Saturday Aug 11th,
Brussels to Venlo, Netherland, ah, breakfast served European style but with
Belgium waffles, crisp tender and the best I have ever had. Again, we see beans, scrambled eggs with bowls of mushrooms to top off the eggs, soft boiled – my favorite, bacon, sausages and the regular sliced meats and cheese, bowls of fruit and many different styles of rolls. We even found some Danish pastries one with chocolate which someone favored, I forgot to mention little screw top jars of liver paste, 28 gms.
As we check out I see a charge for breakfast 23E or about 26$ each. I quietly questioned it and said my confirmation for the room said free breakfast. He asked to see it, looked at it and asked if he could have it, no but he made a copy. I did not want to lose control of the original on there letterhead. They took off the charge and a run to the station for us. Over those cobblestone sidewalks again. We jump on the train and arrive right on the hour to meet the group, but where at the airport???
After much walking, as this is an immense airport with thousands of people and many planes per hour coming in, we decide to go to arrivals. As soon as we make the corner, there is Peter our MN guide. Paul and Mary H, our mothers were sisters, they arrived as their plane took off late. It turns out many people had taken other flights and we were going to be picked up by the bus an hour late. Worked well as we then had everyone, plus Bebe our local tour guide.
The bus ride was an hour away and most were quiet and dozing off. The intent of our guide is to keep the recently arriving people awake. We are to have lunch and tour a garden at the Castle gardens at Arcen described as 32 acres of pure vitamins for your senses and it truly was. We were treated to an European lunch with a bowl of highly flavored soup, cold cuts – one head cheese and liver sausage, a deep fried specialty creamy mashed potato interior with little chunks of beef, 'kroketten/croquettes'.
Mixed reviews by the group. Of course everyone was ordering beer. After this lunch the self guided garden tour began. The beauty of the yellow, red and orange roses, set in manicured landscapes worked well.
There were garden fountains and water running over a rock cliff. We have had little time to visit with the group but they are travelers and have many neat stories about travels. A foursome from the East coast are mother and friend and her son and daughter-in-law. He is a stitch and likes to explore, finding things we may not like some restaurants he found last night in Brussels as they arrived early also and we will explore tomorrow night.
As we leave the hustle and bustle of the main highways we enter small back country roads. The houses are ten to fifteen feet from the road, immaculate in their landscape and care of yard and home.
Venlo is a small town and we are on the outskirts of it, the hotel (Parkhotel Horst at Lake Kasteelse) with all rooms within eyesight of the lake. We decide to stay there for dinner. We sat with a couple ladies from the cities and Wisconsin and had a wine and beer before we ordered. The waitress was a striking young blond, to find out later, not the brightest as we were double charged and the ladies with us never charged. For dinner Shirleen had a bowl of soup with bread and I shrimp scampi risotto, the scampi was said to be on risotto but ended up on ziti noodles, which at that time I thought was the way they did it.
That is until we leave, Mary and Paul are eating, I think he had the salmon and Mary the same dish I had but looked different, she had a red sauced risotto, neither knew if theirs was the correct one? Time again to hit the hay, or in this case a nice soft bed and our lake overview.
Sunday Aug 12th, Venlo to Floriade, breakfast again the European flavored breakfast of scrambled eggs, I think for Americans as we did not see them in more local accommodations, soft and hard boiled eggs, sausages, sliced meats and cheese. Peter, bus driver not to be confused with tour leader, brought the bus and off for the Floriade arriving about 10 am.
The official gate is immense as you can see.
It is a 15 minute walk to the gate but beautiful flowers are on both sides of the path.
We were given maps and we decided to go counter clock wise, sorry for those with digital watches. The first building was a gift house. Our intention was to mail a birthday card to Mary A from here. They were most congenial, seeing we did not buy the card there and for 95 cent it's off to
Rochester.
