Off the Mark
Trip Start
Jun 04, 2008
1
5
17
Trip End
Ongoing
Antwerp,
Antwerpen,
Belgium
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The trip is off and away! We parked our car on the train that runs below the English Channel and before we knew it we were driving on the wrong side of the road and couldn't understand any of the signs, we were in France!!!
Matt and I were like kids at christmas singing along with our tunes and admiring the scenery, vast green fields and cute ancient cottages. Before we knew it we passed a sign that said Belgia which we assumed correctly to be the border of Belgium. The highway system in Europe is amazing and we easily found the town of Bruges. Searching for a park we drove over the canals and through the cobblestoned lanes of the beautiful centre, we were blown away yet stressed at the same time. When we found a park we landed the rig and started exploring
Matt insisted (This ones for you Carrie)
. We started at the central markt and took copius amounts of photos of the main square. We got lost in the little laneways and finally started to comprehend where we were and what we were doing. Our first beer was a Bruge native ale and it was delightful. We walked around for another hour and then bought some 75cent 450ml cans of beer. We sat in the square getting liquored up and watching the world go by. When the bars started to buzz we knew it was time.We grabbed some half pints for 1 euro and chilled out outside. The Netherlands was playing in the Euro Cup and the fans had all turned up in their bright orange. We met a few american girls and started chatting. One of the girls was an ice queen and when she went to the ladies room I asked her friends " If she's here whos miding hell", they left 2 minutes later. We ended up meeting two Belgian uni students. We spent the night chatting with them and drinking the cheap beer. The night got a bit rowdy and we pulled up stumps around 3am.
Day 2 felt like we'd been on the road for a month already. We hit the road and pulled into Ghent. The university town was equally stunning and we ate our bread and dip on the canals admiring the architecture and damn fine local lasses.
We remarked on how frequent laugh's and looks of bewilderment were coming in our direction. With the two afros well due for a haircut, boardies laying low and pluggas flip floppin' away the locals are quite often in shock (horror)
Antwerp
. This would prove to be a common occurrence that we both relish. We left Ghent and drove through the hectic city of Antwerp. Stress levels were through the roof but Karl as always was on song and didn't miss a beat. We pulled in to a main street parking spot and set Karl up. I had a two hour kip while Matty went for a walk and Skyped his sexy girlfiend Carrie. Afterwards we suited up and went to the centre of town. Like every other town thus far it was beautiful, particularly the huge glorious church in the middle. Once again we sat in the middle of the square and drank cheap beer. Before going to a pub we sampled some Belgian chocolate and let me say the rumours were true ladies and gentleman, the rumours were true (and you had me at hello). The night was pretty quiet, we went to a Jazz bar and watched a few guys play the blues. They were reading off music sheets and there wasn't much soul in it but it was still pretty cool. I tried a few different beers and Matty and myself chatted with an Aussie lad over a few pints. We knew this was our last night in Belgium and we were stoked that our first country, one we didn't expect much from had proved to be a beautiful place full of good times, was such a blast. On our trip of a lifetime we realised how lucky we are and didn't dare think of the future possibilities. 
Comments
chocolate
where has my handsome man gonex