So we got to the Netherlands late in the afternoon on Monday. We were in a resort (empty this time of year) north of Amsterdam, near the canal. So what do we have for dinner? Chinese food! Very good.
The next day (Tuesday) we got up and drove down to Keukenhof, the giant Amsterdam flower festival. Seven million bulbs planted, plus bulb farms surrounding the gardens for miles. Andi picked the right time of year to do this, everything was blooming farily well. The Daffodils were getting spent and tulips were about right. Some were dying and some were still getting ready to bloom. We hoped to be there at park opening, but we were delayed by two closed McDonalds. Luckily, the tourists only show up around noon. The morning was pleasant, but the afternoon was awfully crowded.
Wednesday we had planned a rather short drive over to Belgium, but traffic in and around Amsterdam really got us. We had hoped to drop in on Antwerp, but we ran out of time on the road. Instead, we went right to the hotel in Bruges. Andi found a "reasonable" rate at a hotel-castle! Moat and everything! Actually, it is only a little over 100 years old, not a classic medieval castle, but still pretty amazing. Wednesday afternoon we went in and walked around Bruges and had dinner on the Markt square at a nice restaurant.
Thursday was a classic tour day in Bruges:
- Parked
- Google maps passed us doing street view imaging!
- Diamond Museum closed until 10:30
- Bathroom Emergency! No problem!
- Funeral at the church where we need Michalangelo Statue Pics
- Dimond Museum
- Get more Michalangelo Statue Pics
- Canal tour in the rain
- Lunch at sandwich place
- Beer shop 2BE
- Walked up the tower in Markt Square
- Chocolate Museum
- Blood of Christ
- Rides and ducks for the kids
- Beer Museum (Closed, but had a round)
- Dinner at sandwich place
- Walked back to the car
Wednesday:
Zok in Half Yard - Tasty, but expensive.
Westmalle Trappist Dubbel - Not so great, a bit off.
Thursday:
Zot Dark Unfiltered- Good. Andi says: "Full flaver, smooth, no aftertaste. Good."
Zot Blanche Unfiltered - Good and tasty.
Brugs Witbier - Andi says: "Cloudy but yummy." 4.8%
Maes - Ok, not great. Andi says: "A little too sharp." 4.9%
Brugges Tripel - Tasty and strong. Andi says: "Like a champagne. A happy beer." Lots of bubbles. 8.7%
Tourtel Malt Blonde - Andi says: "Strange. No aftertaste. Not sticking to my tounge. Clear tasting. Wierd. I could drink this all day." Funny fruit smell. 0.4% HA!
Leffe Blonde - Andi says: "Interesting." Lots of flavor.
Zot at the Brewery unfiltered, light and dark.
Wall of Beer near 2Be
Zot in half-yard