Into the main exhibit. This was my second most favorite place. I especially liked the flower arrangements and the different types of containers they were placed into. The accent to the flowers were walls draped with spider type plants which cascaded down the structure.
 |
| The hanging plant is a Marble Queen Pothos, like ours from Milwaukee |
Plants that were growing in smaller wall containers that one you would not normally see except maybe in a large arboretum? Judge for yourself. Shirleen and I picked our favorites, here they are:
 |
| By a Dentist? |
 |
| Free Form |
Upstairs were country exhibits, features for today was
Thailand and the beauty of there art was appreciated. I noticed a visitor sitting with his backpack on a step in there exhibit. He was using flower petals to make a floral arrangement on a stick, he was not part of their staff but a fellow countryman visiting.
We had a bite to eat, Shirleen a piece of pizza, pepperoni, of course, I a ham and cheese Panini. Off for more walking and adventure. We were walking between one of the four segments of the exhibit and found the willowman's exhibit. It was a walkway of arching thin branches woven together and leading you off into the thick woods. This was my most interesting exhibit.
 |
| Walking through a Willow Cave |
Miscellaneous pictures along the way.
 |
| Another Favorite |
 |
| Bobbin Lace |
We next walked through the area where different nationalities sold there country's wares. One we spotted was the
India one where they made bobbin lace, this was lace like my Grandmothers country,
Bohemia, in western
Czech Republic now. My Aunt Leddy was a lace maker and enjoyed the hand dexterity into her late years. She even made me a pillow for my kloppelsock. We ambled thru many of these bazaar type exhibit.
We had missed the 4 o'clock bus back to the hotel but went toward the gate to sit and wait. We ran into Peter and Dennis (a grand man from
St. Paul with may travels behind him, next month taking family to
Ireland). We sat and Shirleen had an ice cream cone I a beer.
This evening we are going to follow Bill and family a short distance into town. He said a short jaunt, turns out a good half hour walk after walking all day. Part of the way is a walk that serves both man and bike, one bike guy was obstinate and spoken some harsh sounding words towards us as we were apparently on his path.
We get to the heart of the small city and go back to the Italian place they ate at last night.
 |
| Valentino's Restaurant |
 |
| Inside Seating |
 |
Outside seating
A mixture of food types were ordered along with beer. |
Little English is spoken here but enough and an English menu to get by. We also look at the plates arriving and the good reports of food ate last night.
This salad looked and tasted good, the ham and pineapple pizza,
the ravioli,
Shirleen's lasagna and my whole deep fried fish for an extra 3
Є as it is filleted for serving at the table.
 |
| My Fish |
 |
| Fish being dissambled |
 |
| Fish Plated for the Meal |
I especially like the spaghetti noodles and a small amount of red sauce that went with it. The evening was wrapped up with some after dinner drinks some limoncello and I a savory grappa, bite to the core. I gave the waitress an American 5$ bill, she took it all over the restaurant showing people, even the cook whom I talked to about the deliciousness of the fish. He said it was a local fish of an unknown name.
Well the walk back was faster than the walk there. We all turned in for tomorrow is a trip to Napoleon's Waterloo.
Monday Aug 13th, Venlo to Brussels, breakfast was as yesterday, same items but nourishing. We are scheduled for a bus ride and tour of Brussels and lunch there. We see many sights of Brussels but hard to comprehend as it is so big.
 |
| Brussels Mussels sign, their signature meal |
 |
| Shirleen and Jerry at Brussels World Fair Molecule, they say Atom |
It is the capital of
Europe and the European Unions headquarters is housed there. We park at the hotel we will be staying at, not more than 6 blocks from the one we stayed at by ourselves a couple days ago. It it central to the area we will be visiting. We walked from it to the
Grand Place where the begonia carpet will be built over night. To get there we pass through the Galleria,
 |
| Galleria |
 |
| Mary at Her Chocolate Namesake, both are Sweet |
 |
| Restaurant Alley |
down the block to the Place where the restaurant for lunch is being prepared for us.
