Traveling to Belgium...Papaver help!!!!

[tulip]

Indysteel, are you wanting to stay and visit cities only or get to little farms and countryside? If you are going to stay in the cities, definitely TAKE THE TRAIN!

If you decide you need a day in the country, the best thing to do is to take the train to a smaller town and rent a car from there.

But the best advice is to take the train and not drive. Trains are more convenient and a whole, whole, whole lot cheaper than renting a car. Renting a car is expensive because of the rental fees and tarifs (high), gas (like $8 gallon), tolls (very high--like $20 each time last time I was there), and parking (expensive and a total PITA).

So why would you want to drive, again??

[Grog]

I also agree that taking the train is the single best way to get around. You can always rent bikes and go for easy rides (it's pretty flat) on the country side without even having to go more than 20 km. Especially in Belgium.

Driving in Brussels or Paris would really, really ruin things for me. I've driven over about a third of France, but I have horrible memories of driving in Paris. The Velib' however is so much fun!

I'm very envious!

Some lovely Belgian images from my friend Hugues, perhaps the first photoblogger, who's still going strong after 14 years: http://www.fugitif.net/

[Grog]

p.s. I should say that for my husband the experience of taking the train in Europe was one of the most exotic things on his first trip there!

[Cataboo]

I have a picture of myself in the beguinage at about the same spot - except the daffodils were in bloom all over the yard.

[papaver]

And if you want to spend a day in the country, you can always ask me to drive you guys around. It's no biggie.

Maybe we can visit the most important places of the spring classics.

[krisl6]

Just to throw in my two cents: I live in Holland which is similar to Belgium and as an American I find the streets here (especially in the city centers) very narrow and crowded and the parking spaces are a lot smaller too! Not to mention all of the bikes, pedestrians, scooters, cars, etc. It can get pretty hectic and stressful, especially if you don't know exactly where you're going. That being said I've found the public transport systems in Holland, France and Belgium to be very good. Take the train and that way you can relax and enjoy your honeymoon and not argue about directions, driving, etc.

[papaver]

Oh yes and if you want to drive in Belgium.... ahum... there's one minor confusing thing. If you are in the french part of Belgium you'll have to follow the signs: Bruxelles, Anvers, Bruges, Louvain or Gand, depending if you want to go to Brussel, Antwerpen, Brugge, Leuven or Gent. The same goes for the dutch part of Belgium. If you want to visit Liège, Namur or Bastogne... you'll have to follow the signs Luik, Namen, Bastenaken.

Oh yes and we have another rather strange rule. If there is a street on your right, stop and let the other drivers coming from that street pass... Maybe Kris can explain you that one.

[krisl6]

Oh yes and we have another rather strange rule. If there is a street on your right, stop and let the other drivers coming from that street pass... Maybe Kris can explain you that one.

Haha. Yeah that was a new one to me. Almost got myself killed on more than one occasion! Strange rule indeed. And right turns can be pretty scary too if there's a bike coming up behind you. Stick with the trains I say!

[papaver]

oh yeah and if you hit a pedestrian or a cyclist with your car, you are ALWAYS responsible for their medical bills, and no you don't get a discount.

[sfa]

If you are in the french part of Belgium you'll have to follow the signs: Bruxelles, Anvers, Bruges, Louvain or Gand, depending if you want to go to Brussel, Antwerpen, Brugge, Leuven or Gent. The same goes for the dutch part of Belgium. If you want to visit Liège, Namur or Bastogne... you'll have to follow the signs Luik, Namen, Bastenaken.

It took me six years to realize that Aix-la-Chapelle (which I learned about in my French classes) was the SAME PLACE as Aachen (which I learned about in my art history classes). OK, not a Dutch/French difference, just a border town thing.

Sheesh.

[papaver]

This can be helpfull...

http://www.bedandbreakfast-gent.be/_en/home.php

Look at the extras.

[papaver]

It took me six years to realize that Aix-la-Chapelle (which I learned about in my French classes) was the SAME PLACE as Aachen (which I learned about in my art history classes). OK, not a Dutch/French difference, just a border town thing.

Sheesh.

If i go one mile to my left I live in Tirlemont-Gossencourt, if I go one mile to my right I live in Tienen-Goetsenhoven.