Belgium

Karen's travel blog is back!

I did wonder whether I had it in me to get scribbling my thoughts, reviews and embarrassing European moments again. Whilst travelling yesterday I said, "not much is happening is it? Not much to write about". But of course all the usual fails are starting to occur and so therefore there's interesting stuff to write about.

So here I am. Whether I update each day remains to be seen, but I'll put some notes on here when I get chance!

So we're day two into our two week interrailing adventure. I am currently sat on a coach heading to Amsterdam AGAIN. This happened last February.  I have Laurence to the right of me and some random dad IMMEDIATELY to my left. As we boarded I thought I'd bagsy the back seats so me, Laurie and Emma could all sit together. But Emma's USB charger didn't work above her seat so she fucked off to the row infront and that left the back middle seat vacant. Me and pops have brushed arms at least 15 times so far and we've not even set off yet. Still, like I just text Emma. At least he doesn't smell.

This trip has been in the pipeline for a while. Emma's seen me bugger off round Europe a couple of times and asked if we'd do a trip together - basically me as her tour guide and all round babysitter! I agreed. We always have the best time - we'd have a mint time on the continent (as long as we managed not to get ourselves deported). 

Emma recently turned 40 so we've kinda written the trip as her birthday celebration, however I will actually turn 42 whilst we're out here - more on that later! I am the dedicated planner, organised and trip leader. She's paid up and turned up where I told her to. This arrangement suits us both and I am sure we're going to have a marvellous time! 

Yesterday she set off from Bradford and Laurie and I came from Bracklesham Bay, meeting just outside Kings Cross. Like I said, yesterday pretty much ran smoothly. We headed to Wetherspoons, we popped to boots for deep heat and hair gel and checked in. It was a smooth process once again and much less faff than an airport. Neither of us really like flying that much so both buzzed at the simplicity of the official process and the journey too.

That trip under the channel really does fly by! I had a little snooze after waking up so early (and maybe slightly tipsy from

The onboard wine!) It wasn't long until we were pulling into Midi station. Now I've been a couple of times now and you'd think this would mean I'd have the process of leaving the station sussed. But it's such a large station and the signs aren't the easiest to work out. We'd worked out from Apple Maps that we needed to catch a tram, followed the directions and were still none of the wiser. Eventually we worked out we had to go underground. We spotted a lift and jumped in it, it reeked of urine. Noses held, we got to the correct floor and headed for the ticket machine. I'd forgotten that when it said tram, these were almost like underground trains on part of this network so it was all quite similar to before. We got to the platform, jumped on and headed off. After a couple of stops I realised we were going the wrong direction! It's so easy to mess stuff up when you're trying to work out several pieces of info at once. Not to worry, we got off, headed over the other side and waited for a tram back the other way. This is when Emma's dad Mark text her asking how her journey was going and said, " don't all those stations smell of piss?"

Yes Mark. Yes they do.

Unlike last time we were in Brussels, we didn't get lost coming out of the station to the hotel. I knew exactly where I was when I got out the station, I said "McDonalds is over there...". 

The Ibis was quite a good first night hotel. Clean, a double and a single, brekkie included and right slap bang in the middle of the city! We dumped our bags and lied down a little. Knowing we'd never get back up if we stayed horizontal much longer, we put our shoes back on and headed for some tourism time. 

We headed for the Grand Palace Square - one of my fav landmarks in the city! A few selfies later. I suggested we go see a little surprise and led the way to the Mannequin Pis down a little side street. That's a little statue of a boy having a wee for those not up to date on their Belgium landmarks. 

Great! We've ticked off two of the most exciting landmarks in the city - now what? We've got a whole day of sightseeing tomorrow! Oh well... we headed for a cocktail and toasted a drink to Michelle Tubby. I think I might tell you a little more about her later. Absolutely shattered, we stopped off at Maccy Dees for a cheeky burger before heading to bed!

Once I got back to the room, I wanted to make a plan for the next day. We had a whole day and I didn't want to waste it - or be bored either! I looked up stuff to do in Brussels but nothing grabbed me! Then I got Apple Maps up, looked at nearby places to visit and Ghent jumped out at me. I checked out train times, whether it was covered in our pass and also what there was to see there. I'd heard it was quaint and very instagrammable. What an adjective for the 21st century that is! 

"Emma, do you fancy going to Ghent tomorrow?"

"Yeah mate! Why not?"

So that was that sorted

We both had a good night's kip and woke up ready to explore another city! I always think a day in a city is actually a long time and enough to see lots of key stuff, especially with a travel card and a good metro transit system!

Breakfast wasn't a disappointment! Usual European fare including ham, cheese, yoghurt and the likes but also nice bacon, and pancakes, croissants, good coffee. I had about 3 plates full. You know the drill - fill your pants now and less to pay for later. 

