It was a quiet drive as we crossed the border from France to Belgium. There was no real big signpost – or if there was I missed it and Elona slept through it. (Elona typing: remember I mentioned in the last post of Champagne that I had downed two champagnes and a café latte? Well I was hyper for about an hour and a half then comatosed until Belgium; great passenger I am!!!!) The most notable difference to indicate that you have crossed the country borders was the change in road signs. Really the French like odd numbered speed limits 70, 90, 110, 130. The people of Belgium prefer even numbered speed limits, 80, 100, 120. The road signs that were once yellow were now orange and the green ones were now blue. The next thing that becomes apparent and really confirms that you are in a different country is the change of language on familiar signs – not all just some and then comes the completely unpronounceable town names that come from the other Belgium neighbours the Dutch.
We had almost completed our 4 and half hour journey when Miss E slowly awakened from her slumber. She was surprised to know that we had nearly driven from one side of the country to the other. In her defence whilst that sounds impressive – Belgium is seriously narrower than Sydney so really no great feat.
We arrived at the address Carlijn had provided – the street address not the number of the cabin. No sweat – we had tried to contact both Carlijn and Roel several times once we were about an hour out. Do we wait in the car???? Nah –Let’s see if we can ask someone at reception! The reception was closed on Sunday afternoon. Plan B – lets ask someone if they know them! Asked and no they don’t. Plan C – look at the mail boxes and see if we can find the cabin number that way. Success number 36 – we headed out in search of the cabin. We quickly realised that the people we asked were located in the 400 section, so really not surprising that they didn’t know Roel and Carlijn. Excellent cabin 50, 48, 46 we were on the right track …….40……38…?...?...?36? is an empty block of land – WHAT??? Back on the phones and Elona luckily got hold of Carlijn. They were minutes away. We have now learned that the mail box numbers have no relationship with the cabin numbers – who would have known!?!?!?!
After warm welcomes, we set about tasting some local beer in celebration of our arrival. We have to say the Belgium beers are not only varied but very tasty! The next day was a lovely relaxed day where we got to sleep in, wander to the grocery store to get ingredients from dinner, a spot of gardening – and showers at the next-door neighbours. Yes in typical Elona and Megs style our sense of timing coincided with the bathroom being repainted and therefore not in use but the ever resourceful Carlijn explain the situation to the neighbours who kindly allowed us to use their shower for the night, Roel and Carlijn’s was back up and running the next evening.
The four of us went out the next day to explore Holland. We visited Goes; a small town, we visited the market and bought some plants for the garden and salami for lunch and tasted the yummiest Stroopwafels. Stroopwafels are 2 thin waffle like cookies with caramel sandwiched in the middle. Way Delicious!!!!
We then headed to Zeeland, were they have created a long line of dikes to reduce tidal fluctuations in stormy weather to protect the land they had reclaimed after it was swallowed in a massive storm in February 1953.
Fact for the day – the land in the west and north of Holland has been reclaimed and only about half of the surface area measures slightly over 1m over sea level – and they are coastal!!!!!!
From there we set out and stopped in Zierikzee where we went to the local grocery store to buy lunch supplies. Much to the surprise of all 4 of us, they had a new system in where you take a barcode scanner from the entrance and scan your items as you shop. You then go through the self serve counter, put your bar coder in the docking station and download your grocery purchases then swipe a card for payment – done….see photos! Good fun – Carlijn had a ball!
We had a lovely picnic lunch in the park and just wandered the town before we decided to head back to the cabin. We were about 40 mins from home when we hit traffic……never fun. A passing (not really as the traffic was standstill at the time) motorist indicated to Roel that his car had just lost an enormous amount of water. We pulled off to the side of the road – some quick examinations, let the car cool down a bit, none of the warning lights on the dash were registering problems, the water seemed to have stopped leaking from the car. We all get in and see how we go……………..
Warning lights start flashing almost immediately. OMG – Roel pulls off the side of the road again – a more detailed examination takes place – things are not looking so good………….Just then a lovely road side assistance man in a very impressive tow truck arrived and offered to tow us to a rest parking area as the shoulder of the busy motorway was not really the best place to assess the mysterious causes of the overheating car.
We discovered that it is not good to run low on petrol even if your car runs on both gas and petrol. The petrol does something to decrease the pressure of the gas….blah blah blah – sorry if I continue I will sound like the worst car educated person you are ever likely to meet and that is probably the case.
Highlights – Car broke down, nice man helped; said don’t try and drive the car, the engine could start fire, Roel’s friend arrived and towed us and the car to a mechanic, car now fixed and all is good.
See photos though – as a car owner you know the tirade of emotions that we all go through when our car stops working at the worst possible time.
Home safe and sound it was time to try some traditional Dutch snacks called ‘Frikadel Speciaal’ or as Elona and I pronounce them “Frickin’ Hell Specials”. A special Dutch sausage with raw white onion, and special secret sauces – they were absolutely delicious and when in Holland they are a must try.
The next morning it was time to say goodbye to Roel and Carlijn and head to Paris. We thanked them for their lovely hospitality and we hope to visit again soon.
A special thank you to Driek (flatmate) for putting up with the fast English talking Aussies who took over the lounge room for 3 days. Elona typing – Driek, bless him, believes he does not speak good English because whenever he talks people don’t understand him. We can verify that he speaks English beautifully it is just that he has a very very strong accent!!!!!
