August 10 -16

August 10, 2009

Got up at 730 and headed to the train station…missed the first one by about 5 minutes….so had to wait another 55 for the fast one to Brussels….I get off at Antwerp….First class and it usually has lots of extra seats……there is a plug for the computer but it is high up and my plug for the computer keeps falling out so I am down to 9% on my battery…..signing out and will continue at Antwerp
Was able to find my hostel with few hiccups…a really old bar with rooms above it…it had some atmosphere about it….checked in …spent about 1 hour on the computer and then headed out for a meal…
Found the best one I have had at a small place…you design your own salad and then I had some spaghetti as well…..was full when I couldn’t finish it all and it cost less than 10 Euros even with the drink!....walked around just looking
Got booked in at the hostel when I got back as my room wasn’t ready when I first got there….two beds ….one shower in the room above us that was communal and no locks on the door…but no one else there so had a long and hot shower….
Picked up my camera and a map and head out for the afternoon of seeing what they said to see…..the cathedral was good, then went to the river’s edge…there was a memorial plaque for the Canadian’s who liberated the port during WW2….they were in desperate need of food and water and supplies….Canadians took a heavy casualty toll in the war as we were given the dirty job of ousting the Germans where they had entrenched and fortified themselves ….I think something like 6500 casualties in the operation and 550 in just this small part… wandered around and then headed downtown to see if I could get into the Diamond museum…..got there just in time for it to be closed and it was open tomorrow at 1000 but is closed on Wednesdays….and it was going to be Wednesday that I would have some free time…maybe…started back on foot to the hostel as I thought I had my bearings down pretty good….well not so much but I was only out by about 3 streets….actually had to go get a coat as it was starting to rain and it was getting cooler at night…
Didn’t visit any pubs….I don’t drink beer so what is the point…unless they have my Seduction and then it is too expensive….
Decided to call it an early night as I didn’t have much of a sleep the night before and head back….answered all my emails, caught up on some CBC news and paid off my Visa bill…. my rash has started to go away…think it was my diet of too much sugar that was causing the problem…will try to stay on a vegetarian’s diet……well maybe not that extreme…..my own sheets and away we go….

