Travel Log Day 6 (Thursday)

We left for the Eurostar train station from the flat at 8:30 am. I really hated riding in a car with Ben not in a car seat! It’s just a very scary and awkward feeling. In fact, the law was just passed in London (not sure about all of UK) that car seats are required so when our cab passed the police, the cab driver asked me to lower Ben so he wouldn’t be seen!

We arrived to the station with about an hour and a half to spare before our train departed London for Brussels. There was also a train leaving for Disneyland Paris so there were families and children everywhere! As soon as that train departed the station cleared out and we could find a seat. Traveling by train is very nice and convenient but we had to cart around all ofour luggage so that becomes quite burdensome and difficult along with Ben and a stroller. It was time to board our train and head out to Belgium. We had some trouble getting up the escalator with the luggage and Ben. Ed carried a piece of our luggage but one of the pieces fell and automatically stopped the escalator! We recovered and made it to our coach. Ed booked us in “comfort class” so we were served a meal and booze. The latter really helped because while our seats were spacious and comfortable and Ben had his own seat, there was no room in which he could really roll and around and get cozy for a nap. So we had a relatively rough 2 ½ hour trip. Again, the booze which flowed freely did help take the edge off!
And of course since we were wrestling with Ben I did not get to watch the countryside as it passed between the two cities.

We arrived in Brussels in the late afternoon and checked into our Hotel, just off the Grand’Place. We requested and received a pack and play for Ben! Finally three nights for Ben to sleep in his own bed – I was thrilled. After checking in at the hotel and getting settled we headed out to walk around the city. The weather in Brussels was beautiful which made for nice strolling. We got a Belgian waffle almost immediately! It was more delicious than I imagined! We walked around the city, the Grand‘Place, Manneken-Pis, the female Manneken-Pis and window shopped. We went to a restaurant on the Grand’Place called the King of Spain and enjoyed a drink. Pat tried to walk Ben around the Grand’Place to induce a nap…it did not work. Afterwards we continued walking around the city then headed back to the hotel.

After relaxing for a while in the room we were off to Chez Vincent for dinner. We had a delicious meal and were later joined by Edwin, Kent’s childhood friend from Brazil (also a groomsman in our wedding). Ed left to meet up with his friend Robert from Ed’s days in Brussels with Deloitte & Touche, Pat and I headed back to the hotel and Kent went to hang out with Edwin. During dinner, I learned that Edwin has a place in Mallorca!!!!!! I simply cannot believe that Kent withheld this important piece of information from me. My mind is already racing with trip itineraries for that locale! Kent reported that Edwin has a beautiful apartment and convenient for a bachelor such as Edwin, the apartment is above a La Perla store. Ben slept relatively well in this pack and play and I slept like a lamb in the bed finally not worrying about Ben falling out of the bed or my rolling over on him.