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Published: October 9th 2022
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The Barsey
Not an old hotel, but provides a great experience. Describes itself as a boutique hotel, and I suppose it would be hard to argue. We are back in the land of Lux. Everything is spread from the lounge to the kitchen; stuff needs sorting out and washing, and we are on a train to Paris in two days. The big adventure is over.
Last night in the Hotel Barsey By Warwick we had a 4 star classic experience. It is an older hotel located in the prestigious shopping district along the Avenue Louise. It‘s a blend of modern comfort with traditional style, and the staff were extremely accommodating. The room was very old school, but it was the best sleep I’ve managed in weeks.
Ed, Tim, Natalia ad Anna Maria stopped by on the way to breakfast , and the cafe we went to had a 4 part menu, including dessert, which was really a Sunday brunch menu. It was a similar style of breakfast you would buy at a cafe at home, but double the price. Without going into details, the food was plentiful and delicious, and the salted caramel coated pancakes finished off as dessert.
A six seater Uber was used, not for the first time, to transport us to a busy street specialising in modern, Art Deco, and classic
second hand furniture, art pieces, and oddments, and the prices were through the roof. Most of the pieces were unique and beautifully crafted out of exquisite Timbers, but some could be knocked together in the back shed and talked up as being one offs.
At the bottom of the street was an extensive flea market selling, tools, crockery, religious icons, knives, lamps, clothes, in fact anything you desire. I set my sights on a fountain pen - the newest pursuit for this particular troubled soul ( if you have any going, you know where to find me ) - and the guy placed an unreasonable price of 25euros on it, and in the words of Darryl Kerrigan, I told him he was dreamin’. Three more reductions had him down to 10 euros , so I walked away with a bargain.
Just a word of warning to anyone attending such markets; don’t wait until you are home to do your due diligence. I paid just under normal retail price for a pen that was not new, although it looked it, and is made in China. Nothing wrong with Chinese pens. I have a couple that are excellent, but the
name, The Duke, had me thinking it may have come from Queen Elizabeth’s deceased estate . A lesson learned. Or is that learnt, I can never tell.
This was a market that can traumatise you it is so chock-a-block full of goodies. Ed told me the early birds get the bargains, but I would still need the best part of a day to browse around. After the market, it was time to Uber it back to the hotel, grab our bags , and wait for Tim and Natalia to return with the car from Ed’s and Anna Maria’s lovely apartment just around the corner.
We couldn’t have experienced Brussels without the generosity and guidance of Ed and Anna Maria, and we are very lucky to have their time. It’s also nice to hear a different voice than that of our guide for the past 3 weeks, Tim. Anna Maria is spanish, and personally, that’s an accent I could listen to all day. Unfortunately, in common with so many people, she struggled to understand much of what I said. Sorry, Anna Maria, but frankly, there are people who would suggest that you didn’t miss much.
Natalia just suggested
La Table Rustique
Our Sunday Brunch venue. that I mention her excellent driving. She has often asked , out of her and Tim, who is the best driver. Today I can say Natalia was the best; Tim didn’t drive. They both deliver us safely to our destinations, so who am I to judge. I haven’t even attempted to drive.
Tomorrow Tim and I are going to go for a walk in the forest on the edge of Esch, and I would like to get a rough idea of the weight we will be taking home. Hopefully we are under weight.
Catch up tomorrow
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