Belgium and Amsterdam 2022
Sarah and I had been wanting to travel together, mother-daughter trip, to Europe for years now. Finally the time in her schedule appeared and we booked a trip. The hardest part of this trip was we wanted to include Amsterdam - but COVID travel restrictions, at the the time, did not not allow train travel between Belgium and The Netherlands. So I tentatively booked a hotel in Amsterdam knowing that I might need to cancel and figure out more to do in Belgium- which would have been easy- but not knowing expectations is hard- so glad COVID restrictions have mostly ended.
We were flying to Brussels via London Heathrow -LHR-(my most hated airport). We had no choice- again due to COVID we just couldn't get a direct flight to Amsterdam and back!!
Every week is the wrong week to be at Heathrow. YES, my liquids were searched at LHR and needed further testing and re-bagging, even though I have brought the same liquids to 20 other countries in the last 20 years and haven't had a problem...can you tell I hate Heathrow??
We arrived in Belgium after an unplanned 5 hour grueling layover (It was supposed to be a 2 hour layover- thanks British Airways). We picked up a taxi at the Brussels airport and were dropped off at our cool Airbnb in the town Mechelen- a great little non- touristy suburb of Brussels.
I picked Mechelen because it is small, and on the way to Amsterdam - which DID lift COVID restrictions before our travel- hooray!
Here is why you need to go to Mechelen:
Mother/daughter beers in the town square (first of many beers- because wine isn't a thing in Belgium)
 |
| taking the raised walkway along the canal to earn beer calories |
 |
| we would climb this tower in the morning |
 |
| you will make your daughter do things like this and you both will laugh so hard |
 |
| not sure where this sign was pointing to, but it was folk art to me |
| Mechelen had great street art- we just googled the locations and walked around the town |
|
We saw a long line out front of this sandwich shop, so we waited and after pantomiming for about 3 minutes, we got a great sandwich on the best seeded bread!! We ate it canal side!
We made shadow pictures
We posed with statues
We wandered into churches
Basically we caught our breath from flying from DFW to LHR to BRU... we headed back to our neat bnb- private bathroom down a flight of stairs. Really great place with a fab owner -cooked breakfast
After breakfast we headed out to do some more wandering and climb the Mechelen bell tower
We found a wine bar- so we didn't have to drink beer this evening
And we ate at a meatball restaurant that was surprising good
We went to bed early so we could catch the morning train to Amsterdam
Oh Amsterdam, how I love you... this is my third trip to Amsterdam, first with my husband, then with my travel girl friends and now with my daughter. I really feel like I have a grasp of this big city.
We rolled into the Amsterdam train station and dragged our luggage (much too far in my daughter's opinion :-) and then headed to the De Pijp neighborhood for the local market and street food
 |
| It is pretty crowded here everyday- but fun |
 |
| poffertjes |
 |
| stroopwaffles |
 |
| wandering the streets back to our hotel |
 |
| love the pedestrian streets |
 |
| the beer here is great as well, served canal side it is so much better |
 |
| yes there is a waiting line with a line monitor for FRENCH FRIES |
 |
| yes they were that good- loved them with traditional Dutch mayo |
 |
When I say don't bring too much luggage this is why- third floor no elevator, no headroom going up the steps- I am not kidding- most places (with charm and free breakfast) are like this
Outside The van Gogh Museum (pronounced van-hoghf)
One of the best Museums in the world- get the headsets for a guided tour- WELL WORTH IT
|
Wandering the streets of Amsterdam- notice the un-level of the buildings
 |
| beautiful gallery across from the train station - unexpected beauty |
 |
sipping gin (jenever)- As tradition dictates, they pour it to the rim so you must lean over - hands behind your back and sip it before picking it up and moving to your table
 | Sarah and I were in search of the oldest gin bar that her dad and I visited years ago. We didn't find it ,but we managed to sample a lot of gin that afternoon and the next day.
|
|
The next day brought a train trip out to Zaanse Schans- very touristy but fun. We arrived super early and were out before noon- so it was a fun morning without throngs of tourists.
