good, but different Christmas.
We had a lovely day.
We - Tom, Peter and myself visited Jane on our to Blackrock to have Christmas with a number of people, some we didn't know, but they all knew Jane.
She is comfortable, but not really aware of what is going on. Debbie has been spending nights staying at this apartment the hospice has - it is very comfortable.
We are thinking of you and hoping you are having a wonderful time.
Love Kerry (mum)
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