 |
| Door Hanging |
Of course beer is ordered and we are set on small tables, Shirleen and I sat and visited with a man from Staples, Don H. We learn that his father started Gold-N-Plump and he ran it for many years before turning it over to his son for the last 20 years. He was recovering from a bout of whooping cough and needed canes to get around.
 |
| Beer Tap at Restaurant |
The meal was a salad with dressing and a large slice of pork schnitzel with pommes frites, more than enough.
 |
| Salad good |
 |
| Begonia Carpet stage |
Working on layout at the Brussels Begonia Carpet:
We headed for the bus and a trip to Napoleons Waterloo. It is a short bus ride to it but as one would expect it is out in the countryside. We view two films regarding the battle and the main characters in it, Napoleon and
Wellington (the victor). Years ago we toured
Elba Island where Napoleon was banished to prior to this battle, it has more meaning to us. After the films we had the opportunity to walk the Lion Mound.
Many steps but I remembered what the young lady in
Copenhagen told me, slow steps and rest when needed. I walked slow and stopped four times but made it. The mound is made of soil from the battlefield as now there are fields of grain that stretch as far as one can see in either direction. In other words the battlefield was not preserved. There were 162 steps which lead to a magnificent view, glad I again made the trek. Well if one goes up one must come down.
 |
| Waterloo Old Town building |
 |
| Shirleen made It |
 |
| Jerry is trying |
 |
| Jerry and Bill made it |
As we descended we see the young men who are cutting the grass with weed whips and blowing it downhill for collection, they are hot, sweating and red. Maybe sounds like me?? Back into town thru small curved roads.
We again follow Bill to a place they ate at a couple nights ago, they also arrived early before the main group of tour-ers. It is down the small sidewalk café's around some corners, Mary is remembering the turns for us on our way back. Bill said it was in an alley, name forgotten and picture poor but I figured it out – A La Bécasse café (In The Snipe), one of the oldest pubs left in downtown Brussels
http://www.alabecasse.com/. It is down a small single person passageway and there are six or seven rows of tables, one with enough for the 12 of us. They have flights of beer samplers, some have never seen them before. We ordered some, it had from the blond to the cherry flavored beers, non to my pallet, I switched to another brand of good tasting beer. Heidi, a celebrity from channel 11 in the TC, on the second Tuesday of the month at 4 with Diana Pierce, took the lead. She ordered a cheese and sliced meats tray with a large bologna type sliced sausage. Some did not like the sultz and blood sausage but did like the mortadella and cheese. Paul and I figured we should have an order of, as they call it also, cannibal, minced raw beef, on a bread with small pickled onions.
 |
| Cannibal Toast |
 |
| Their Sandpiper Beer Mug |
 |
| A Flight of their beers |
 |
| Premium Beer off Menu |
Some liked it other passed, it is different than the cannibal at Schmidt's in Nicollet, a much lighter color and finely minced. There was a round of Happy Birthday for me, even though it is a couple days past. Two nights later Bill and family visited there again and the waiters started to sing Happy Birthday when the group came into the restaurant.. Everyone got a kick out of it even the other tables chimed in. During this time a portly fellow ambles over to our crowd, said, from
Minnesota? As most were from that area they had to figure out who lived where, it turned out one couple lived on the same lake area. After the lunch we drifted back to the hotel for the evening, some stayed out longer.
Tuesday Aug 14th, in
Brussels, after breakfast it is off
Bruges and walking tour of
Old Town. We travel by bus and head northwest. The town was an old seaport but back in the 1500's it began to silt in and lost its seaport structure.
Our town guide, for some reason, left before we got there. Our guide secured another, a historical minded man to take us around. As we were to go downtown I spied a map and took a picture of it in case we got separated and lost. The charm of this city is again the way they have left it in the old town spirit. The tour takes us to many of the historic sights of the town, as you can see, some people take one of the many carriages to do a tour.