.We visited the Anne Frank House in the afternoon. It is so well done....a must visit.
and then after a nap, we headed out again to search for the oldest gin bar.
 |
| gotta have wine with a train ride |
In Ghent our goal was to see the Ghent altarpiece at St Bavo's Church (made famous by the film Monuments Men- fab film). When I was here with my travel girls years ago it was, walk into the cathedral, pay money and see the altarpiece. NOW it is a high tech VR goggle experience that was worth every penny!! We learned the history of the area and all about each panel of the altarpiece and we did it in a fun and painless way!
Also in Ghent is Gravensteen Castle with a really funny headset tour- like really funny
But I have to say that the day was beautiful and we kind of rushed through the castle so we could sit canal side and enjoy the day.
 |
| Delerium beer in an elephant glass |
 |
| usually beer is served in a brand specific glass- but the place was so busy they ran out of glasses |
 |
| some new friends at the end of the day |
After 2 nights we were up to catch another quick train to Bruges (spelled differently everywhere). It was a beautiful day, so we took the opportunity to just wander around the town. It is a very touristy town, but it is so enchanting, I understand why!
Our hotel was located on the main square. When I stayed here with my travel girls, we stayed at Duke's Palace- but I was not splitting the bill on this trip, so no palace for us- but this was a great place to stay
In our wanderings we found an old pharmacy. Sarah, as a Doctor of Pharmacy, got to sign the book of who's who in pharmacy and got a tour of the place. The front was a regular pharmacy but the back held all the old apothecary jars, it was truly a magical hour for her.
Also that day we got a huge BELGIAN WAFFLE that was scrumptious
and dodged the rain by hanging out in a covered cafe
And finally we ended the night in the oldest pub in Bruges. We played backgammon as a French man next to Sarah grimaced at the moves she was choosing..it was great fun !
Our last stop was Brussels for one night. We caught an early train so we could make the most of our day. Brussels was overwhelming and not quaint, but we found some cool stuff to do.
The Magritte Museum was at the top of my list and it didn't diappoint!
 |
| some palace or government building |
A park with great yellow leaves that fell into our beer- it was pretty awesome!
We had a great trip and can't wait to travel again together.
Here are some more great moments that didn't fit into my storyline - too much to explain!
 |
| self explanatory |
 |
| cookie ferris wheel |
 |
| best i can do hair |
 |
| our canal |
 |
| yes the stairwell ceiling is low- she is 5'4" |
 |
| there was an old lady... |
 |
| lunch after Zaanse Schans- really good food |
 |
| why yes, you do need to validate your metro ticket |
 |
| mom, honestly, we are here at the train station an hour early |
 |
| this castle is okay, but let's hurry through it |
 |
| pizza, way too much pizza- we thought they would be smaller |
 |
| really, sweet cherry beer |
 |
| it's in the bag |
 |
| i am really hangry- says Sarah- yes we will eat this Tai food again says mom |
 |
| yay I'm so happy- Tai food again |
 |
| I got lost on the scooter in Brussels and my phone died and I don't want to talk about it |
 |
| The beer wagon- mobile beer bar |
 |
| The girl in the pink dress would be little Sarah |
 |
| concrete feet |
 |
| fries fabulous FREIT fries- second go round |
 |
| beautiful snack at the van Gogh Museum with a view of Museumsplein |
 |
| one pancake to share!!- we got there just in time |
 |
| Bruges tower - our next to last night |
 |
| one of the many canal bridges that we crossed |
 |
| walk a mile in these shoes- no thanks |
 |
| another canal shot |
 |
never bad weather if you are traveling with good rain gear
if you loved this blog, then Belgium or the Netherlands is for YOU
Contact me at jackiebarnes217@hotmail.com |
