Hello from Brussels
Hello ladies & Gareth
Well! I had intended to blog yesterday evening but due to our eventful journey I was a bit tired.
Gareth picked us up from home to drop us at Chester station & our train left very promptyly at 7:35am. We were due to arrive in Euston at 9:35am which meant we had about 40 minutes to get across to St Pancras - plenty of time to walk round there from Euston - sit & grab a drink then join Eurostar. Simples.
Simple - that was until just outside of Berkhampstead we came to a standstill & after a few minutes the train manager announced that up ahead of us a lorry had got stuck under a bridge & all train traffic had been stopped until it could be removed. Not good news - this would cut down on our Easton to St Pancras walk. After a while Bob telephoned the company we had booked through & told them of the problem. They then said they would phone Eurostsar & let them know. Bob then spotted one of the train staff & got her to write on our ticket why we were delayed. Then if we were too late for our Eurostar they don't blame us. We were stationary for 40 minutes. Gareth will understand what this was doing to his Dad. Needless to say we eventually moved & reached Euston. Our Eurostar was due to leave at 10:57am it was now 10:15am & you are supposed to check in 30 minutes before departure at the latest. That was some rush through the London streets & the signs for the route to St Pancras vanished & we had to ask the way. We found our way to departures then luggage & ourselves had to be scanned & then passport control. Both of these had queues. The clock was ticking. We followed the signs to the train & went up the escalator only to find our carriage was right down the other end. Have you tried hurrying on a platform with other people milling about not really knowing where they are going? Hmmm! Anyway - we made it with a little under 10 misutes to spare. The train was just a few minutes late leaving. So obviously other people held it up!!!!!!
A very pleasant journey through the English countryside, followed by the French & Belgian countryside was enjoyed. On arrival at the station in Brussels we decided to take the Metro to the Hotel. There were long queues at the ticket office & at the auto ticket machines which we couldn't work out especially as they were busy too. So! as we are sort of on holiday let's take a taxi to the hotel. The first 2 taxis didn't seem to want a fare - but the third one did. We gave him the name of the hotel & the street it was in - sorry Strasse or possible Rue de la.
Traffic was horrendous but we were on our way - or were we? After a short while he pulled over & just looked at us waiting for us to get out. Not our Hotel. So Bob told him again - slowly & clearly. Ah ok he said. More traffic to fight. Pull up outside hotel - no, not ours. Bob is getting agitated the taxi driver is getting agitated & I am trying not to scream. We were in completely the wrong area. But now he seemed to know which Hotel we were talking about & we eventually arrived at our destination. It would have been quicker waiting in the queue at the Metro ticket booth.
After a rest & giving ourself some calming down time along with a cup of tea & coffee we went out to see what there was to see & find a restaurant for our meal.
Now! the really hurried walk through London on those cobbled pavements did my feet in, then they got puffy on Eurostar - so I was not at my most comfortable during the evening. But to find our restaurant we took the Metro. Even that proved tricky getting the ticket - but we are old hands at it now.
When we returned to the Hotel I intended to blog, but I sat on the bed & started to feel rather sleepy. Well I had been up since 6:00am & it was now 9:30pm & the end of a hectic day.
We have had a great day today - but I am going to blog that separately.
Hope you are all well. 'Bye for now.
Well! I had intended to blog yesterday evening but due to our eventful journey I was a bit tired.
Gareth picked us up from home to drop us at Chester station & our train left very promptyly at 7:35am. We were due to arrive in Euston at 9:35am which meant we had about 40 minutes to get across to St Pancras - plenty of time to walk round there from Euston - sit & grab a drink then join Eurostar. Simples.
Simple - that was until just outside of Berkhampstead we came to a standstill & after a few minutes the train manager announced that up ahead of us a lorry had got stuck under a bridge & all train traffic had been stopped until it could be removed. Not good news - this would cut down on our Easton to St Pancras walk. After a while Bob telephoned the company we had booked through & told them of the problem. They then said they would phone Eurostsar & let them know. Bob then spotted one of the train staff & got her to write on our ticket why we were delayed. Then if we were too late for our Eurostar they don't blame us. We were stationary for 40 minutes. Gareth will understand what this was doing to his Dad. Needless to say we eventually moved & reached Euston. Our Eurostar was due to leave at 10:57am it was now 10:15am & you are supposed to check in 30 minutes before departure at the latest. That was some rush through the London streets & the signs for the route to St Pancras vanished & we had to ask the way. We found our way to departures then luggage & ourselves had to be scanned & then passport control. Both of these had queues. The clock was ticking. We followed the signs to the train & went up the escalator only to find our carriage was right down the other end. Have you tried hurrying on a platform with other people milling about not really knowing where they are going? Hmmm! Anyway - we made it with a little under 10 misutes to spare. The train was just a few minutes late leaving. So obviously other people held it up!!!!!!
A very pleasant journey through the English countryside, followed by the French & Belgian countryside was enjoyed. On arrival at the station in Brussels we decided to take the Metro to the Hotel. There were long queues at the ticket office & at the auto ticket machines which we couldn't work out especially as they were busy too. So! as we are sort of on holiday let's take a taxi to the hotel. The first 2 taxis didn't seem to want a fare - but the third one did. We gave him the name of the hotel & the street it was in - sorry Strasse or possible Rue de la.
Traffic was horrendous but we were on our way - or were we? After a short while he pulled over & just looked at us waiting for us to get out. Not our Hotel. So Bob told him again - slowly & clearly. Ah ok he said. More traffic to fight. Pull up outside hotel - no, not ours. Bob is getting agitated the taxi driver is getting agitated & I am trying not to scream. We were in completely the wrong area. But now he seemed to know which Hotel we were talking about & we eventually arrived at our destination. It would have been quicker waiting in the queue at the Metro ticket booth.
After a rest & giving ourself some calming down time along with a cup of tea & coffee we went out to see what there was to see & find a restaurant for our meal.
Now! the really hurried walk through London on those cobbled pavements did my feet in, then they got puffy on Eurostar - so I was not at my most comfortable during the evening. But to find our restaurant we took the Metro. Even that proved tricky getting the ticket - but we are old hands at it now.
When we returned to the Hotel I intended to blog, but I sat on the bed & started to feel rather sleepy. Well I had been up since 6:00am & it was now 9:30pm & the end of a hectic day.
We have had a great day today - but I am going to blog that separately.
Hope you are all well. 'Bye for now.
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