The main square has a clock and compass on a building. It is headed due north. The town thought that it should have been the prime meridian not
London. Well they lost out but the tower remains. We visited a church and other quaint places.
 |
| Cat in the Window for Daughter and Grand-daughters |
We then walk along the streets where the guide spouts off history.
Hard to follow because of the many facts he uses. But the viewing is great. We come to an open area with loads of people, Paul noticed a woman and a couple guys eyeing us. By that time they have his European men's purse zipped open. We then find that one of the ladies had her pocket book with cash and passport missing. It turns out in order to get a new passport she has to go to the consulate, which will be closed tomorrow because of the Catholic holy day of Ascension, that puts it another day away. Luckily she has a copy of the passport which makes it easier to obtain a duplicate. Here is my restaurant.
Gardening and Homes along the way.
 |
| This scene is photo'ed often |
 |
| Art along the way |
You guessed it, time to eat again at a small restaurant and of course the first person to get a beer again is Dennis followed by many others, as we learned quickly. I kept the people at our table occupied with the head on my weisen beer, it had a large head on it when served and I topped it off to build it to this size, many pictures taken of it.
The food was tasty, a tasty clear vegetable soup to start, followed by a wild mushroom sauce on puff pastry popovers with a side of corn, shredded carrots, lettuce, tomato and a cucumber, followed by those frites again, they are almost always served with mayo as this time.
To cap off the lunch was a flavorful vanilla ice cream, yummy.
Paul and Mary wondered if we wanted to eat at a restaurant their daughter recommended, sounded adventurous to us. So we are off and down through the restaurant lane. These are closely packed together with a walking lane about three across in some spaces. The restaurant is Les Chapeliers, The Hatters, guildhall 17. As the outside couple tables are full we are directed inside. Boy is it warm in here. A table opens outside and we head for it. Order some beer and wine and look at the passing crowd. Who stops at our table, but the portly guy from
Minnesota, they had also wanted to eat there. Well now comes a group of people, I spy the paparazzi with cameras in hand and around there necks, all over, and two distinguished gentlemen and a shop keeper taking his picture with both of them. One with a bow tie the other carrying his sport coat.
Paul asked a girl close to them who they are, it is the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Brussels. The mayor stopped by and Paul shook his hand and told him we were from the
US. Neat.
 |
| Bow Tie, Prime Minister, White Haired Mayor |
Time to order, Mary a tomato dish, Shirleen her standby salmon with vegetables, Paul a piece of beef, I a meatball and red sauce meal all came with a bowl of frites for each side of the table. Time to pay, Paul hands me some Euros and I pay by card, thanks for the advance as we had no Euros left.
We walk past the
Grand Place and the begonia carpet is blazing in all its glory, can't wait till tomorrow when we can see it from the balcony.
As we walk back, they spot the champagne shop their daughter also told them about, Champagnotheque of Bruxelles in Galerie du Roi (
Champagne in the Galleria for us). Let's stop in it is a unique shop, bottles of champagne hanging from string along the wall. They are closing but would indeed pour us a glass, 13
Є per glass.
 |
| Bottles Hanging from ceiling by rope |
 |
| Our Champagne |
It was a delicious flavor and went down smoothly. Back to the room for a good nights sleep.
Wednesday Aug 15th, in
Brussels, off early after breakfast for a tour of the
Annevoie Gardens.
 |
| Roundabout decked with flowers |
The sun has low shadows on the lay of the land. It is a winding expansive garden with well marked paths.
The old house has a couple of swans swimming quietly around its pond. The pictures show the expanse of the hillside and layout.
 |
| White Swan center beneath step |
We then head to the gardens at Chateau Hastiere. The road follows along the river and has picturesque cliffs where individuals are climbing.
 |
| Climbing on highest peak |
It is an old residence with orange trees up to 300 years old and paths throughout the grounds.
 |
| Orange Tree 300 years old |
 |
| Prince hideaway |
 |
| Neat Brickwork |
The home itself, stone in the center courtyard, inscribed with 1770, has interesting pictures and its own chapel. As I noticed the red light signifying that the consecrated host is resident and mass is said once a month as of now, I comment to the lady. It is Assumption, a Catholic Holy Day, and the fellow jumps up and takes us to the right side of the alter and opens the door. Within is the grave of the countess whom died 25 years ago.