We left our bags at the hotel so we could be bag less today! This place had a locker system down in the basement. €3 a day per locker kinda deal. Well we weren't gonna pay for three lockers were we? Not when we could squeeze it all into two. It was a tight fit and we had to remove parts, wedge other parts in other places and push right against the door. Was defo worth it - saved 3 quid mate!

Last February when Laurie and I came to Brussels, we headed up to the EU Parliament building and passed a station called "KUNST-WET" I was unable to contain myself at this. Not only did I take photos of the running in board from our train, I insisted we get off on the way back and take a selfie infront of the board. Of course I sent it to Emma back then who found it hilarious. I promised her back then I would take her one day. Today was that day!

We headed straight there, got off, took selfies and then decided to go see the EU building whilst that way. Then we went to the Midi main station for the Intercity Train to Ghent. It was all so smooth. We added the journey on our interrail planner and found out the platform number. We got to the platform and the train came straight in. It was one of those double decker trains with amazing windows on the top deck! The train was spacious and we enjoyed the views on the way up, frequently commenting how much the scenery and housing reminded us of England! The journey is only half hour so it didn't take long to get there. Ghent's main station is a bit further out from the old town so we took a tram down. 

It was just as we expected. Quaint and great views. We took some photos of the old buildings and walked to the castle to get some shots of that too. We'd spotted a place to get waffles so headed back there. Laurie had a BLT waffle. Except he doesn't like lettuce. Or tomatoes. But it did come with an egg! He had a bacon and egg waffle! I had cherries and cream on mine. This of course attracted every wasp in the neighbourhood and I was trying to take them all on whilst Laurie was flapping and screaming. Eventually he finished his inside. 

Mate, we've just paid an extra five euros for these to eat them by the pretty canal and now we're eating them inside anyway. KIDS.

After purchasing some personalised Brussels socks and a bottle opener we had a mooch around some other squares and then got the tram back to the station. What a fab little trip! I am so glad we came up here - the city has a totally different vibe to Brussels and kept us out of mischief for the day! Whilst emma was in the toilet I quickly checked my emails and noticed European sleeper had messaged me. Oh no.

So last time Laurie and I got the sleeper together there was a fault and we had to get the bus up to Amersfoort. I was so annoyed as you board the train much later at night and can't enjoy the evening before turning in for the night. We did get 20% off our next trip because of it. Now this 20% off then paid for the journey my sister and I had when we took the sleeper last August. They unfortunately had to downgrade our carriage and gave us a partial refund and 20% off our next trip which has paid for this year's sleeper. Last week I got an email saying we had been downgraded a cabin and you've guessed it. Another 20% refund. I am hoping they might let me combine both 20s and give me 40% off the next trip!!!

It wasn't the greatest experience on the coach last time. We had to wait around an hour for the coach outside the station. It was obviously cold too being February. Then, we had a long wait for the train at Amersfoort. I suggested this time, we just hopped on a train using our pass and spend a couple of hours in Amsterdam and avoid any coach, queues or waiting. So that was the plan. Go have another beer in the Grand Palace, grab the bags, get some scran and take the train to Amsterdam! Another country ticked off on the trip too.

The beer in the grand palace square was nice. We got chatting to a couple next to us. She had a cat tattoo in the exact place I have a cat tattoo. Except hers was drinking wine. I said, mines like yours but mines not drunk. We all laughed. Then I said - mines so high on drugs he thinks he's sat on the moon and we all erupted some more. Love those random moments you get with people you've never met before and will never meet again. Just humans being humans with other humans. It happens way more than you ever think. Don't pay attention to those in the media who want us to think we all hate each other. In reality we really don't.

We headed to the carrefour I've been to many times before. It's right by the tube station and has a great selection of beers and fresh food for decent prices. Tonight Laurie and I grabbed a salad each to have on the train up to the netherlands. I am fed up of grease and junk shit already. I put on almost a stone during my all inclusive trip to Turkey! It's not happening again. Mind you I am getting a good work out each day, walking about with my heavy bag on my back and carrying Laurie's too considering his back hurts. Motherhood eh! Thank god I ve been upping my weights in the Gym recently!

After we collected our bags from the hotel basement we headed for the tube/tram and got to the main station. We only had 7 mins until the Amsterdam train set off.

Except it didn't. It said 5 min delay, then 7, then 10, then 12 then 19. Then the bastard was cancelled. Everyone was pissed off except us as we had plan B still available - head off to the coach!! So we had our salads down in the concourse area and went to the coach stands. Unlike last time, the coaches were already waiting for us!!! And so I am sat on it now heading to Amsterdam for our night train. Dad next door has brushed a few more times but I am not gonna let that bother me too much. He's ok you know. He's drinking a Leffe blond. Might upload my pics from day 2 to bore everyone back home with!

Tara!