Eurostar to Brussels

Johnny flicked the kettle on in the dark this morning. Wanted to make sure we were out of our room and on our way to St Pancras Station in plenty of time to catch Eurostar.

The alarm didn't go off for about another half an hour so had a little while to lie there and wake up slowly. Got out in reasonably good time and got a taxi to the station. Didn't want to repeat the arrival drama today. A quick ride to the station and printed our tickets without any difficulty whatsoever. Had breakfast in the station and had a bit of a look around this "destination". Plenty of time to get to our platform and wait for the boarding notice. Even found a red post

box in the station and dropped a few more post cards into the slot.

That station moves like clockwork. Boarding notice appears, all the passengers fall into line, climb aboard the train easily and find our allocated seats. Train pulls out on time and makes slick progress toward the coast.

I was a little disappointed that there were high embankments along long stretches of the tracks restricting views of the Kent countryside. However, got a quick glimpse of a chalk horse carved into the hillside as we neared Folkestone. Descended into the channel tunnel and emerged again a surprisingly short time later.

Two things immediately struck us as we looked out at the French countryside. Firstly, the amazing criss-crossing of vapor trails in the sky. Some of the patterns looked like naughts and crosses and we

were staggered at the number of flight paths making their way across the Continent. Secondly, and I have been meaning to mention this from our very first day in the UK, are the number of wind turbines dotting the countryside. They are everywhere and we can't help but admire their beautiful sleek lines and feel that these European countries have got their act together regarding renewable energy.

The train glided into Brussels so quickly before you could say "Jack Robinson" and it was only because all the passengers began preparing to get off we realised we had reached our destination.

Another impressive railway station. Huge. Got some Euros out of a hand ATM and caught a taxi to our hotel. The driver seemed to be a bit put out that we wanted a ride. He pointed out in stilted English that he could see the Square from the departure point. We tried to explain that we were strangers to the city and it would be quite difficult dragging our luggage across the old cobblestones. Made no difference, he was still grumpy but drove around the block to the hotel anyway.

Settled in and went out to explore the city. Went back to the railway station first because Johnny wants to make sure he has his trip to the airport organised for tomorrow morning. He definitely doesn't want to miss his flight to St Petersburg. He bought a ticket to the airport and located the platform that his train will depart from. I decided that I would do the same for my Antwerp rail journey too. So we've got all that sorted for tomorrow.

Flagged another taxi to a location that had been recommended by a very helpful young woman in the Tourist Information Office at the station. This driver was a much more cheerful fellow. More amazing buildings and another Big Wheel. Like the sponsorship on this one.

There seems to be quite a few pretty little gardens in Brussels. We wandered into one and found the caretaker in his kind-of garden shed. I spoke to him and he too was a fountain of information and told us to come back and visit him when we return to Brussels and he will tell us the best things to see and do in this city.

Continued exploring and eventually found a cafe that looked like a suitable place to eat. We were getting a little worried because we couldn't figure out what was listed on all the menus we were reading. We were beginning to think that we were going to have to eat at McDonalds! Anyway, found a menu that we could understand, went in and had a delicious dinner. Another taxi back to our hotel and now we are preparing for the next 7 days.