The count died 30 days ago and had willed his body to science.
 |
| Bed Chamber |
Off to lunch at the Castle les Sorbiers, alongside a river.
 |
| Along the Way - through bus window |
The porch we are at is warm and a slight breeze cools us once in a while or the beer and wine makes us tolerate it. The meal was a chicken breast pound somewhat and rolled around bread stuffing drizzled with a light garlic sauce, cauliflower, carrot slices and a green bean with bowls of frites.
 |
| Castle |
 |
| Placemat |
Now off to the
Battle of the Bulge, through
Bastogne then to the Ardennes forest at
Battle site.
It is late afternoon and a long jaunt to the site. It turns out the site is closed for repair, this we found out as we amble down a small backcountry road with a large bus. Finally asking a bike rider what's up? He said turn around and park in the lot where it says no entry. Well we could enter and parked near a commemorative bronze eagle symbolizing the loss of life by the 101
st airborne and other units attached to it. The monument is large and has five pointed star elements each side had the names of all the states on each element. The five star points pointed to parts of the battlefield where certain nations stood their ground after much loss of life. We climbed the stairs, 100 steps and look over the battlefield. For me this is a sad visit, so many men and we have still not realized that all war brings is more wars, will we ever learn, I think not.
 |
| 101 Airborne Thanks |
We went back to
Bastogne and had a half hour to ourselves.
We walked the town and stopped for an ice cream cone. Caught Paul getting a waffle. Stopped in a couple butcher shops, the city is known for their smoked meats. To bad we could not take any with us, there were a couple packages of what looked like landejaegers, and cost more than other meats because they are semi dried.
We found sweets for the sweet and ice cream also.
When the driver had his half hour rest, as per regulation, and we had ours we were off for the hotel.
Paul and Mary had another restaurant for us to try this evening, Chez Léon.
 |
| Horse Steak |
 |
| Mussels in Curry |
we sat at one restaurant but there choice of mussels was limited. At Léon there were many varieties. At this time of night it is tough to get a seat, Paul asked the lady wait staff if we could get the next available table. She said, yes, and hurried off to chase some people who had finished eating off their table. Turns out it was someone she knew and they kissed goodbye as they left. Our order was first two carafe of wine, one white for Mary one red for Paul; Shirleen had a glass of French wine and I beers. Well let's order up, Mary had an order of garlic mussels, Paul, this surprised me as it would have been my choice, a piece of horse steak with a light red/cream sauce, but because I wanted mussels I ordered the curried ones; Shirleen had another order of lasagna looked delicious. This is what I was waiting for, those mussels, and were they worth it. Almost to many to eat, but I made it. Paul's horse steak had an expected touch of sweetness, much like some of the sausage in
Germany. All this came with frites again, used them to sop up the curry flavored cream sauce. Back for a good nights rest after the long day.
Thursday Aug 16th, in
Brussels, after breakfast Bebe leads us to the
Grand Place. We view the floral begonia carpet from the city offices, no pictures of the inside are to be taken. What a challenge. We walk to the third floor balcony and before us is the square in all its colorful glory, stunning to say the least.
We were to be allowed unlimited time but that became 30 minutes, each received a booklet showing the carpet designs from previous years, they are constructed every other year. As we walked from the balcony to a first floor staging area,
 |
| The One that nearly got Away |
I popped this picture with the iPad (easy to conceal a shot from the stomach) of the plants and Dennis.
 |
| Dennis |
This year the carpet had an African theme to it. Shirleen was able to buy a t-shirt but all men's were out.
We opted this afternoon to walk around the town with Paul and Mary, they had researched and found some interesting places to visit.
