One Day - Four Towns

We left Hotel Albert for Brussels Noord Station at 6:30 am taking the train to Ostende on the North Sea. At Ostende it began to rain and we caught a taxi to Casino, the center that the where the Rotary International was holding its annual convention.

The Youth Exchange Program (YEP) was one of the programs being highlighted at the event. Jackson went back stage with a only a dozen or so students since many had left the day before for a 4-day Prague tour. During the program, they made an entrance on stage waving their country flags. One young Canadian, Janell, played beautiful classical violin and then was accompanied by Matthew from Ohio on electric piano while she sang a gutsy version of “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele. Her talent blew me away. We later found out that she is applying to the Brussel’s Conservatory and hopes to study music there next year.

On we pressed, Violet and I took the train to Antwerpen, but made a stop in Bruegge for lunch. We intended to eat at Medurd, a place recommended by USE-IT guide, were informed that all the tables were reserved. We wandered and then found a lovely café with the delightful owner, Pascal. We filled ourselves with homemade tomato soup, cheese crepe and the most delicious hot chocolate.

Look out Miribella (in NYC) this chocolate was amazing. The melted dark chocolate was served in a small round bowl sitting on top of the mug. We scooped the chocolate out into the hot milk and stirred. No sugar required, just deliciousness. Pascal soon began talking chocolate and told us all about a shop outside the main tourist area called Roose’s. He marked the map and we were on our way.

No problem finding Roose’s and we quickly located the dark chocolate chips that we would take home and melt into our own hot chocolate. But, it took us quite some time to pick out the twelve pieces of handmade yummy- filled chocolates to take away in a little box. Think Godiva chocolate only better and much cheaper. This shop is for locals and tourists like us who happened to talk with the right person. We left, happy with our purchase and now on our way back to the station to catch the train to Antwerpen.

Arriving as the train pulled out of the station and watching it leave without us, we had an hour wait.

Next post, - Antwerpen and the New International Youth Hostel. Possibly the worst place I/we have stayed at yet.