Beautiful Belgium!

Brussels
Everyone had told us to go straight to Brugge and not worry about Brussels however we checked out the capital of Belgium and were pleasantly surprised by its contridtions. The city comes across as seedy but also very alive and vibrant. The Grand Place was huge and amazing, the Manneken Pis fountain humourous, and the atomium interesting. The chocolate being some of the best we have tasted (Glenn if you could remember Lou's name maybe you'll get some).


Brugge
Brugge is the quaintest little town with several canals running through it “little Venice” with a huge energetic square. It is absolutely breathtaking! With such wonderful weather (nice late 20’s), the pretty gardens and the bell towers constantly ringing it was a day to remember. Oh and get this the 12.6% beer “Brugge Triple”. We climbed yet another spiral staircase (only 366 steps) to the top of “The Belfry” were the bells went off on the hour (luckily it was 1pm), a canal boat ride and visit to a windmill just made our day. There was also the waffle and crepe action we had, yummy!

Eurostar
To top the weekend off, first class tickets that we somehow managed dirt cheap for the trip home to London. Wine, cheese, mousse, bread, some veal and big comfy seats, that’s what this weekend was all about! And of course the 20 minute channel tunnel.

Our new place

We have finally moved into our own place. YES!

Here's some pics of our new place.

Green, green, green, green, green, green, green

Another long weekend so Ryanair flew us to Ireland. We began our journey of the Emerald Isle in Dublin- its capital. With Lou’s Dad’s advice of “Be good or the Lepricorns will get you” we set off with mischief in mind. We decided (based on Star & Kris’s advice) to get around the city on the Hop on - Hop off bus. Much was learnt about Dublin and its history thanks to the live commentary. A stop at Trinity College to view the Book of Kells with about 10,000 other gospel buffs (all rude Yanks), a brief visit to the St. Patrick’s Cathedral’s gardens (didn’t actually go into the cathedral itself), and then to one of the highlights of our trip – THE GUINNESS STOREHOUSE. Advice for others going there – if you pre-book your tickets on the net, you don’t have to queue for hours (thanks Mascha). Rob & I are both converted Guinness drinkers now thanks to our free pint at the end of the tour in the Gravity Bar which has 360 degree views of Dublin.

From Dublin we drove down to Glendalough which had an upper and lower lake, some monastery ruins and a waterfall or two.

Then it was down to Cork. We didn’t do much in Cork except to eat at one of the best Italian restaurants we have been too. Lou also won “Klutz of the weekend” award in Cork with her dramatic fall (at a very busy intersection). Good thing the little green man hadn’t turned red or there may have been more to this story. No tears but quite a few bruises later, more Guinness. Rob sampled the local “Murphy’s” in Cork (very similar but rival to Guinness which he enjoyed).

From Cork it onto Blarney were we both kissed the Blarney Stone. Legend has it that if you kiss you acquire the gift of eloquence. Then onto the town of Cashel for a quick tour of its rock and lunch. Then it was back to Dublin for our flights back to London.

One word to describe Ireland – Green.

PS Never get a Peugeot when hiring a car, they are absolute crap and the one we got had a gear box that crunched like unsoggy weet-bix and a second gear that did not even exist.
By the way, Rob is awesome.

Ireland (Rob’s version)

Rob and Lou went to Ireland.
Rob was awesome.
Lou was okay.
The end!