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Then there was the trip:
Belgium and the Netherlands
Jerry Frankhouser
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We were to make a transfer in Antwerp, but did not make it. On the way to The Haag we had stopped at a massive, great looking train station at Antwerp. We were looking for it on the way back and it did not come. So we did not get off at the stop. In fact, there were two Antwerp stops and neither looked right. When we arrived at the Mechelin we knew the we missed the transfer. We got off in Mechelin and talked to the stationmaster and he said just get on the next train to Brussels and take
 __the train to Brugge from there. We did that and it did not cost us any more. We arrived in Brugge about 1 hour later. It was raining and we went to the tourist information office to find a bed and breakfast. The nice young lady found one for us and we took a cab. The Bed and Breakfast was nice and clean; three people in one spacious room, sink in the room; toliet down the hall and the shower in the basement, worked fine. We had breakfast in our room both mornings. After getting settled
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we went out to explore, looking for the church with the Mother and Child by Michaelangelo. We found the church but it had closed at 4pm; would have to try the next day. We then walked to the grand plaza, stopping on the way at an ATM to get money. Put in your card and select the amount either in US dollars or Belgian franc's. ATM card was charged $123.00 and out came 5000 bef. Then we were off to find some postcards. At the card shop we asked the clerk about some good local
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food. She gave us two cards and said that she and her husband frequent Tommy's often. So off to Tommy's we went. Alas, Tommy's would not open for one hour, it was 5:30pm. so next door was a little music pub Kwassa Kwassa so we ducked in for some refreshment before dinner. Tommy's was a very good experience. Chrissy and Jerry had white meat of chicken with a white coconut/pineapple sauce with white rice. Anne had Haddock, with a breaded crust. Tommy also wanted us to enjoy a
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Belgian treat "french fries" so he bought a large bowl to share. We also found that if you want to have water with the bubbles (carbonation) you order "red" water, if you want regular bottled water you order "blue". On the way home, we just happened to walk past one of the many Belgian chocolate stores in town so we stopped and got one piece each for desert. very smooth. Next door to the candy store was a store that sold lace. On Thursday morning, we went on a canal boat ride. It took us past some Brugges' famous landmarks and some that we had wanted to see. We then went to see them after the boat ride. We went to the Groeninge Museum. it must have been field trip day as the museum was full of school children, wonderful vanEyk's. Then off to the church to see Michealangelo's Mother and child. We signed the registry and I saw a great four leg stool and took a picture of it. The church was ready to close from 12:00 to 1:30 so we had to leave. This church had a large collection of paintings and statues. There was some priests and bishops buried behind the altar. The time ran out before we could see them.
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