Final Day

MP3 track of the day - Breaking of the Fellowship - Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings Soundtrack)

Waking up at 9ish on Monday morning I got ready and went down for my final breakfast ... only to find breakfast finished at 9am and I missed it (no bread and cornflakes ... damn!). Still the hot chocolate machine was still working so I had a quick cup and headed out.

Today I was feeling much better, I left all my possessions in the luggage room at the hostel and only took a bottle of water with me. I decided that today was going to be a very lazy day; I spent the first couple of hours in one of Brussels central parks (unlike Vienna / Berlin, there aren't that many) just siting, thinking and watching other people.

After a while I decided to walked into the center of Brussels (purchasing a Belgium waffle on my way ... job done!); for the first time in my trip it was raining ... not allot and actually it was quite nice to have the change. For 2 1/2 weeks I had very hot weather with temperatures in the high 20's low 30's; for the final week I've had temperatures around 14 / 16 ... for me, the weather for my trip couldn't of been better.

Once in the center I bought 'The Times' (at the cost of £3) and sat in one of Brussels most expensive shopping streets, in a cafe, with a coke. I sat their and read my paper whilst watching people going about their business ... in a strange way it was bliss.

Once I thought I'd been their long enough I went and walked around the city to places I hadn't see yet; a few churches (one with urinals along the sides ... why?) and to the palace; it was around 1:30pm and so I decided to go to Pizza Hut for lunch. For the first time in three days I managed to eat my whole lunch (a small Pizza) without any problems.

My final act was to go present shopping; I had already decided that Belgium chocolates would be on the list and so I spent a while going to many different chocolate shops looking at all the different sizes, shapes and colours of many different chocolates ... the smell was fantastic. I eventually decided that the first chocolate shop I went to was the best; it was a square room with white walls. In the middle was a massive square display case with the members of staff in the middle; in the display case were thousands of individual chocolates of all different shapes and sizes.

I got a really helpfully guy who spoke perfect English; I said I wanted to get my parents some chocolates but didn't know what was what ... he then suggested a complete mix and asked if they liked white, milk, dark etc. It was great; watching him move swiftly from each side of the display cabinet picking one truffle here, two there ... it seemed he took allot of thought over which ones to choose.

After that I decided to buy myself a small box and then I left. Finally I then headed to another chocolate shop and bought some boxes of chocs for family and work.

With all this chocolate (and the time being 4pm) I decided to head back to the hostel, pick up my stuff, and head to the train station. I waited in the Euro star lounge for a while but it went very quickly.

On board I was starving and so I bought a bacon and cheese melt, packed of crisps and a chocolate bar ... lovely. Once in London St. Pancras I thought my sightseeing had ended but no. I had been to St. Pancras many times before but I had never seen the statue of the man and woman kissing goodbye on the first floor of the station ... Also there was a statue of a man in a coat, hat and a bag surrounded by poetry on the floor ... next time in London spend a little bit of time in St Pancras and have a look; the man and woman kissing goodbye is one of the best monuments I've seen this trip.

The trip home was pretty uneventful and when I got home (via taxi so the whole trip was done using public transport) I was greeted by my parents and brother, even though it was 1am.

So that's it ... but there is another post that I'm going to type up now ... basically my thoughts of my experience so stay turned for 'polar opposites'.

Toodle Pip!

I finished where I started

MP3 track of the day - Killers - show you how

So I woke up at 8:00ish again not feeling particularly well and got ready to go out ... again I only managed a small bowl of cornflakes and a piece of bread (Europeans the masters of food ... I don't think so, not if their breakfasts are anything to go by).

I then headed to the train station and went to Waterloo. Funnily enough I new my way to Wellington's Headquarters (I'd actually just missed him) and then I had to wait for the bus ... oh yes the buses in Waterloo, I had forgotten about them. One bus every 2 hours (I still can't believe it, as it's a huge tourist attraction). Anyway luckily for me there bus was due in about 30 mins so I waited and got on.

I arrived at Napoleon's Headquarters and had a look around; it didn't take as long as either the battlefield or Wellington's HQ (I realised then I probably could of done Waterloo within a day) but it was worth it and it was really interesting. When I finished I looked at the bus timetable, I had a hour and 20 mins to wait ... oh joy. So decided I'd do the same as when I visited Wellington's HQ ... I'd walk to the battlefield, probably taking the same route as the French themselves. I was really glad I did as a) history kind of came alive with the walk and b) there are quite a few monuments on the road you wouldn't see otherwise ... also lucky I managed to see the only farmhouse I didn't properly see on the first trip (Ferme la Haie Sainte).

When I got to the bus stop I only had to wait 20 mins for the bus and then I was back in central Waterloo. I decided not to stay and so, after a bottle of orange and a twix (which was a mission to eat) I got back on the train and back to Brussels.

Back in Brussels I walked around and around taking a few pics before coming back to my hostel, to get rid of my bag, and then go out again. Brussels is a weird place; I'm pretty good at navigating my way around cities but Brussels is strange ... even today I found passage ways that I hadn't found before, even though they were only 10 feet from where I was previously ... it's not very clean and a bit 'all over the place' but the cartoon art on the buildings (which I have a couple of photos ... will upload them when I'm home) is a pleasant change. I haven't decided whether I like Brussels or not.