August 11, 2009
A good day overall.
Got up and had a little breakfast….toasted jam, juice and coffee…Then headed to the railway station..
A very complicated trip to Vimy ridge that was helped with the aid of the attendants….
Needed to catch a train to Lille but get off at Kortjick and then go to Lens then transfer to a train to Vimy….….but needed to get back on at 621 in Vimy to catch the train back to Lille to get back to Antwerp…ok no problem
There were some waits in between but it was going to take a full day…which I had planned for
Train to Lille …good…train to Lens broke down and had to be replaced…I thought there was a major problem as the conductor was radioing and there were 3 police officers on board…who knows? Thank goodness for the 1 hour wait at Lens as I was able to still make the connection to Vimy…
Vimy is a small place about 3000 people…was told that you could get a taxi to the memorial…well not from Vimy…talked over his fence to a French fellow and he offered to take me there for free…..took him up on the offer…he only spoke French so I was able to practice mine….and it seemed to be ok…got to the memorial just in time for the last tour…..seems to be how things are going here…after the tour was chatting with the two lady tour guides and almost forgot to get to the memorial…that would have been a p.o…also asked if they could book me a taxi to get back to the Vimy station which was only like a bus shelter….off to the memorial and it is truly magnificent….a good tribute to the Canadians that is for sure….took several pictures and tried to picture the area about 100 years ago….when we fought at Vimy…..
During the tour .…some interesting facts..….the trenches were only about 25 metres apart…no wonder you could get picked off by a sniper…that is gopher hunting distance….the guide said that there was a gentleman’s agreement that there would be no grenade throwing as it could get nasty…at least in the lulls between attacks…lots of tunnels…..sandbagging….trenches…. interesting stuff…snipers could pick you off easily if you weren’t under cover….messenger’s life expectancy was not a good length…12-18 days I think she said…worthwhile…glad I came here
Ran back to the tourist centre which was just closing and asked the girl if the cab was coming …yes…..it was 605 and my train left at 621 from Vimy…it showed up at 611…we have 10 minutes to make it to the station….I don’t think so…but the driver if I understood him right said he would try to go fast….
He was taking a different route than the guy who brought me here…nowhere did I see Vimy on the signs..…. at 618 I asked in my not so good French if he was going to Vimy….. no, he thought I wanted to catch a train TO Vimy …not AT Vimy….oh my…ok, now what…besides paying him 23 Euros to go to the wrong station
We stopped at the station in Arras which is where he was taking me and we started having a conversation with the attendant there…she could speak very little English but I was able to use my total command of the French language to tell them I needed to get to Lille and somehow back to Antwerp …they were able to get me to Lille but could not find out about Antwerp…no problem just get me back….turns out I was on the faster train to Lille than I would have been if I would have caught it at Vimy….after all was said and done I arrived back in Antwerp at about 2200
Interesting thing happened on the train….a ratty looking young man…about 24 I am guessing gets on the train and is in the first class compartment….seems a little suspicious…the conductor takes my ticket …good….goes to him….from the conversation her hasn’t got one…right then and there he gets a fine of 40 Euros and has to pay it with his credit card….sounded a little pissed…and has to pay for the fare….after the conductor left he rips up the paper and fires it into the bin and on the floor….about 20 minutes later the conductor comes along and tells him to clean up the mess…..he is a little mad…but does it…..then just before the train stops he lights up a cigarette ( no smoking on the train ) I was hoping the guy would come along again and nab him one more time….seems like this guy didn’t like rules of any sort….
Got to bed at 2330…after checking in on the hostels computer as the owner had mine and was sleeping I thought….
Some thoughts on the rails and the farming…..
I believe that the countries need to rethink some of their railway business…all over the countries there are rails that I believe have not seen a train for 10s of years….what are they doing still there…they are eyesores…..and there are abandoned and unused cars another eyesore…Why not take these in and have the metal recycled….it begs the question what the heck are they there for….Could they not put people to work doing some of this…and it may not be skilled work but it would enhance their country and their economy…..at least in my thinking AND save the resources of the planet…and put people to work and perhaps have some beautification in the process…..maybe old world thinking prevents this….
2nd point on the rail system…..they seem to want to keep an outdated and I believe inefficient system going…on the train to Vimy, three cars and I believe there were 7 people on the train….and that included the conductor and the engineer….that has to be a money losing proposition…no question…and this happened over and over again…in the first class section most of the time about 5 to 10 per cent full…what is that all about….why not cut down the number of trains…or start hiring vans…or have pre-booking so that the numbers justify the trains…..but to hop on a train and go to another town 5 miles down the road and then hop on it to come back seems a little ridiculous…..they have unemployment now…….this has to be under employment….crazy…but they seem to accept this money losing situation…..I would like to see the books for the system to see how much money from the federal governments go to funding this….
3rd point….I don’t know how the majority of these stores and shops make a living….there was one restaurant that in the two days that I was there had no one in it….and the one next to it had maybe 7….do you employ a cook and a waiter and a manager for free……maybe they are fronts for drug smugglers…but there is no way that they could make any sort of living out of their enterprise…and it was all over Europe…not just the restaurants…clothes, shoes, jewelry, hats,, souvenirs, pots and pans, …….didn’t matter the country…I need to see the workings of some of these…the business plans…it seems like another “socialized” system as they have to get their money from somewhere…..but so many seem to have enough money to sit out at the pub and drink their beer and whatever it is that they eat…unless all these people are tourists???? I think not!!!
Don’t think the businesses would survive in Canada….
In China, at least we know that they are being paid by the state and the menial jobs are still being done….not that they are perfect because their pollution record is also leaving something to be desired….
How the heck do you get this cleaned up….I am not sure….but needs to start somewhere…..


