CALSF's VirtualTourist Home Page

March 2009 - France: Paris & Holland: Amsterdam

June 2009 - UK: London
June 2009 - Belgium: Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp
June 2009 - Holland: Den Haag, Scheveningen

Fall 2009: UK: Newcastle Upon Tyne, York, & Edinburgh

Winter 2009: Newcastle Upon Tyne & Glasgow

Spring 2010: Newcastle Upon Tyne & Barcelona

Summer 2010: Melbourne

Visiting Belgium and Netherlands with a couple of London stopovers for our summer holiday was one of the best holidays ever. We used the excellent train systems available: Eurostar, Thalys, and local Belgian trains. Tiring but it was so well worthwhile. At least the Belgian train tickets were open so we could sleep in those days we traveled within Belgium. We flew 10 hrs. from home (after a 2.5 hr. delay) to LHR-always a horrible experience but this time was the worst spending 1.5 hrs. waiting to clear passport control.

Our trip was akin to a marathon (daily train travel & seven days/seven different hotels) and a 'If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium' scenario, and it's not for everyone-really don't recommend it if you want to stay sane and well-rested-but for ones with a week's vacation to spare only it's doable yet it can leave one frazzled.

Day 1-Arrived in London at our favorite London hotel, The Montague on the Gardens. London was not rainy-just a tiny drizzle late evening-and had some sun. Had okay fish & chips dinner at Munchkins on Great Russell St., walked over to Covent Garden which had some street performers.

Day 2-We left London, boarded the Eurostar to Brussels and re-visited Grand Place, ate at Chez Leon for moule frites, bought chocolates, and naturally sampled the beer.

Day 3-We took the Thalys to beautiful Den Haag (cleaner looking, more organized than Amsterdam to me), loved our hotel that was two blocks from the royal palace yet located in a quiet tree-lined street next to the embassies. Took tram #1 to Scheveningen and had lunch at the sea. Too bad we did not have time for Delft! Had an overpriced dinner at a supposedly famed Indonesian restaurant which was terribly overrated.

Day 4-Left Den Haag for Antwerp which I must admit was my favorite city on this holiday. Hotel was one block from the Grote Markt so we were right in the historic center really. Sun was out at first but rain came down later although it was not cold. Had a taste of appeljenever-fantastic. Dinner of moule frites and scampi behind the cathedral.

Day 5-Arrived in Ghent. Stayed right on the Korenlei at Ghent Marriott. Strangely there is a Marriott in such a tiny city, but it has, I think, the best location right in the center. Not far from the Gravensteen castle on foot and all of the shops and restaurants too. Had a late lunch at a restaurant (De Witte Leeuw) across the hotel then had a Moroccan dinner at another restaurant on the other side of the hotel's street. Sampled more Belgian beer!

Day 6-Left Ghent for Brussels again staying on Pl. Rogier. Had lunch at Pl. Ste. Catherine known for seafood...but it's overrated/overpriced here. Had aperitifs on the Grand Place at Le Roy d'Espagne and dinner at La Belle Epoque on the touristy Rue des Bouchers which is ripoff central, but not as much a ripoff unbelievably as the Garoeda Rest. in Den Haag was. Had to buy more chocolates too. Luckily Leonidas at Grand Place was opened past 10:30 pm.

Day 7-Left Brussels for London and our final vacation day. We returned to our favorite hotel The Montague on the Gardens. Weather was spectacular: Sunny and warm! Had lunch at Covent Garden area at Rock and Sole Plaice-fantastic fish and chips. Very busy. Then it was a tube ride to Stamford Bridge as one of us wanted to check out Chelsea FC, dinner, and drinks.

Day 7-Left for home with great memories. Surely another trip to Belgium hopefully will be in order some time again soon.

September 2009: Son is studying in Newcastle and while it's a new world in more ways than one, it is a great place to study. While visiting him we easily day tripped up north to Edinburgh and slightly south to York. What fantastic cities those two are also.