2024 European Vacation—Belgium

BELGIUM

Tuesday, April 30,2024 Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Last week Thursday we drove to Dulles Airport to fly to Brussels, Belgium, to start our European vacation. I plan to post my thoughts and add sketches all along the way.

Wednesday I rented a car to make the drive, a car I’d never driven before. I found this sitting next to me. Took me an embarrassing long time to figure out how to use it.

It's a gearshift knob!
It’s a gearshift knob!

Friday morning we landed in Brussels and went to the Marriott Marquis Grand Place hotel, where Mary had reserved a room for us. Nice hotel, with great service! Then we took a walk. Guess where (when in Brussels . . . )

sketch of me with Manneken Pis
The hugely famous, and equally tiny Manneken Pis

Saturday we took a train to Ghent so I could revisit the famous Ghent Altar Piece. While we  were there I remembered they had a unique way of serving french fries — with beef stew.

sketch of a huge pile of french fries with beef stew
A medium-size order of fries with beef stew

Sunday we visited the charming and beautiful city of Bruges. In a quiet canal off the beaten track we saw, floating on top of the water next to two mallards, a pair of oversize Three Musketeer boots! I think they’re made of bronze; we found out they are part of a city-wide arts festival.

drawing of a canal with a pair of boots floating on top
Boots that walk on water
A close-up view

After a leisurely day in Brussels, we took the train here to Amsterdam, where we will meet up with a Tauck river cruise. In the afternoon I went to the Van Gogh Museum, and tomorrow I’ll visit the Rijksmuseum—what a treat!