This was one of the least planned as far as time spent prior to travel but probably the most intense detailed trips I have ever planned. A month in mostly Belgium and some France loosely based on a prior trip I did with my Aussie buddy, Bushy in 2017.
The idea started with Bushy mentioning a possible trip with him, me, Scotty and wives spring of 2024. As is the world, things got complicated with planning for 6 of us and eventually I decided to move on with plans for just my wife Vera and me.
Basically a full month, with approximately a week in Brussels, a week in Lillie, a week in Liege and the last 4-5 days in Paris.
The loose plans are to watch 6 of the Pro Cycling Spring Classic races, sight see a bunch during the other 20 plus days and ride a bike as much as I could while here. (Yes, I packed my cross Aussie bike to bring along)
My friend Mark was gracious enough to bring us to the airport on the 28th of March, mid day for a 3 P.M. take off to Boston and then on to Charles de Gaulle airport. Checking bags was a bonus, 3 bags total plus carry ons. My two bags, bike and big roller went for FREE, wow! Thanks Delta, all others could be carried on so no extra bag fees. An hour delay take off made getting the transfer in Boston a bit close, had to walk to a separate gate and take a shuttle bus and then hustle to get to the next gate. Got there just as the plane started to board. YEAH!
Comfort Plus seating was great on both legs the journey. Extra leg room and only two side by side seats. Left Mpls at 4 P.M. Central time, arrived in Paris at 9:00 A.M. France time. I booked a Rail Europe train ride airport then to Brussels the day of arrival but that could have been better thought out. We walked some distance from baggage claim to the adjacent rail station hauling all the bags. Now it’s about 10:30 A.M. and the train departs around 4 ish. The rail station is very busy and confusing. After a few attempts, we start to understand where we need to board, how to board, when to board. Maybe we are ready, some food and coffee to settle us down and now we wait. This will be a long day.
4:00 finally arrives, we are find the platform, we think we are boarding the right train, fingers crossed. The train is packed! We have reserved seats but there is no way for us to get through all the cars with all this luggage and find our seats. Well, time to park everything in the jump seats and luggage are in between two cars. Not great but we have seats and control of all the luggage and the trip is only 1.5 hours.
The fun part is we are seated next to a group of young boys, 5th-6th grade who are heading to Brussels with their coaches for a futbol match. (Soccer for all us Americans) They are excited and having fun and one of the coaches speaks some English and we hit it off and have fun along with them. Passes the time. Before we know it, we hear the announcement for Brussels Midi/Zuid rail station. We are getting so very close to calling it a day.
Ok, that’s it for page one of the trip. Don’t ask me how many hours it was with the built in 5-6 hour difference between MN and France. We get off the train at about 6 P.M. France time. How long have we been traveling, I can’t figure it out, maybe about 24 hours so far. But we are in Brussels and have all the baggage.
Page two up soon, a bit of adversity getting to our Airbnb and check in before calling it a day. More about that and lots more to come soon. Check back.