Belgium

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Fri Aug 30^th 2013

Arrived in Dunkirk after an uneventful drive from Bristol. It was a Friday afternoon and we were (needlessly!!) a little concerned about the traffic, but apart from a bit of heavy traffic on the M25 the traffic was fine. Had a couple of stops and the whole journey to Dover took about 5 1/2hrs. We were hoping we may have got on the earlier 4.00pm ferry but ended up on the 6.00pm one, which we had booked. After a 2hr ferry crossing, and as it was nearly dark, we camped in the car park at the Ferry Port along with all the other campervans!



Sat Aug 31^st

Early start, the passenger seat mechanism is broke so I am now sat in one of the rear seats, but we are hoping to find a garage along the way. Took the motorway towards Brussels and branched off at Junct 17 towards Aalst, found a garage, but unfortunately they were unable to fix the seat as they were fully booked up! Onto Brussels and took Junct 7 off the north ring road towards GrimBergen and followed the yellow camping signs to campsite. That was shut for lunch so after a quick lunch in the van, took the No 232 bus (outside campsite) for the 45min journey to central Brussels.

Belgium, Brussels – I had always thought of as quite Boring!! Non!! Walked from the bus station along the pedestrianised shopping centre to the Opera House and then turned left into the ‘Grand Place’. Wow! Amazing square full of old medieval buildings, dazzling with gold paint, decorated with hanging baskets and bars with umbrellas. Certainly a lot to admire! A short walk took us to an amazing glass covered arcade, full of Belgium Chocolate shops which led into another square where we were lucky enough to catch the start of a Parade – something to do with the statue Manneken Pis, a diminutive statue of a little boy pissing that’s supposed to embody the ‘irreverent spirit’ of the city! Onto the obligatory Cathedral – impressive, but has been rebuilt due to bombing by the French in 1695, and then just wandered about soaking up the atmosphere, ( couldn’t resist a Belgium waffle – absolutely delicious!) before getting the bus back to the campsite where we had a relaxing evening and an early night (Camping Grimbergen)

Sun 1^st Sept

Up at 7.00am and left Grimbergen (Belgium) by 8.30am!! Which was good because it meant we had reached Maastrict (Holland) by 10.00 ish in time for a coffee stop and a wander round. Pleasant enough place on the river with a few old churches and buildings and plenty of pedestrianised cobbled streets. Got back to the van to discover that our central locking was no longer working – and even worse – we couldn’t open the electric front windows!! Fortunately it was quite hazy sun today so not a real problem – but glad we have air conditioning to fall back on, if it gets too hot – or we don’t find a garage! Wondering what else can go wrong with the Van!! Anyway, carried on the motorway to Aachen (Germany) for lunch and a quick tour round the old centre including the oldest cathedral in northern Europe. Extremely nice interior with plenty of arches and mosaics!

Decided as it was a Sunday, and the roads were comparatively quiet we would drive into Cologne (Koln) to look at the largest Cathedral in Europe and also the largest church facade in the world! It looked huge when we could see it in the distance but proved quite a tricky drive for Chris in Cologne, especially as there was a bike race on with lots of diversions and road closures! Got there in the end and had a wander for an hour or so around the absolutely massive cathedral ( too big to even get a photo!) before driving to the campsite on the 265 road. There was a lovely restaurant by the lake that served pizzas or schnitzels with chips so no cooking tonight! Three Countries in a day I deserve a day off of cooking! (Camping Librarer See)

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Comments

[Laura]

Hey Mum n Chris - Hope you manage to find a garage soon to sort out all the camper van issues. Brussels sounds good!

[Jenny Webb]

I remember Brussels!
I au paired in Brussels in 1972! The waffles weren't like mum made but great slathered with chocolate.

[traveleam]

Belgium
Good post. We've posted a similar Belgium profile here: http://traveleam.ca/belgium-destination-profile/