Anyway I didn't really feel hungry and so I went to McDonald's and had a chicken nugget meal (which I struggled to finish ... it took 30 mins! What is wrong with me?) and then I came back to the hostel.

I'm off to bed now and I don't think I'll have time to post tomorrow, however stay turned ... when I'm home (Tuesday) I'll write my conclusion to my trip which I have been thinking about already.

Tomorrow I have to check out and see if I can leave my luggage here (if not I'll have to find a locker at the station) then I plan to have a very slow day involving buying a British newspaper (so I can read the F1 result) and siting in a cafe ... oh I need to get some presents as well.

Toodle Pip!

Brussels

MP3 track of the day - Breakfast at Tiffany - Deep Blue Something

Waking up after another 12hr sleep I still didn't feel perfect. I went down and had another small breakfast and then left the hostel. Leaving at 10:00am I arrived at the train station around 10:30am ... 4 hours early for my train.

I could of put all my stuff in a locker and have gone out but frankly, just even drinking some water was a bit of a mission so I found a seat and just sat there and watched the world go by. At around 1pm I knew I had to eat something but I wasn't sure I could stomach it (get it); I ummed and arr but, in the end, I decided to get a small cone of chips ... just as a tester.

I then made my way to my platform ... I didn't feel the immediate affect of the food but after a little while I felt my old self again.

I boarded the train and in no time at all we were in Brussels. I found my hostel and got ready ... again I was starting to feel poorly so I headed out into the city ...there is quite a breeze tonight so I just walked and walked eventually finding an Italian ... umm spaghetti can't go me any harm I thought. Went it arrived it was boiling hot and so I new I wasn't going to get any problems from it ... however it didn't take me long before I was struggling and I only eat a third of it. The waiter was very nice and I left a good tip as I felt abit bad.

I then decided to head back to my hostel for an early night ... Waterloo tomorrow, hopefully I'll feel better

Toodle Pip!

I've Arrived!!!

MP3 Track of the day: Song for Life by Leftfield

Hello from Brussels; currently I'm sat in the front hall of the Youth Hostel (There are others here with laptops so the connection must be good).

Anyway what a day...

Well the day started well with me waking up early and managing to watch a replay of Top Gear (the one with the BMW M5 24hr race at Silverstone ... classic). Straight after this I went out to catch my first bus. Once in town I decided not to catch another bus but walk (yes walk) to the train station. I decided it would be a good 'tester' to see if I could carry the huge bag on my back. 20 mins later, and without breaking a sweat, I arrived at the train station 1hr 30mins early ... all going well so far.

You would of thought 90mins of sitting around doing nothing would bore me to death ... it did not. In the middle of receiving hundreds of texts (thank you to all the well wishers) I read my guide book to Brussels. I was feeling okay ... until I read that my hostels reception closed at 4pm! Surely this was a mistake ... a reception closing at 4pm. I searched my bag for the paper work for my hostel only to find I'd only printed the first page (and to quote it finished at "...the reception is open from 7am until ...". Now it was time to use my new global SIM but alas, no answer as it was lunch time ... odear odear.

Well to cut a long story short (too late) I did manage to get in contact on the train and it's all okay ... few!

Once in London I went straight to the Euro Star departure gate. I put both bags through the metal detector only to hear the words we all dread "... Did you pack your bag yourself sir?..." Well after taking everything out, and then back in again (I had a penknife which I was told was fine to travel with and they just needed to make sure of the size) I awaited the Brussels train.

On the Euro star I sat next to a French mother and, I think, her daughter ... oh and a few rows down was some noisy Brit girl on her phone (everyone in the carriage could hear her call). As I was on the Euro Star I decided to look at where I was heading next ... Berlin. I decided to book my train tickets when I arrived at Brussels Midi because, if not, it would of meant me having to re-visit tomorrow. In the ticket office at Brussels Midi it was a bit of a 'free for all' leaving me, and an American woman, a little confused ... so we had a chat as we waiting in the, err queue. She's been traveling for 3 months around Europe and only has two weeks left before going home.
Once I've visited what seemed like 6 ticket desks I finally got my tickets to Berlin (departing Brussels on the 17th). I then set about getting a taxi to my hostel.

Well that was an interesting trip as the taxi driver had as much idea as I did on where the hostel was. After many circles and sat nav changes, I finally arrived ... €11.30! Still he was a nice guy and I was too tired to argue.

When I arrived at the hostel who would be infront of me at the check in desk ... the American woman I met in the ticket office. She had walked here (doh!) as she had stayed there 3 nights previously. She wanted to get a train to Amsterdam tonight but there were none, so she was staying Brussels for the night ... also even more bad news for her was that the hostel was full ... luckily I had reserved my two nights so I was okay. So we parted company again (but I wondered where else we might meet up?).

I went into my dorm and meet the others ... not exactly talkative and what a mess! Still they must think I'm abit weird, all my stuff is on my bunk pad locked and 'pack safed'.

Finally I went to the reception desk to get some info for tomorrow ... A visit to Waterloo. I've got the times of the trains, and a map of where the station is so I'm good to go ... but will the weather be? If not I shall spend the day in the city centre of Brussels.

Anyway I'm off to bed, still have a few admin things to do and to explore the hostel.

Toodle Pip!