Friday: 125 and 250 first qualifying sessions, GP free practice Most spectators do not go to the track on Friday. Few of the vendors are open, none of the hospitality suites are open, VIP Village is not open, but the pits are relatively empty, and the bikes are out. We almost ALWAYS attempt to go… Continue reading MotoGP: Friday
MotoGP: Getting there
We are motorcycle racing fans. We’ve enjoyed the MotoGP events at Laguna Seca (California, USA) for the past few years. Obviously, we would not be going to California for the races this year, and our trip to Qatar for the opening race of the season was such fun that we HAD to go to another… Continue reading MotoGP: Getting there
Empty House
The semester began on Wednesday, our guest rooms vacated on Tuesday. We’ve had a friend staying with us (off and on, as he traveled) for the last few weeks. We also had an American colleague of mine “drop by” for a visit. Needless to say, the inn has been full. We are not really used… Continue reading Empty House
Best laid plans
Well, when services go as expected they are wonderful. When they don’t, it can be more than a little annoying and inconvenient. For most of our trips (until recently) the airport service that we use has been amazing. Sweeping through immigration and customs like visiting heads of state. In our last 3 trips (2 for… Continue reading Best laid plans
Belgium Beer List – Summer 2007
Here it is, as promised. Jack’s blog has most of the tasting notes to go along with the beers. If you are a beer snob, read ’em and weep. BRUSSELS Delirium Cafe: St. Idesbad Trippel (bottle) Radenmacher Blond (tap) Rulles Trippel (tap) Rodenbach Grand Cru (bottle) Poechenellekelder: Val Dieu Triple (bottle) Guillotine (bottle) Bottle Shop… Continue reading Belgium Beer List – Summer 2007
“We’re here for the BEER.” – part 4: Antwerp, Mechelen and Brussels (again)
Sorry for the delay on this last Belgium post, we HAD to go to Brno for the MotoGP, and I didn’t get a chance to finish before we left. 🙂 Our trip to Antwerp was a nightmare. It was raining, we were tired from Hopduvel, and when we boarded the train, the car we’d gotten… Continue reading “We’re here for the BEER.” – part 4: Antwerp, Mechelen and Brussels (again)
“We’re here for the BEER.” – part 3: Ghent
WHO KNEW that the Tour de FRANCE took a tour thru Belgium!!??? Well, apparently not Jack and me. We happened to be in Ghent at the end of Stage 2 of the Tour. We don’t really care a whit about bicycle racing, so we NEVER thought to look at the Tour when planning our trip.… Continue reading “We’re here for the BEER.” – part 3: Ghent
“We’re here for the BEER.” – part 2: Brugge
Brugge is a small town. It looks like it sprang forth off of a mid 19th century or earlier postcard. The canals are wide and clean and full of little boats of tourists. The buildings are stone with windowboxes and assakimbo windows. The people are open and friendly. It was an amazing change from Brussels.… Continue reading “We’re here for the BEER.” – part 2: Brugge
“We’re here for the BEER.” – part 1: Brussels
That was the motto for Belgium. And, it was the total truth. We did little sightseeing, no museums, and only took pictures of the facades of some of the more interesting buildings we saw as we walked to find more good beer. We arrived in Brussels by train, from Amsterdam and had to figure out… Continue reading “We’re here for the BEER.” – part 1: Brussels
Relaxing (?) in Amsterdam
With sad hearts, we left Seattle on July 1st. We arrived in Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam VERY early on the morning of the 2nd. We’d decided on 3 nights in Amsterdam before going to (as Jack put it) “The Holy Land” – Belgium. We could have stayed MUCH longer in Amsterdam, had that been our destination.… Continue reading Relaxing (?) in Amsterdam