Our Tour Begins

It is Wednesday, and it looks like beautiful day. We were at the breakfast room when it opened at 720, for we wanted to look for possible tour mates.  We found none, but we asked several guests. Scrambled eggs, bacon, soft and hard cheeses, breads, Brötchen, breads, pastries, fruit, cereals, juices, and hot chocolate for Premilla. It was delicious and relaxing to sit and relax while eating.

We then left to find a local pharmacy to purchase hearing aid batteries.  It was closed, even an hour later it was still closed. We walked further, joking, watching people walking to work or riding their bikes or riding the tram or bus. We asked a local merchant about a store to purchase hearing aid batteries, and we're given directions to a battery store; we never found it. We did find another pharmacy which had one packet to sell. WHEW.

I suggested that we walk along the canal after we stopped at the hotel briefly. Four hours later I awakened from a nap and found Premilla already showered and getting ready for our four o'clock gathering.  After showering, too, we gave ourselves the COVID-19 home tests. We were both negative.

We showed our results to Ruby, our guide, as we joined 18 others on the tour.  Ruby read Rick Steves' message to us emphasizing his tour philosophy.  We each introduced ourselves. We have four young adults, and I chose one to be my buddy. We were given audio receivers and ear pieces to use throughout the tour. Further information was given. We are to wear masks indoors and in our bus and have our vaccine cards with us at all times. We gathered a few minutes later outside, completed our first buddy check and walked to the canal ride boat. En route various eateries and stores were pointed out, such as the mustard store which we will visit during our free afternoon and evening. 

The harbor cruise was wonderful. History and current culture were given by the boat driver. The buildings and statues now take their place in my learning about Belgium.

The cruise ended too soon for me, however we still had our welcome dinner to attend. In a small restaurant on a side street we ate white asparagus in a cream sauce with scrambled eggs and spices.  I ate it all. The main course was greens and beef stew cooked in beer.  It tasted like a red wine sauce to me. Dessert was a chocolate volcano cupcake topped with sliced strawberries and cream. I did photograph the dessert.

Dinner conversations were super. We are beginning to get to know our fellow travelers. We asked questions and told stories. I am eager to learn more.  Back at the hotel Premilla and I decided to sit outside and watch people. Lots were eating outside, some were strolling along the canal. Some of our fellow travelers joined us to chat and enjoy the warm evening. It was 930 PM and still light. It wasn't easy coming inside. I photographed our agenda for tomorrow: 9 AM buddy check outside and begin our walking tour of Medieval Ghent with Thomas, our local guide.

Guten Nacht, Susan


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sunday, July 13, 2025 - Travel Day to Kyoto

 We selected breakfast items and picked up some requested items for Kenji rom the grocery store across the street. Karin had already started a load of laundry while I was still asleep. In our room we ate our purchases. I had a banana, a small bag of shelled edamame,and half a ham,cheese and llettuce. It was p,enty to hold me over four our 1130 reservation at a shabu ahabu restaurant.  Karin had researched inexpensive shabu shabu restaurants and found this one out of the main  touristy areas and in a metro mall. This meal had many parts: a choice of broth which is simmered on a burner at the table. On c houses a meat and how much  eat. One chooses  two dipping sauces and what kind of rice,  oh yes. The. There was a large bowl of fresh vegetables some of which I didn't recognize. I put them and the meat into the simmering broth.  With spoons to stir the ingredients there were lots of things on the table. The  meal was delicious,  super deliciou...
Read more

Sunday at the Dome and sore feet

Although it was cool the sun was out, and it was dry. We had breakfast in a neighborhood Cafe which we like. Along with coffee milk I had a lentil and couscous and vegetable salad, and Karin had a Spiegelei and muesli. This is a great way to begin the day. The food and environment, and company were perfect. We walked to the Senenfelder U Bahn station to Alexanderplatz, and we had difficulty locating the bus stop for bus #100 to bring us to the Dom for the 10 AM service.  Road work as well as construction continues in this city.  After asking directions and few times we found the correct stop and bus and made it to the Dom on time. We stated we were international visitors and were ushered a special seating area slightly above the congregation where we were given headphones and an audio device to receive live translation.  The choir was the Swiss chorus which we heard last evening. Throughout the service they sang the Bach Lutheran mass which we enjoyed last evening. It was...
Read more

A New Week Begins in Wermelskirchen

With the homemade muesli breakfast the week began happily. Fresh oatmeal flakes, sunflower seeds, another teaspoon of seeds, one banana, dried prune and apricot pieces, walnuts, almonds, and other nuts, homemade yogurt, and a little milk, Anja let the mixture sit for ten minutes before we began eating.  It was delicious. We then went outside. Anja cut back dead flowers from bushes in the front.  I picked up the material and placed it into a large plastic container.  When the battery hand shears needed recharging we left for Remscheid to do a little shopping. Herbert did his daily physical therapy exercises. He then went grocery shopping which he enjoys and Anja doesn't enjoy. She wrote the list on her cell phone, i.e. Handy, he saw the list on his Handy because the two devices are linked somehow. When he had completed the shopping he wrote on that list page that he had purchased everything. Slick.  Shopping at the Allee Center Anja point out the number of mall shops ...
Read more