Berchem

I join Joke and Tim for a quick coffee before they head for work and after a quick shower I head out myself. It's funny that when I use Google maps for my journey it's shows my first part of the journey with a bike and that's because everyone here has a bike. Stood on the platform I start to panic when a high pitched siren starts ringing but soon realise it's to warn that a train is coming but to be honest it wouldn't give you enough time to get off the track in an emergency. The train is delayed and by the time I get to the other platform the train is leaving so I'm glad there is another one in 15 minutes. It takes just over an hour but when I get off I'm nowhere near the centre. I ask a lady and she tells me I need to catch the number one tram but I can't see one so as the tram pulls up a nice gentleman tells me I can get the number 2 and then the number 4. The city once again is an architectures dream. Beautiful buildings filled with modern day shops. The exterior has to be kept in the same style but the insides are modernised to accommodate our shopping demand. I stroll around and Bobby messages to say he will meet me in the centre. I try a honey coffee which definitely ticks my sweet tooth and before long Bobby arrives. He takes me to a shop where I have frites with horse meat and beer gravy and I'm sorry to say it was the tastiest gravy I've ever had. We wander the little streets and cross multiple bridge's before arriving at Dulle Griet. This is a bar that serves something called a kwak. It's where the beer is served in a glass that is so expensive to replace and multiple people stealing them, they take one shoe as a deposit after more strolling we share our last beer which this time I opt for the cherry beer which is delicious. We say our goodbyes on the platform and I arrive back a little later. As I arrive I run to catch my train on the platform opposite and even though the doors are open the lady is shouting at me not to board,. The frustrating thing is they're isn't another train for an hour and I only ride one stop. Eventually I arrive back and as I sit outside on the balcony I get chatting to the young people next door. After an hour of chatting I ask if they want to go to the local bar and share a beer, there is method in my madness as I've spotted a pool table in here I cause a bit of a stir when I go in and beat one of the locals twice, but the beer is so strong here and by the time I get back to Tim's house it's starting to rain so I try to bring the patio cushions in and end up nearly putting myself down the stairs. At this point it's time to put myself to bed.Read more