Another foray into Europe on many wheels!

[gerarddwatts]

Then back to the hotel for a soft plop..



And a view over the dominion of the subjugators and world rulers..



and a regroup...(nap)...

 

[gerarddwatts]

Actually need to up the fruit and fibre elements of this trip...soft plops gave become a dim and distant memory...

 

[wilbjr21]

Not really sure what happened there...
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A very attractive part of old Brussels..
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That's the Graduation ceremony of the English/Dutch speaking VUB you've stumbled upon there Gerry.

One of the Scottish Engineers I worked with (at ConocoPhillips) obtained a degree there.

It was a real treat when he entered into fluent Dutch at the shipyards in Holland where we had a few platforms built.

 

[MrC99]

Chris...have an explore through 'the man in seat 61' website.
Lots of possibilities. Edit...like everyone says!
But try and keep it simple!
I have used the 'dBahn Navigator' app extensively to keep track(!) of options and timings.
Now comfortably being wafted towards Brussels...the nest, or lair, of the enemy at our door, soon to be escorted in by our own government..

Great trip report and yes dBahn has got really bad over the last couple of years. We've used Rail Europe as well to plan rail trips within Europe. Handy as you can put in a UK rail station and it'll work out the transfers etc. Also allows adding stops (via) and changing stopover duration.

 

[gerarddwatts]

That's the Graduation ceremony of the English/Dutch speaking VUB you've stumbled upon there Gerry.

One of the Scottish Engineers I worked with (at ConocoPhillips) obtained a degree there.

It was a real treat when he entered into fluent Dutch at the shipyards in Holland where we had a few platforms built.

Sorry...being mischievous....the awards ...in the centre of Brussels...were all being done, speeches etc...in English.
I seem to remember a head EU geezer...Junker?...announcing that English would be dead in Europe...fool..always good to see keen young folk using education to get a decent start.

 

[wilbjr21]

Sorry...being mischievous....the awards ...in the centre of Brussels...were all being done, speeches etc...in English.
I seem to remember a head EU geezer...Junker?...announcing that English would be dead in Europe...fool..always good to see keen young folk using education to get a decent start.

What ....... you being mischievous !!!!!

Great report

 

[Hairnet600]

disapoint no wafel disapoint no smurf

 

[Posh Pete]

What ....... you being mischievous !!!!!

Great report

Shurely shome mishtake!

That grub in Koln looks great! We have a friend there ... hmmmmm .... Thinks ...

 

[gerarddwatts]

disapoint no wafel disapoint no smurf

Sorry...forgot..

 

[Hairnet600]

the little one at the station in brussels was ok but nothing like that

 

[gerarddwatts]

the little one at the station in brussels was ok but nothing like that

If yer going to do it.......do it!

 

[gerarddwatts]

Working on these fluids..

 

[gerarddwatts]

As is customary...

 

[gerarddwatts]

Shurely shome mishtake!

That grub in Koln looks great! We have a friend there ... hmmmmm .... Thinks ...

I second tm@s61's Cologne suggestion..really good grub in a nice spot with fun staff...obviously a 'destination' always a good sign when the locals are using it. Just round a couple of corners from the Hbf as well.
1st prize for meal of the week, my birthday tea at Der Ringsmuth in Vienna. Although the Mussel Inn, Rose St. was as good as usual

 

[gerarddwatts]

Restful night in the Pullman Hotel, up at 6, pack and donder down through the hotel and into the station, eventually onto the Eurostar train, into the morning half light and off through Belgium and France towards La Manche.
The departure arrangements are a bit chaotic...you end up standing en masse in the duty free....wouldn't want to be the one preventing theft...impossible to see what's going on in amongst the heaving mass....lots of foreign johnnies as well!

 

[gerarddwatts]

And back out the rabbit hole...a bright sunny morning in Europe, dull and grey in Kent.
Whizz through to St Pancras, and then into King's Cross for a Pret bun and coffee to while away a few minutes until the 1st class lounge will let us in at 10.
Used to spend half my life as a youngster here and hereabouts..Pa worked for BR at KX.
We are booked on to the 1200 KX to Inverness, getting off at Perth...The Highland Chieftan...shame there are not so many named trains these days...used to be loads...Flying Scotsman, Master Cutler, Talisman, Aberdonian, Elizabethan...all from a more romantic era of travel!

 

[Doc]

Into Cologne Messe Deutz, (10 minutes late.. every German train we've been on has been late)which is other side of river from Hbf, and then shuttle train over.
Into good old Ibis right next to station, and opposite cathedral, at 1845.
Dump bags and head for grub and fluid....very important to keep fluids up.
Again following the recommendation of 'the man in seat 61' we headed a few minutes to Brauhaus Sion..

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a bier cellar type place and had a very decent supper, pork loin stuffed with gruyere, with sort of saute spuds with bits of ham in....and fluids...a good suggestion from him...he hasn't let us down yet!

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5 minutes past the cathedral, pass all the worthless drunks and other such rubbish as gathers round stations, back up for a shower, and bed...not so early tomorrow and going to go against the grain and have a hotel breakfast...usual don't bother as they are ridiculously expensive, and there is usually a decent cafe not far away from a station, but we need to get going tomorrow and no time to explore, shame, as I've bever been here.
Tomorrow takes us to Aachen for a change and thence to Brussels.

They want 28 Euros for a breakfast at the hotel for my Cologne trip.

 

[glenn2926]

They want 28 Euros for a breakfast at the hotel for my Cologne trip.

I would guess they can carry on wanting? .

 

[Doc]

I would guess they can carry on wanting? .

Not getting that off me for a croissant bread and ham.

 

[gerarddwatts]

1st class lounge is no more than a comfy place to sit for a few minutes...it does have plumbing...ever more important these days...and free(filthy) coffee but free deeelishus biccies....must try and stuff the pockets for the journey.
The big issue, apparently, is that W H Smith is being done up and is all boarded up. No book for the journey!
Ach well...all the more space for nicked biscuits...
Wonder what Harry Potter would have done on the journey north?