On To Belgium

 A couple of days ago we headed to Belgium. Worried about the train connections we attempted to get a reservation and none was available. On the upside there is a train going and it will be the same amount of time a little over 2 hours with only 1 transfer. This is a win win and no reservations needed.  The train was all but empty in 1st class.  Dan seemed to think we needed this upgrade because there would be more room for bags. In all it was a better trip  Getting into Belgium was easy as there is no border check or customs  no extra Covid questions etc  

As far as Covid  no one is wearing masks in the Netherlands and they are congregating in groups at inside events and needless to say the Kings birthday celebration was one big several blocks long party  In Belgium,  you have to wear a mask on the train or bus and in the hospitals or medical facilities but no where else   There are a few people who don’t wear them on the train and no one says anything   Not one person has asked to see our Covid vaccine cards or checked for testing  

On to Belgium  the first thing we noticed was there was no checking of train tickets.  In Amsterdam you have to check in and out if  a bus or train.   In Belgium there are no gates or checking of train tickets although people still buy tickets at the machines   It is possible that the local travel is free and only if you are out of the city that you are charged.

On to comparisons,   first there are very few bikes so we feel much safer, as with Netherlands there are very few stoplight’s but the drivers stop for pedestrians  in the Netherlands it is constantly windy so my poor hair was always in tangled or knots, no so with Belgium.   The biggest difference we noticed was there are hills in Belgium whereas Netherlands is flat.  This is making our walking a bit more of a challenge.   Netherlands had benches all over town where you could sit and watch people or enjoy the surroundings not so with Belgium, not a bench to be found, especially when you need one

Belgium has almost 100% cobble stone streets and walkways where as the streets were usually brick and asphalt for the bicycles.

Shopping in Belgium means lace or tapestry or chocolate.  In a 2 block area there were at least 15 chocolate shops. Sometimes the same company would have shops around the corner from each other.   Kind of like Starbucks, and yes we have seen some Starbucks here.  I haven’t been in to check it out yet but I think soon.

So far I am a little worried that we did this trip backwards and should have saved Netherlands and Belgium for last before going home  since our space for trinkets and presents is limited I am trying not to buy anything.  These 2 countries have lots to bring home.  Wouldn’t you want a wooden clog key chain from Holland.  We already discovered one of Drew’s presents we already consumed   Sorry, Drew.  But don’t worry we have lots more days to find you the best of presents.