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Hello from freezing Belgium.
It is COLD here. Very sad.
I had a long day trip to Amsterdam, lovely green fields on the way with canals everywhere. Didn't see any tulip fields,apparently they are way to the east.
We saw very few windmills which nowadays are nearly all houses. We had a tour of the canals, seeing houses,major buildings etc.
We then walked through the red light area, with the ladies sitting openly at windows scantily dressed. We were shown the 'coffee shops" to where having 5 g of "soft drugs" is legal for locals..
It was very busy with tourists ++ . As with Paris and Brussels it was very dirty with rubbish everywhere.
I went to the flower market which only sold tulip buds and a massive sale in the bulbs.
There were lots of cheese shops too. I had afternoon tea on the samples.
Can't say I loved the place, prefer Brussels.
Yesterday I moved hotels to the very nice Novotel right in the centre. They let me check in at 10.30 am so I dumped my bags and went walking.
I went to a marvellous Basilica built for the Royal family. A Mass was on which was nice as a very good friend's Mother had just died so I could say an extra prayer for the family.
I then had lunch in the park and walked back to town,saw some different sites and went back to the hotel. So did very little.
The Battlefield War tour group met last night for dinner then we took off today..
There are 12 on the trip, all Aussies. Seem ok, I wandered this afternoon with the only other lone person, an ex history teacher, now a theatre producer.
He left his coat behind in Dubai airport so needed a new one as it' s so cold.. Then we checked out the old buildings.
Today we drove to where the 1815 Battle of Waterloo was. I knew nothing about it until Courtney sent info today, and then we had a good look about of the site, the left flank, right flank etc. saw 2 movies on it.
Very strategic battle that luckily Wellington won causing Napoleon to be exiled for 5 yrs until he died.
Yet the French still think he' s a goodie.
Tomorrow we head into WW1 territory.
The guide is an ex English Grenidier Guard and very knowledgeable on the wars.
The hotel now is nice but older,no kettle!
We are attending the 6 pm Revill at Mennin Gate tomorrow night in Ypres. Good stuff!
Not sure why but Belgium is comic crazy, with comic book shops, statues of comic characters. Lots of antique type shops too. And toy shops with wooden toys..
The souvenirs are interesting, including chocolates,lace, and toys.
Ok , will finish now.
Carol
- comments
debz I am sorry it cold for you, at least you have a coat, the the history teacher buy one ok? Andy watches the history channel every evening as he is interested in religious and war history so I get to see alot too. But we have never thought of going there. I went to the Dachau concentration camp in 1985 and that was sad and I decided then I would go to sad places on holiday again. I was depressed for weeks and still think about it.......anyway, on with the tour. Keep safe and I look forward to reading the rest xx