De Ronde de van Vlaanderen

[paulthenurse]

De Ronde de van Vlaanderen is one of the European bike races, sort of like the Tour de France only instead of it being a month long event, its a single day race through the Belgian Flanders countryside. It just so happens that it goes through some of the best beer producing regions in the world, so when Alice and I decide that that was where we were gong for our vacation I sort of adopted that title in my mind as the title of our vacation. We got back on Sunday and here area few pictures of just want a wonderful trip it was. We decided a while ago that whenever we go to Europe in the future we would go by way of Iceland because we enjoy that particular country so much, so there are some Iceland pics in here also. Enjoy, and save your pennies. It's not as expensive as you might think, We got round trip air fare, including a five day stop in Iceland on the trip home for around $700 PP. You can't afford to stay home for that money.

All of this stuff made it home inside our suitcases. Of course, taking extra suitcases helped.


Take note of the three bottles in front. One bottle each of Westveltern 6, 8 and 12.

And I managed to fit a little swag in there, too. Spent a freaking fortune on glasses.

In Brussels, the Kwark was gimmicky but we were pretty thirsty after having gone without a beer for several hours. Gulped them down (kwark kwark kwark as the beer bubbles out of the bulb), then moved on to much better beers. Norm loved the Rochfort

Alice feeling pretty happy at the Delerium Tremens Cafe.

At the Halve Mann brewery in Brugge.

The coolship on the top floor of the Halve Mann

In search of the Holy Grail...

Number 12

 

[paulthenurse]

At a cheese shop in the Dutch city of Gouda, home of guess what kind of cheese.

Mort Subite Cafe in Brussels. The faro was incredible.

The building with the golden horse on top is the Brewers Guild in Brussels.

Al and Norm having a beer at the Halve Mann.

Puppy taking a nap in the window.

PTN doing his part to move international relationships ahead by leaps and bounds.

 

[paulthenurse]

Europe%202012/DSC_0373.jpg[/IMG]At a flea market in the square of some town near Poppering. Picked up a lot of neat swag here.

Norm enjoying the Nuns beer. (He's such a ham with the ladies.)

Hop fields near Poppering.

We live in a culturally depraved wasteland. We have public celebrations like the 4th of July and serve Bud Lite out of plastic cups. In Roselare they celebrate May Day and serve Alexandre Rodenbach out of those same plastic cups. We serve hot dogs, they serve escargot. Cultural wasteland.

 

[paulthenurse]

In the Red Light District in Amsterdam.

You pretty much want to take a shower after walking down one of these alleys.

Norm hanging out in the Red Light District.

Normie's in love...

Most surprising thing of the entire trip. Heineken Beer, fresh and on tap at the brewery in Amsterdam is REALLY freakin' good! I mean seriously good. Look at that lacing on the glass.

What? No helmets, seat belts or car seats? Everyone gets around by bike in Holland. And apparently the lawyers all go hungry. It's all quite refreshing.

 

[paulthenurse]

The town hall in Gouda.

Brussels Grand Market

The old beer delivery system.

They look cute but they are the most uncomfortable damn things you can put on your feet.

Brugge.

The old mash tun at The Halve Mann (The Half Moon) Brewery.

 

[paulthenurse]

A beautiful spring day along a canal in Brugge.

Me at the door to the St Sixtus Abbey. Oddly enough, they wouldn't open the door and let me in. Go figure.

BUT... They are expanding. Since there probably aren't a whole lot of new monks and they don't need the bedrooms, I'm thinking they are expanding the brewery. At least I hope so.

This one's for you, Cape. Me munching on the escargot.

I liked this when I saw it, pretty close to the airport on the way back to Amsterdam. The new and the old.

"I think he said "Blessed are the cheesemakers..."

 

[SixFoFalcon]

Wow! That is like my dream vacation right there! I'm a huge cycling fan, to the point that even my cycling buddies think I'm a little nuts and my wife and I have been talking about planning our next trip to Europe to coincide with a race. This is one better!

Bravo, sir! And thanks for taking the time to share. :rockin:

 

[beergolf]

Good Stuff.

love the pics.

I am jealous.

 

[DakotaRules]

Glad you had a great time. I wish I had brought back beer when I went.

 

[paulthenurse]

We ALWAYS bring home suitcases full of the local offerings, wherever we go. My all time best was the 18 bottles of Port and 8 bottles of wine I managed to get in our suitcases coming home from Lisbon.

I did get caught with a 5 pound hunk of Italian Spec coming home from the Dolomites a bunch of years ago. I tortured myself by going into Boston's North End the following weekend to it selling for around $35/pound. I know that sure as God made little green apples that sockcucker at Customs was pissing himself laughing as he ate my Speck for the next month. Barstid.

PTN

 

[davefleck]

Darn, was hoping to see pics from the flanders race.

 

[paulthenurse]

It was broadcast on Versus in mid April.