Day 2 21/8/11 - Belgium

Brussels -> Mechelen –> Brussels -> London

Highlight

• Had a nice breakfast at the hotel before heading to Mechelan on the train. Caught a fast train so we were there within 20 minutes.
• It didn’t help that Slokky got us lost so we walked for ½ hour in the heat in the wrong direction.
• When we finally figured out the way, we managed to make it to the centre.
• We didn’t climb the 500 steps of the Sint-Romboutskathedraal tower because of Allie.
• Managed to see the Grotmarkt again and numerous churches. There was a service on at Sint-Janskerk and Begijnhofkerk was closed.
• There was another Beguine area with a nice church which we toured.
• Not much else to do so we went to the Grotmarkt for their rock concert, Maanrock.
• Got some gelato before heading back to Brussels, and it started to rain.
• Brussels was in full swing with the Brussels Summer Festival. We wondered the various stores and got some fresh waffles and free Duvel beer.
• Went to the park next to the Grand Palais as part of the festival was on there, and let Allie run free on the play equipment for awhile.
• Had dinner at what we thought was the Michelin bib La Brouette. After we had the first few bites of food we figured we must have the wrong one, as the food was mediocre at best.
• Had time for some last minute chocolate shop browsing, including a nice cornet for Allie at Neuhaus before we headed back on Eurostar, where luckily there were 2 spare seats we had a relatively comfortable ride back.

Food

• Carrefour d’Europe breakfast:
  • cold cuts, cheese, bread
  • pain au chocolate
  • cucumber, tomato cream cheese
  • scrambled eggs, tomato, bacon, sausage
  • fruit salad, banana
• apple
• Mojito gelato
• yoghurt, strawberry gelato
• waffles
• Duvel beer
• La Brouette:
  • Grilled endives and ham with cheese sauce
  • Fish Plate with potatoes and fish and shrimps
• Neuhaus chocolate: nuts, cream,