Brussels to Ypres, oops!!!

The morning got off to a good start with another enjoyable breakfast in the atmospheric cafe next door. After breakfast we returned to our room, took our ablutions, packed our bags and departed in plenty of time to stroll around the corner to the railway station. We arrived approximately an hour before our planned departure and this is when our day began to go pear shaped.

Ticket office queue was about 100 meters long. Maybe it was only 50 meters but it stretched out the door and all the way across the

concourse. I tagged on to the end and quickly moved forward. Along the way a man from an African country approached the queue and began shouting at people. No one could understand what he was saying but we did understand the words "Rwanda" and "terrorist". There was a woman, also from an African country standing in front of me and she tried to ignore him. There were two young women behind me from Montenegro who also tried to ignore him. We all began talking in English and the woman in front said that he was probably from Rwanda and that a lot of people from that country are "wrong" in the head because of what they have endured.

Anyway, reached the ticket window and asked for our tickets to Ypres. When I looked at the departure board, there wasn't a train going to Ypres at the time I had expected. Asked a man in working in the station which train I should catch and he pointed out one that would take us all the way. So we boarded that train at the appropriate time

and glided out of the station.

About an hour later Johnny began watching the GPS thingy on his phone. He was a little concerned that the train didn't seem to be going in the right direction. He went and asked the conductor just before the train pulled into the next station. Guess what, we should have changed trains several stations back. The conductor held up the train so that we could get off. She kindly wrote down instructions on what to do. We had to change platforms and get the next train back 3 stations. Then we had to change trains and go one stop. Then we had to change again and go three stops. Change again and we would eventually arrive in Ypres.

All that changing trains was more than a little stressful, but we eventually arrived at our destination, got a taxi to our Fields of Gold

B&B and settled in.

Setting off to explore the town I was particularly interested in the Cloth Hall.

The Cloth Hall is a large hall, a medieval commercial building. It was one of the largest commercial buildings of the Middle Ages, when it served as the main market and warehouse for the Flemish city's prosperous cloth industry. The original structure, erected mainly in the 13th century and completed 1304, lay in ruins after artillery fire devastated Ypres in World War I. Between 1933 and 1967, the hall was meticulously reconstructed to its prewar condition. At 125 metres in breadth, with a 70 metres high belfry tower, the Cloth Hall recalls the importance and wealth of the medieval trade city. A lesson for those contemplating the fate of the Christchurch Cathedral.

Upon advice that we should arrive at the Menin Gate around 7.00 pm for the 8.00 pm Last Post, we decided it would be a good idea to have dinner early. It was getting a little cool so we rugged up. We were quite surprised at the numbers of people there. All ages, from quite elderly folk to groups of school students on excursions.

The lion sitting on top of the Menin Gate is looking towards the battlefields.

After the playing of the bugles individuals and group of people had the opportunity to lay a wreath at the monument. A final playing of the bugles and it was all over.

A few pics of other things that caught my eye.