On Friday morning, along with Jessica and Andrew, we set off on our trip to Belguim. We travelled by taxi to the train station in Northampton, caught a train to London Euston , walked ten minutes to St Pancras station and caught the EuroStar to Brussels. It is certainly a much easier process than flying. There are security checks and border control but it is quick. You only need to be there 30 minutes before departure which is great considering how some international flights in busy airports need 2- 3 hours.
The Eurostar was a very comfortable ride, through the English countryside to the Chunnel, across the northern corner of France and into Belguim.
We were at Brussel Midi station in two hours. Our next train was a local one to Aarschot and we had a bit of difficulty with it. First it was delayed and then while we actually sitting on it waiting to depart a message came over the intercom, in Flemish. We could tell things weren't good as most passengers got off again!! In the end we had to find another train 30 minutes later so we got there eventually. Ilke and baby Stan were there to meet us and of course they too had had a long wait. We had met Ilike back in Invercargill in 1999. She had been an exchange student and her host family had been two doors down from us when we lived in George Street and had spent many hours with us. After 16 years it was lovely to catch up with her in her home town.
Ilike lives in a small town in Belgium, Messelbroek with her partner Alicia and baby son Stan. It is a rural area and they have three dogs, four cats and two donkeys. Ilike is busy rebuilding an old farm house so we were unable to stay with them. We had a lovely B&B just a short drive away and were well looked after by our hosts Carine and Patrick. This included sampling their homemade rhubarb or elder wine, and a champagne breakfast on the Sunday morning.
http://dewinningmesselbroek.be/welkom.html
Posted with Blogsy
No comments:
Post a Comment