The first was an old church built in the 11
th century, St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, they built them monstrously big in those days. A lady with child was pan handling at the door where we entered, as I took a picture, I owed her some coinage.
The pulpit is carved of wood and is about 15 feet high and covers a 15 by 25 foot area. Old confessionals are carved wood and ornate. I did light a votive candle in remembrance of all parents and relation whom have died.
 |
| The Pulpit |
We walk the street to the square of the martyrs, along the way I see this
Ferrara across the street. Still not sure which model it was.
Yes, it is parked out side of the government building, wonder what that means? You guessed it, time to eat again. We stop by the Opera house and the name of the restaurant is, Café De L'Opera. We sit outside under an umbrella.
Time for wine and beer, Shirleen and Paul order a ham and cheese grilled sandwich, Mary a shrimp salad and I the cannibal on toast, we all had a lettuce salad with tomatoes, cucumber and a side of pickles, of course – frites accompany the meal.
 |
| Grilled ham and cheese |
 |
| Cannibal on Toast |
 |
| Shrimp Salad |
As we walk back, on the street before the Galaria I spy a Tesla car, all electric, made in
California.
We did stop for our chocolates to bring back, even bought a special handling bag to take them back in it should protect from heat cycles. We bought most from Neuhaus chocolates,
 |
| Smurf candies for grand-daughters |
and after our purchase were given a chocolate of our choice. We then bought some other items from Mary's chocolate shop.
This evening the tour is buying dinner, drinks on our tab, at the Golden Goose. We are seated across from Linda and Bill from
Massachusetts or was it Conneticut, well at least that let us into the Union.
This being the last night of our group as one, brings many fond memories because of the closeness of the previous days. People on this trip are travelers and respect one another's space. As we order our beer and wine, and as the bread comes out to snack on there is much chatter. It is the national dish we are eating tonight,
Flemish stew with frites and followed by a crisp
Belgium waffle dusted with powdered sugar and a scoop of whipped cream on it. Great way to end the tour. We saunter back to the hotel and view the begonia carpet from the street. You can see a couple people watering the flower blossoms but some flowers can be seen drying out, no wonder it is for only four days. Tomorrow brings an early breakfast and a bus ride to the airport for our uneventful trip home thru
Atlanta. Back at home after being up 24 hours, taking the Land to Air bus to
Mankato and met by John and Cindy. What a nice greeting pair.
Thanks for travelling along, Jerry
.JPG)
We get to the heart of the small city and go back to the Italian place they ate at last night.
This salad looked and tasted good, the ham and pineapple pizza,
the ravioli,
Hard to follow because of the many facts he uses. But the viewing is great. We come to an open area with loads of people, Paul noticed a woman and a couple guys eyeing us. By that time they have his European men's purse zipped open. We then find that one of the ladies had her pocket book with cash and passport missing. It turns out in order to get a new passport she has to go to the consulate, which will be closed tomorrow because of the Catholic holy day of Ascension, that puts it another day away. Luckily she has a copy of the passport which makes it easier to obtain a duplicate. Here is my restaurant.
Time to order, Mary a tomato dish, Shirleen her standby salmon with vegetables, Paul a piece of beef, I a meatball and red sauce meal all came with a bowl of frites for each side of the table. Time to pay, Paul hands me some Euros and I pay by card, thanks for the advance as we had no Euros left. 
The old house has a couple of swans swimming quietly around its pond. The pictures show the expanse of the hillside and layout.
The count died 30 days ago and had willed his body to science.
We went back to 
We were to be allowed unlimited time but that became 30 minutes, each received a booklet showing the carpet designs from previous years, they are constructed every other year. As we walked from the balcony to a first floor staging area,
This being the last night of our group as one, brings many fond memories because of the closeness of the previous days. People on this trip are travelers and respect one another's space. As we order our beer and wine, and as the bread comes out to snack on there is much chatter. It is the national dish we are eating tonight,
Flemish stew with frites and followed by a crisp 