August 12, 2009
Got u at about 7:30 and got packed away ready to leave except for my computer…which the owner was protecting….
Headed to the train station to find out how to get to London….easy…go through the Chunnel and no problem…been there……too expensive….have time to travel and will take the ferry…if you go to Oostende….said the ticket seller in the terminal…good…trains leave on the 21…..821,921,1021….so I headed back and had breakfast at 9;30 the owner did not get up until then ….supposed to be from 9 until 11 but I couldn’t even wake him up by tapping on his door until 930 when he must have heard me….not sure….anyway…had breakfast, got my computer, booked the hostels for two nights ( should have only booked for one) and had 21 minutes to get to the station and go…made it by 3 minutes…. About 2 hours later we pull into Oostwende
“I would like to book a ticket on the ferry to England”, said Darryl.
“You can’t”, said the lady behind the counter. “Only cars are allowed on these ferries. You could check at their check outside and to the right!’
Now I KNOW these guys are stupid….no passengers on a ferry only people who are going on cars. I could try to piggyback with someone but I would have to go to the check in building about 1 km away and then plead my case to someone who has a car and who is going over. NO THANKS.
Back to the train terminal…..I want to go to Calais…ok you go back to Kortjik, then to Lille, then to Calais…you will get in about 1715….no problem he said…..and he calmly walked to the train ( cursing under his breath, telling himself that they can have Europe because all it has is its history and medieval thinking and until someone gets to experience all that is wrong…the politicians don’t because they use all the good things….people will be stuck in the rut that has been in place here and will need dynamite to change) that was leaving in about 10 minutes, boarded and sat down and laughed at the last day on Continental Europe….
hadn’t missed a train, hadn’t caught a wrong one, had followed the advice all along and then this Peckerhead in Antwerp puts an end to that…..geez…hope I make it to my hostels that I booked just this morning..
I told you a built in inefficiency and looks like an inability or desire to change the Old World thinking….
Well I made it and here I sit I in the corner of the bar area of the ferry…almost got on the wrong train in Lille but am getting too wise for their fooling me…..
Interesting point of 12….last night when I was returning from Vimy, at Lille, the train back to Antwerp was in platform #12…I meant to take a picture of it as it is more than a coincidence that this keeps happening, but I forgot…..there are 16 platforms what are the chances…but it seems like there is something with that number and when I came back here on my roundabout way to get to Calais…..my train to leave was from the very same platform….so this time, I took my camera out of my bag and did snap the picture….arrived in Calais….at 1712 and had to catch the bus over to the departure ferries……then had to buy the ticket for the ferry which was about $30…..my Eurail no longer is valid....England does not accept it so I will be paying full rates and not have “free” rail anymore….hope to be in London by about midnight…but not sure if I will be able to get into my hostel….we shall see….may phone from the ship to see how to get in and if I can….another long travel day and I haven’t taken many pictures or spent much money….maybe both good things….well I did spend some money…forgot to buy Belgian chocolates in Belgium so bought them on board here and also some Swiss Chocolate even though I only traveled through….hmmmmm
Also changed all my money back into sterling so that I am not lopsided with all the change….now only two moneys….dollars and pounds…pretty soon only one…going to get a train into London off the boat….should be about 1 ½ hours to get there…could be quite late even if I get all the things right…..
Caught the bus to the train station and then used the machine and not the actual person to get my ticket….what a progressive person….noticed the same young couple from the boat going to the train as well…talked with them ..they were from Germany…just finished their grade 13 and were heading into the university with Psychology and maybe economics….we had a good chat for the trip into London…which was going to be about two hours…..we had set our watches back so I wasn’t going to as late…German education is not free but seems to be subsidized….very pleasant chat…Simone and Alex….
Arrived at London’s bridge and had to catch a train to New Cross Gate…it was the last stop on the line…wouldn’t you know….about another hour and I was there….then out the exit and take a direction…they said left….the other left I guess as I was not going in the right direction even after I asked a local….finally arrived at about 2345 at the hostel…checked in and got my stuff put away…two others in the room and not here….actually got to talk to Vivian…it was afternoon there and she was at home…chatted for a several minutes and then headed to bed….after a long day…OF ONLY TRAVEL…


