The Hook Trip

Monday 27th April 

Visit the Windmills, Tulips then Down to Belgium.

The ferry – was great. It was pretty large and took many passengers, cars and a large number of trucks. And it had many of the things a cruise ship has. A movie theatre showing current movies, bars, a cafeteria – but they expected to be paid if you have food there! Even had a small casino. Rooms ranged from insides to windows and suites. There was even a 'Concierge Lounge'. I was on board by about 8.30pm and settled into my inside room. It was great. Brilliant way to travel. So much better then flying.

There was an inside smoking room. They all go inside their stinky glass box and puff away and none of the smell travels around the ship. Cruise ships need there.

Pets even travel on the ferry. Once the people have boarded they take pets down to the kennels and put them there for the night. One of the TV stations was 'Kennel Cam' and you could check on your pet all night. In the morning they announced that people could go down and get them. I watched all the happy dogs greet their owners.

 Sunrise over The Netherlands.

We arrived at 8am - although they wake everyone up at 6.30am!

And then there I was - in The Netherlands. Or Holland. Or with the Dutch people. Not sure what you call it!

My ticket also included train travel for the day in The Netherlands. So a train into Rotterdam followed by a trip on the train towards Amsterdam.

Monday 27th April was 'King's Day' and the country went all out. Huge celebrations in Amsterdam all day, and in the evening. Hundreds, then thousands of people were training up there for the fun. They travelled in big mobs, singing and yelling. Mostly dressed in orange – shirts, capes, crowns, scarves ..... most with a drink in hand. Very funny.

Heaps of houses were flying the national lag as well as the orange sports flag.

But my trip towards Amsterdam was not to join in with the fun. It was to see TULIPS. I researched where the tulips were grown and went past there. I didn't want to see a 'Tulip Festival' - Canberra has one of them. I wanted to see blocks of colour – and I did.  It was amazing. So many colours and hundreds of acres of it. Lots of people out weeding and culling or something and heaps of pushbikes and camper vans with tourists out having a look. I couldn’t find a taxi to take me out there so I had to be happy with a drive by (train by). Train window photos aren’t great but oh well.  I saw the tulips.

And I was happy.

Kinderdjik

Back to Rotterdam and onto a train in the other direction to see Kinderdjik (kinder – dyke). A UNESCO site and the home to the canal lined with all the historic windmills. And it too was amazing.

I then jumped on to yet another few trains and headed off to Brussels. I certainly got my moneys worth with my two days of train travel.

And then I was in Belgium! Checked into my dodgy hotel and slept.

28th April - Brussels, Belgium

So much to see! I stayed near The Grand Place – The Square. Everything is old and stunning. 

I spent the day wandering around looking. I did try to catch the Hop On Hop Off bus – but after about 4ks of looking and walking I gave up and just kept walking.

I started the task of eating my way through the checklist of Belgium MUST EATS.

Frits (Chips) with mayo – check. Belgium waffle with  everything – check. Muscles in Brussels – check

Macaroons – check. Chocolates........ There were many many chocolate shops – the choice is too great and I wasn't  able to decide what to buy. I would worry later. There are also shops that just sell Macaroons. Or fancy biscuits.

I do believe you could spend weeks here just eating.

 In the ancient cobblestones they have put in little water ways – grey ‘drains’ about 400mm wide and a fraction below the cobble surface. AND I LOVE THEM. A smooth walking surface.

I went to visit one of Brussels' best know residents - Manekken Pis or the Pissing Boy. Made in 1618 and proudly peeing ever since. On special occasions he pees wine or beer. Huge crowds visit him. And he is tiny – about life size. He just stands up there on his pedestal peeing down on the world.

And of course he is a massive seller of all things touristy. And he is used in many shop decorations and advertisements.

I also visited ‘Delirium’, a beer bar serving a world record 3162 different beers. I started with one - Floris cactus.

 Floris cactus ……  “ a green beer with cactus pulp and lime. Rich in its composition, its exotic taste is strengthened by the lime, give this beer digestive and refreshing qualities.  Stays stable in its fruity taste even in the aftertaste.  A perfect success.”

I agree.  I really liked it!

3161 to go!

The Grand Place at night.

29^thApril – Bruges, Belgium

A one hour train trip to Bruges – after the 50 minute walk from the train station (that was should have been a 20 minute walk….but I’m an idiot!) Bruges is a medieval town that felt like a movie set. Many movies have been filmed here. Very cool.

Back to Brussels and a visit to another famous statue – Jeanneke Pis and another beer at Delerium. I am working my way through that list of beers. My beer on this visit was Floris Apple. Tasted like beer but also of apples.

Now.....what is this Brussels’s obsession with kids peeing? The Manneke Pis....and now Jeanneke Pis.  "A counterpoint to Manneke Pis'" Jeanneke Pis needs to be caged as she is regularly vandalised.

My beer on this visit was Floris Apple.  Tasted like beer but also of apples.

"The aromas and flavours marry perfectly in this rich and warming beer. Rich in it’s composition favouring a pleasant and apple conversation. It rests stable in it’s fruitiness all the way through it’s journey to the end of the tongue and to the bottom of the throat. It is a perfect success and example of the ingenuity of new beer flavours."

 

While doing some research I just found out that there is a third statue in the series. So it is official. The Brussels people are obsessed with peeing. This one was made in 1998. Called Zinneke Pis. Zinneke means mixed breed and is indicative of the area it was placed in. A mix of artists, business people and residents.

Not sure why in 1618 they decided they needed a statue of a boy peeing.....but the artist would be happy to know there are now three.

Belgium - I have NEVER seen so many miniature ponies and horses. Or such lush green grass. And wood piles......boy it must get cold here as people had hundreds of metres of perfectly stacked wood piles.

I also saw some of these gross super muscle bound cows they breed. They look like an anatomy book. All bulging bits everyhere. They were young bulls so could still walk and be outside - but they were bigger than any bulls we have.

Next morning was the trip back to England to meet Caroline and Tim and travel to SIngapore.

BACK IN ENGLAND Kings Cross Station is fairly impressive.  And Huge.

I had a "light lunch" that included a pint before heading off to Heathrow to meet Caroline and Tim for the trip to Singapore.

But the pint beat me.

The train from London to Heathrow took longer then the train from Brussels to London! And was not nearly as comfortable. But I did see many suburbs with strange names - Hatton Cross, Boston Manner, Barons Court.

A few drinks in the lounge.......then Singapore bound.

Then Away.