BRUSSELS IN DA RAIN

{Sung to the tune of “Singin’ In The Rain”- with apologies to the Late Great Gene Kelly }

   It’s Brussels in da rain/

   Yes Brussels in da rain,

   What a miserable day/

   Was Brussels in da rain.

   Our Guide really tried/

   Luck was not on his side,

   And to make it worse/

   Was the looooong bus ride.

   And then, there was the Lunch/

   But not for dis bunch,

   Not even a mussel/

   Or some Jenever Punch. {look it up}

Ok… Ok 

You get the picture, our first port stop in Bruges and Ship sponsored

“Shore Excursion” advertised as:

“A Delightful tour of Brussels with Lunch”,

Was a total Wash Out, Bummer… DUD!

First there was a mega boring bus ride with the ever-monotonic Maurice {nice guy with a wry sense of humor but he could put a “Type ‘A’ meth-addict” into a coma} with a 5 minute stretch your legs/photo-op stop at the site of the 1958 Brussels World Fair netted a shot of the Logo Sculpture entitled “Atomium Expo ’58” a huge model of iron crystal atomic age science physics Brussels Europe – or sumpthin’ like that

Then there was the cold, dank, drizzle throughout the whole trip.

Not to mention the “Plenty of time for shopping and sightseeing” as advertised being reduced to 30 minutes due to all the traffic going in.

Then there was "Poor Maurice" having to constantly repeat himself as he was being drowned out by the more VOCAL guides around us…

And… since much of our bus troop were a tad on the elderly and a bit slow walking, half the troop struggled to keep up since the traffic crossings were too short, or Maurice was walking too fast, or maybe not keeping an eye on his flock… or Whatevah!!!

And of course there was that

“Marvelous Typical Lunch”… NOT!!!

First a Rude host set the tone for what followed. 

A meager salad of who-knows-what with some smoked salmon on top, followed by, get this… dried out Turkey Slices slathered with a yellow gelatinous sauce, stone cold smashed potatoes and a vegetable so un-remarkable that we can’t recall what it was, but… there was free wine and the bread was fresh. Oh Joy!

Then came the argument between the guide and the Shipboard monitor in the group with the owner over whether there was, or was not dessert. 

  “No Dessert!”

Barked the owner and out we went.

Given 20 minutes more of free time after lunch, we headed back to try to find what Maurice touted was the “Best Waffles in Brussels” for our own stab at dessert. 

After a surly waffle lady and totally unremarkable waffles, the Tempelshifs and us [hereafter referred to as We4] headed back to the Rendezvous point to wait for “sotto voce Maurice” to lead his limping flock back to the bus… with the usual suspects getting stuck on the traffic island at every other crossing.

The Ride back was no better than in and we were happy to trudge back to the boat to get out of the cold and refresh before dinner.

We'll cover dinner and the rest of the day in a short opening for the next post… for now HE is headed for the Scotch.

Ciao 4 Now

Uncle Chuck & The wet, cold & miserable,

Dragon Lady