August 13, 2009

Got up and had a shower….It was welcomed and I left the hot water on a little longer as I needed the therapy….but missed my breakfast by 5 minutes…lady at the desk was very uncompromising…..
Needed to get my trip to Manchester figured out…actually could stay another time if I could get an n=overnight train to Manchester….also Wembley stadium….asked how to get to the station to book my ticket….Victoria….take bus 437….to there…ok…got a day pass as I thought it would be a good idea…she did too….
The bus ride seemed to take a long time but eventually got there…asked at the information counter…had to go to Euston station….which bus….can’t remember…..it seemed a little shorter and I was seeing a lot of London….Euston station…no overnight train and I was also trying to figure out how to get to Liverpool and Shrewsbury for the wedding…the reason I was going there in the first place…was told to go to Birmingham…. so I had to get three booklets to figure out where and when I would go….that took a good half hour…
Finally decided on my course of action and booked tickets for Manchester….leave at 820…if I missed this train, you had to buy another ticket…no refunds….no problem…77 pounds about 140 dollars…no Eurail here….can see why the pass is soooooooo good….high speed train though….will see how I can get to Liverpool once I get there….get checked in and then also see how to get to the wedding from there…
Off to the Wembley stadium for a tour…which bus…18….bad idea…took over 2 hours on the bus to get there…if I ever get on a bus in London during the summer (or even for that matter, any time) shoot me….the traffic was bad ..there were over 50 stops I am sure….and the driver drove by the place after I asked if he would drop me off close…
Impressive place from afar….got up close and took some pictures…looking for the tour place…no such luck ….asked a couple of blacked suited security guards about it….oh, no tours today or for two more days…next Wednesday…the U2 concert was on tomorrow and Saturday….hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mini tours on Monday for 10 pounds…maybe I can catch that one…..now what….
Dinner…went to a fish and chip shop…..I was the only one….the 25ish cook and I had a good chat…told me he probably cpuld get the U2 tickets for me if I wanted and fairly cheaply….actually was considering it….but would make the days very hectic….one of the best meals again…and for 6 pounds….if you get away from the tourist traps the meals are good and they are cheap…rest of the day went down by the Buckingham Palace and the major tourist areas just wandering around….decided to take the London Eye….very impressive on the skyline….did a brief 4D video after standing in line for about ½ hour ……cueing up is almost a national pastime here I think…certainly detracts for the time in the day to do things!!!!!!...a very magnificent view ….about 1 hour of moving for 17.5 pounds….but a good tourist trap….one young French girl…grade 7ish…was feeling a little woozy being way up there…mom and dad smiled as did I…I took their picture at the top …she managed to smile…was actually again able to converse in my French…they commented on my Henri shirt as it was a French person…they took mine as well…getting a little late so I walked around and then head back….Oh yea, I had bought a metro pass as I though I would not want to take the bus again…got close to my home and then was forced to take it again …and guess what ….it was the last stop on the bus line…another 1 hour at least on the bus….I was a little tired of the tour…..back at the hostel…charged u[ my camera and my computer was on the charger…..and I set my watch and headed for bed…..knowing that I had a train to catch tomorrow