We farewelled Carlijn and Roel and headed off to Paris, via Brugge (Belgium)and Bouvais (France). We asked Ken TomTom Navman to set a course with all the stops we wanted to make – this is a first for us normally we navigate destination to destination, but wanting to make the most of the day and ensure that we didn’t back track to far we thought we would give this a try. Worked well have to say. The first stop Brugge, this town comes highly recommended from a number of people though we would have to say one of its biggest fans is Helene.
Helene you are right on the money – Brugge is lovely and we would like to spend more time exploring the historic centre more in the future. We visited the church, and bought Belgium chocolate, had some lunch and Elona allowed herself to be encouraged (conned) into purchasing a ‘spontaneous’ photo of herself printed on the old dot matrix printers with a calendar map of Belgium sold to her by a very odd gentleman in medieval costume. See Photos.
Roel and Leffe - a wonderful beer
Carolijn - another Belgium beer
oooooh look Driek with two more!!!
and some more!
This mannequin reminds us of Bobbie Bell our skiing companion :)
Bolus!!
Us, Roel and the Dykes
Roel checking out the water on a not so warm day - crazy Belgium
It was freezing!
Windmills everywhere - more modern ones these days!!
Now Roel pulled these out of the fridge
Would you believe they are carrots - balled carrots?!
aaaaah there's a proper windmill!
The entrance to Zierikzee - walled cities are soooo cool.
With cobbled streets and medieval houses
Elona, Carlijn and Roel with Lambert the Lion
Elona trying to cut salami - no easy feat with only a butter knife
especially if you haven't taken off the plastic wrapper first
Nothing better than a picnic in the park
As we were sitting enjoying the beautiful day a gentleman passing by pointed out the paper bags attached to the trees that lined the park.
Each bag contains many ladybug eggs. When they hatch they will eat the aphids that attacked the tree, therefore protecting the tree. Who needs pesticides????
The amazing thing about the streets in these historic towns is that every now and again (actually a little more frequently than that) you see walls and roofs that can be described at best as askew or at worst very crooked.
OhO! First look to see how serious the problem could be.
Just chilling out whist the car cools down after a hard day of touring Holland
Well maybe a closer look in a safer location would be better.
The car is now safe and sound at a rest spot, now off the tow truck for a better look.
The tow truck driver advises Roel that the car is too dangerous to drive at the moment.
What to do next??
Driek to the rescue with a working car and a tow rope.
Carlijn was sooo very pleased with her gardening efforts until she picked
up the container and the bottom fell out of it!!
Driek thought it was hysterical
Now she is being a handy 'man'!
It WILL be fixed - very determined our beautiful Carlijn!
Ta Daaaa!
Next job - pulling out a tree!
Lots of sweating and swearing
Good work boots Roel!!
Break time - getting a root is hard work!!
Ta daaa!!!
Meg's cooked us a fabulous risotto - Driek had never had one!
Roel was very impressed
Ah next job - painting
Painting attire: check!
Painting and drinking beer: check!
Us drinking beer in the living room: check!
Roel cleaning up after dinner: absolutely Check!!!!!
House in Goes
Geese are also in Goes
They came to greet us as we got out of the car - this one was a little too friendly
typical architecture of the region
local college in Goes
Again that fancy brick work - this time on the local church
Here's the asperges again - this still amuses us no end that
they are in fact asparagus NOT Aspergers
Just liked the name: 'Tart and Fafel"
Yes!!! markets!!!
Ready to stroll the markets of Goes
Of course Goes is in Holland so what else would you have in a store window but clogs!!
Markets were both food and craft/clothing/plants etc
Bikes are everywhere in this town and have right of way
Beautiful fruit stalls
Cheese stalls
It is actually pronounced goose - Roel spent quite a bit of time laughing at me attempting
to speak Belgium - I'm a little over seals with the whole guttural
spit sound!
Plant stalls as well
Oh these were lovely meats that you could try before you buy very nice!
This is a recipe for almond flour pudding called Gries and if you look carefully
you will see Mandel's name!!
Stroopwafel!!!!!
Made on the spot
They were huge
First the dough gets put into the waffle iron
then cleverly cut in half
and filled with warm caramel
Ta Daaa - Yum!!
Just their weekender!!!
Some beautiful boats moored in the canals
Again that typical brick work
Oh every town needs a good canon - you just never know!
Nice canal though - not nasty water; very clean
Local flag in background
There are the dykes
There are the fishermen
And no I'm not going to make some rude comment about dykes!!
Brugge, Bruges or Brugges - the town itself had each one of these spellings so we have
no idea so I'm going to use the middle one!
Yes you find lots of chocolate in Belgium!
Lots and lots!
Oh and weird little men who want to kiss you!!!
More chocolate!
Lovely canals in Bruges as well - it was such a beautiful warm day for boating
Sorry out of order, not the barcoder the order of photos - this is Carlijn
using the nifty new shopping toy at the local supermarket!
This is the chocolate crackle made with Belgium chocolate rather than Copha -
SOOOOOOOOOOOO much nicer!!
Horse and carriage rides from the main plaza
Church in main plaza - a little quirky
The boat rides on the canal
Some lovely restaurants
The boats give you a different perspective of the town - just lovely
Many stops to hop on and off
If you look carefully there is a statue of a man on the balcony fishing - this is just infront of
the fish markets
Not a statue! Can you imagine his shower recess at home!!!!!
See he moved!
She looks a little sad doesn't she??
She needs to go on one of these fabulous rides around town
The outside canal = moat
The gate out of Bruges
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