belgium part II

We loved Antwerp and were sad to leave. It would be a great place to live, it feels relqxed and friendly and there are so many different nationalities and cultures who seem to live there harmoniously. I loved the different types of people you see cycling about: grannies, men in turbans and robes, orthodox Jews (looking rather impressive in their black three-quarter length coats, top hats, locks of hair on either side and long beards), mothers towing children on the back, corporate businessmen..

With our steeds on Antwerp lanes

We had a great last night in Antwerp wandering around town and sampling a few Belgian beers. There are great bars in Antwerp with lots of character - we went to one which had a wonderful old mechanical organ. If you put 50 cents in a slot; it banged out an old tune (rather loudly considering the wee bar it was in!) By the time we left, there were a bunch of 60 year olds waltzing about the bar to the old organ's tunes. Here's a picture below, and I got a little video on our camera which I've uploaded - hopefully the quality is not too poor.

We ended the night in a crazy little bar where they were playing great music by a French band with an Ethiopian singer (not sure who they are, does this sound familiar to anyone? Matthew asked the girl on the bar about them but didnt get the name). The bar seemed to be filled with slight eccentrics and we ended up having a long hilarious conversation with some locals, one who spoke English well and the other not so well but very amusingly. They asked where I was from in NZ and when I said I was from Auckland he (the one whose English was poor) said "Auck! What is Auck?" "An Auck! What is it?" etc and continued to ask this at various intervals through the night. Sadly I had no idea what Auck is.

Cat in window, Matthew on Canal path

We left Antwerp on Saturday morning via a canal path (canals seem to be an excellent way of cycling into and out of cities, it is also always interesting to see what is going on along the canal).

Pile of wood scraps beside the canal as we cycle out of Antwerp

Over the next few das we continued South through Hoegaarden, then to Namur. From there we cycled along the Meuse river which was lovely and good cycle path most of the way (apart from a few cobblestones)

Matthew (waving? dancing?)

Along the Meuse

An old railway tunnel Matthew explored

Matthew with cute pony next to our campsite

Hey Flanders! (Northern Belgium)

Ghent! Such an amazing city. Ancient buildings but a very vibrant and quirky place. Different to Bruge as it feels lived in not just there to be seen by tourists (like us). It has two uni's so has lots of young people about.

Our picnic spot in Ghent above; - Also sea monster waiting to pounce on unsuspecting cafe patrons.


The wonderful flat and extensive paths in Belgium.


Do all animals have mostaches like Poirot in Belgium ?

Antwerpen central station is amazing! wonderful marbles interior and huge.

Lovely street of houses that felt like a set from a fantasy film. Many styles right next to each other from art nouveau and gothic to modern minimal. This whole area felt like Melbourne to us but amped up a little. Notice the tram tracks.


Amazing Graffiti art on the overpass in Antwerp.