August 15, 2009

The date for the wedding …the main reason I actually came to Europe in the first place…left at 820 so that I could get into Shrewsbury, (Acton Brunell)…didn’t even know where it was when I first read the invitation….and a 1 hour 20 minute train ride….went to the tourist bureau which I found but if I would have had find my way back would have been difficult because of all the winding and short and up and down roads…found out that I would need a taxi to get there…was able to flag down a cab after he dropped someone else off…we had a jolly chat on the way there…about a 10 minute drive….again, not a straight stretch all the way there…..
Was three hours early in a village of about 300 people …but they had a college there that housed about 300 students during the term….walked around for the time to pass…..they had a castle to look around…very small and not restored…just a ruin actually and a cemetery beside….with grave going back to the 1820s..
Got to the church fairly early and sat in the back pew trying to be non conspicuous…and unseen…the church filled up and Romain walked in but didn’t see me…but he was chatting up with people in the rows…was only hoping that he didn’t see me then….the service started and I was able to see Meghan and her dad come in she did not see me……
The service was about average length…and then they left the church and waited outside on a very sunny day…the visiting line…
I started taking pictures and was standing a little off to the side when they saw me…Meghan first, then Romain….big smiles and we had some good chats during the rest of the day….because I hadn’t let them know, there was no place set for me at the reception…but they quickly found a spot and the rest of the evening played out as I suspected…except that the dance was a Ceilidh…..Scottish dance…with lots of partners, dosey dohing, swing your partner, circle left, circle back….form an arch…well into the night….I had entertained the idea of going home after the reception….at about 2200 as the last train left at about 2230….when it got close to leaving time…I was told not to go and that there would be a place to sleep…I only needed a couch I said ….so I stayed on until about 200 ...Meghan’s dad found me the couch and I found some sleep….a policewoman said she would drive me back to Manchester if I wanted and I said I would consider that…


August 16, 2009

Decided to go home by train so got up at about 730 and no one was up….found the phone and made a call to the company which had driven me out…..they didn’t now where I was exactly so I had to carry the phone outside and give them some landmarks….no one was up before I left at 820 so I didn’t wake anyone to say goodbye….they may have thought I got lost or that I was kidnapped…..you know I am a celebrity…the train was about 1 hour wait….so I sat down and caught up on a little sleep…..
Made it back to Manchester arriving at platform 12… .Shrewbury only had 6 so there was not chance for 12…I am not paranoid about this nor do I have a fixation…it happens way more that normal…that is all….checked out to my hostel and notice that there had been a fire about 2 blocks from our place as there were fire engines all around the place…had to find out some information on the train and the times…needed to go to a ticket machine to get my ticket…..spent about 5 minutes there ( it was an off peak day so it only cost 67 pounds…looked up on the board and the train was leaving in 1 minute..….. missed it …from platform 7….so I went had had breakfast (it was 1030) ..…had the breakfast ( I seem to have lost my appetite…. almost couldn’t eat an egg, 2 slices of bacon and 2 pieces of toast….asked for milk and it was warm….must be the way they like it) and headed back to the station …..train leaves in 5 minutes from track 6….got on but couldn’t find an unreserved set of two seats…..my backpack does not fit about the seats so it usually has to be my seatmate…took two reserved ones and waited for some one to kick me out of theirs…..hasn’t happened so far and we are ½ way there….I have no hostel booked but I am going to go back to the one I had before I left…it was cheap, had internet and was fairly central to the places I still want to see…Wembley and Abbey Road….so will try to see them in the next day and ½ and then gone….

Got off guess what..track 12...there are 18 of them...keeps happening...got my travel pass for today and for tomorrow..will need to start at 930 tpo get the maximum out of it... Wimbledon will be the last I think as I want to get Wembley and Abbey Road for sure.....

Made it to the hostel and was able to secure the rooms for the next two days but up at the top...just what I need more exercise.....no matter...I am going to have a shower and then go out for a walk and to eat and then I will blog which I am doing now..just add some pics and I am done...


