I’m back over there next week, but this time I’m not constrained by airline timetables as I’ll be driving (even though you European Johnnies keep trying to confuse me by driving on the wrong side of the road… :rolleyes: ).
Anyway, work finishes at 5pm on Friday 1st, but I’ve taken the cunning step of not booking my ferry home from Calais until the Saturday night, therefore allowing myself time to sink a few beers in Brussels on the Friday night, and then have a look around the place on Saturday before getting the ferry home that night. I’m thinking of taking a look at either the Brussels Air Museum or driving out to see the Trench of Death at Dixmuide.
So, this is an open invitation to any of our Belgian contingent to a) come and teach me how to drink Belgian beer on Friday night, and b) come and have a look at old aeroplanes and / or a World War One trench on the Saturday. Anyone up for it?
By: Snapper - 2nd October 2004 at 00:48
I bought Runways to Victory by Peter Celis there. The bloke who served me told me it was a fantastic book, that he loved it, and what a good job Peter had done of it. Not realising that I was out with Peter that day and he’d just bought something before me! Haha. It was cold and snowy so we went for a drink. The crab sandwich I had there was excellent.
By: Geforce - 1st October 2004 at 22:46
Hey, I’m back from South Africa myself, only arrived yesterday (Iberia flight was 9 hours delayed). Actually I attend classes in the Belgian military museum (military history). Next time you”re in Brussels, we should have a drink and a chat.
By: Arabella-Cox - 1st October 2004 at 21:54
Damn, wish I’d noticed that! I’ve been staying just off Grand Place, and the office is near Diegem, so my route took me past NATO every day this week!
E40 – yeah, I’ve heard about the cameras, saw quite a few grey ones out at Diegem / Vilvoorde on Woluwelaan. Crafty sods have hidden one just where the limit drops from 90 to 70… I’ll try to behave myself… 😉
By: frankvw - 1st October 2004 at 21:26
Evere is where NATO is, so very close to EBBR.
As for the E40, one advice: don’t speed ! they have radars (in cars) all over the place, and same thing in flanders, they have camera boxes all around, and those aren’t painted yellow… Have fun !
By: Arabella-Cox - 1st October 2004 at 17:18
A quick e-postcard…
Well folks, my week here in Brussels is almost over, but it’s been fun so far. I got out of work a bit early today (sort of lunchtime ish) and managed to go and get an hour in the Air Museum. It’s actually a part of the Brussels Military Museum, and in all honesty, to do it justice you MUST spend a whole day there. Some photos to follow over on Historic when I get home on Sunday.
Meanwhile, tomorrow’s plan is looking like a quick look at the Beer Museum (!) just off Grand Place / Groote Markt tomorrow morning (10 ish), followed by a dash along the E40 to see the Trench of Death at Dixmuide before getting the ferry back from Calais tomorrow night.
Should be fun. Anyone fancy meeting at either the Beer Museum or the Trench? Drop me a pm and I’ll check responses later. 🙂
By: Comet - 25th September 2004 at 18:04
I’m next in Brussels on Wednesday 3rd November, arriving on flight SN2038 from BHX, and departing the same day on flight SN2047. In the short hours between that, I am hoping to get some of my favourite beers for Christmas (already got two Sloebers in the cupboard, but with Sloeber two is never enough, I adore the stuff!)
I will be there for longer next year, possibly a couple of days in March, but that’s not finalised yet.
By: Snapper - 25th September 2004 at 09:56
By: Snapper - 25th September 2004 at 09:51
“looking like I’m there for a couple of days every other week from now to the end of the year”
Rub it in…..
Evere is the cemetery somewhere in Brussels. I had a driver, so that was okay….
Would love some beers bringing back as it happens, but not sure which – and postage would be a problem!
By: Colonial Bird - 25th September 2004 at 08:34
Belgium? Send me a postcard? I collect postcards from all over the world.
Let me know. Have fun!
🙂
By: Arabella-Cox - 25th September 2004 at 00:28
Hi guys, thanks for the responses. Still torn between the Air Museum and Dixmuide, maybe I can do both, but probably won’t do justice to either in such a short timeframe.
Comet – let me know when you’re next due in Brussels, it’s looking like I’m there for a couple of days every other week from now to the end of the year, so a beer tour after work might be on…
Frank – Sorry you can’t make it, some other time perhaps.
Snapper – Where’s Evere? In Brussels itself, or outside? And do you want any beers bringing back? 😉
By: Snapper - 24th September 2004 at 07:56
Hi Steve. I’m jealous again. I can’t recall the bars I was dragged into but I doubt any will disappoint! I’d reccomend the Belgian Air Force plot at Evere cemetery one day though. It’s quite top-notch, and contains the resting places of many familiarly-named pilots.
By: frankvw - 23rd September 2004 at 11:45
Too bad, I’ll be a bit far away, because the air Museum is nice, I could have gone 🙂
If it is raining as it is now, prefer that, you have a big parking spot, and a nice museum. And if you’re into old cars, you have Autoworld there too (that one isn’t free), and their collection is good.
By: Comet - 23rd September 2004 at 09:17
What a pity this is not a couple of weeks ago, I could have showed you all my darling favourite beers (and introduced you to the incomparable Sloeber!) I won’t be back until November 🙁 (And I would rather sample the delights of SNBA than the grossness of a ferry, flying is so much more fun 😀 )
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September 22, 2004 at 2:21 pm