Tim's Travel, Pinball, and Beer Blog
https://photos.app.goo.gl/NitH8EHLn2M1pawt6
One of my favorites is this:
This is a bar with 300+ beers, and it’s got a glass for each one. There are rows and rows of bottles and cans of world class beers, mainly Belgian. But if you look at the cans on the right; third row up from the bottom, about in the middle:
Yup. I asked the bartender ‘Can yinz give me one of them?’
With a short time, it’s hard to post in real time. I will make up for it when I get back. In the meantime here are three pictures from my first full day in Amsterdam.
Yes, I did. Only $10! I learned some things that I never wanted to know.
No, I did not. I am sure Doug is mocking me.
Not yet. But my new favorite word is Wildplassen. ‘Either you pull over at the next rest stop, or there will be Wildplassen in this car!’ It would be worth $100.
And you can’t take pictures in the District because there are large young men who look like they’re ready to beat the Wildplassen out of you, but I will say that I have learned a new meaning for ‘window shopping’.
So I am in one of cultural capitals of Europe. Dozens of 800 year old buildings; the hotel I’m in dates back 500. I have a very limited time here, and I have to decide exactly what to do. I can spend my time touring these marvelous world-class structures, or I could wander 60 feet across the plaza to
Easy choice, right? Buildings have been around 800 years; buildings will probably be around another 800 – but who knows how long that Godzilla Limited Edition is going to survive?
Got up; got out This city does not open before 10:00. Hit Het Steen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Het_Steen (means ‘the stone’. Love it) when it opened
Then to the lovely cathedral https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Our_Lady_(Antwerp)
Next to Plantin-Moretus Museum – easily the most impressive museum so far. As in, it’s got more Rubens paintings than the Rubenshaus https://rubenshuis.be/en – my next stop – had. I never found out why they had Cosimo and Leonardo d’Medici portraits on the wall, but I’m certain it’s something sinister.
I’m not amazed at all at the American fast food places. There’s a McDonalds, Burger King, or KFC every few blocks. I am amazed at all of the other American brands. Foot Locker? Urban Outfitters?
Beers o’ the day – and the day, it is early. Went and had lovely lunch at a place near the cathedral called ‘t Putke and had the mussels Antwerp style, with a Duvel. My first time with French fries eaten the way they ought to be – with mayonnaise! https://www.grubstreet.com/2018/07/eat-fries-with-mayo-belgium-france-world-cup.html
Then after the museums, a few beers at Paters Vaetje. Lovely little extremely busy bar where I had the Delerium Tremens, Duvel Triple Hop, and Carolus Golden. Take a look at the glassware they have here. It’s not a ‘tulip glass for high grav; no-nick for pints’ situation. If you are a brewery, you have a glass with your brand on it. Or two.
So my flight was delayed for 2-1/2 hours yesterday, and I spent a bunch of time bitching about it.
Because I had to spend three hours in the Detroit Delta club lounge (they’ve got four of them in Detroit) eating and drinking, and then when I got onto the plane – in the front row, the Premium Select cabin – there were only three of us in the seven-seat row, so we got to spread out.
I’m embarrassed and will quit bitching. In the meantime, I got into Amsterdam at around 1:30PM local time; found the right train the first time, and got to Antwerp a little after 4PM.
Hilton Antwerp Old Town had bumped me up to the Executive Suites, which means I got free drinks and appetizers.
I didn’t get much time to walk around because I’m exhausted. But here are some pictures, and of course more to come tomorrow. I just love cities like this. Interesting people, all kinds of languages, and so pedestrian friendly. Well, for certain small values of pedestrian friendly. You will not be run over by a car. You will very possibly be run over by a scooter or a bicycle.