August 17,2009
Very productive day…up at about 730 and got my emails out of the way….and had breakfast…cheerios, and coffee….hmmmmm
Then off to mail something but needed to get to a post office….right up the road they said….well a mailbox but no post office….right…I will mail it from Canada….off to the train and metro and made it to Abbey Road….about 20 people all wanting to have their picture taken crossing the road….and the traffic starting and stopping and I am sure laughing at the tourists….me too…but I got mine as well

Then off to Wembley stadium…took about 45 minutes to get there….made it for the 1130 tour……the guide was excellent…. great sense of humour and was fun to be with…asked a lot of questions ….cost of the seats 17 pounds to 50, boxes for corporations 200-250 thousand pounds per year….seating capacity 90,000 seats….it is new….2007….won’t be part of the Olympics unless a final match of football….U2 had been there for a few days so they were taking down all the stuff and the grass was not visible….he apologized for that several times…..I think he really was sincere about it…proud of the job he had…Fantastic stadium….natural grass and open except for a part that opens form better air flow….they returf about 5 times a year…the sod goes to other fields….FA cup finals get played on it but no team plays out of it…no horse events in it…took a few interesting shots….
Off to Wimbledon……just got there for the 2nd last tour…a bit pricey I thought at 18 pounds….interesting facts….last match on centre court about 100 pounds….leave about 500 daily tickets that you can line up…and they are cheap…10 -17 pounds…forgot which……15,000 people watching the final…..850,000 pounds to the winner….10,000 pounds to the first round losers…an exclusive club….only 500 members…. merit or winning gets you into the club……lots of old farts, it looks like…so you die to get out…and there is a long waiting list….quite an interesting place….lots of courts…lots of history…famous quote by the first winner…”I don’t think this game is going to catch on”….able to take some photos from some interesting places but NOT of the members playing……. went into the shop after and bought a shirt and a pen…25.5 pounds…an expensive time at the most famous tennis club in the world…
Walked back to the metro and headed in to London to buy a few things for gifts for home and spent another 50 pounds…had a meal and headed home…..bought my ticket on the metro for Heathrow for tomorrow and came back to the hostel to clean up my mail do some checking on the cbc website, shave, shower and pack….will be ready to go for tomorrow…need to be at the airport by about 1100 so will have breakfast …and then head out …am getting anxious……. and ready to go HOME…if that is where home is…
Am in a room with 5 young German girls and one English girl…. so am really outnumbered….about 2220 so I will sign out for now and let the computer charge overnight so I can do the last day from the plane…but I think the planes all have power for these things so shouldn’t be a problem….need to download my last pictures and then we are done…final wrap and we are back home…

August 18, 2009
Avery restless night…I think in anticipation of the day….maybe 5 hours of sleep…was packed so no need to get up early…but was up at 710 and onto the computer to check out the emails and then have breakfast
Had breakfast and got out early and onto the trains…..a trip to London Bridge and asked one of the employees how to get there…Baker Street station was the first stop…then asked again and was told to go to Paddington and to catch the Express…..ok…..got to Paddington and asked my way to the Express…ok…..boarded and was on my way…wow that was easy….conductor came along and asked for my ticket…showed him the one I was given by the attendant at New Cross Gate and he said it doesn’t work here……oh, the underground only….well isn’t that just dandy…and how much does it cost to ride this one here….only 19 pounds…..!@#$%^&*()……another way to keep the tourists on the defensive…..paid it and am sending a letter to the corporation …..kind of pisses me off…..
Made it to the station in style….got off for terminals 1, 2 and 3…didn’t know as there was a terminal 4 as well…thought I had a 75% chance of being right…..walked for about 5 minutes…..still no indication of where the airlines were…. finally saw Air Canada at terminal 3…ok….good start….then off got my check in done and through customs no problem and then went looking for the Airline lounges….all lounges this way…..A lounges this way…Air Canada….starts with A…so off I go……nope……Air Canada is in the B-J lounges with several others…showed my guest pass and got in and then showed my card as well….didn’t need to use my guest pass as the card allowed me in….rookie…..rookie …rookie……
Had a 2nd better breakfast and am now blogging on the computer…will make a final summary on the plane