Antwerp, Belgium
As usual, I'm behind on blog posts. =) Time seems to disappear and the connection has not been the greatest at our current spot- but is free (vs. 20 EURO a day through Proximus) so I can't complain.
Our first tram ride was inspected at Central Station. The police swarm the outside of the platform and have waiting passengers line up in one of the entry hallways. Then they check (& mark) tickets of everyone getting off and presumably board the tram to check everyone else's tickets. It was kind of funny and overwhelming at the same time. Even the police were nice though - one overheard Dan and I trying to figure out the exit path and gave me a "yes ma'm, the exit is here." in English even. Public transit is really easy and affordable - it's 1,20 for 1-2 zones or 15 EURO for a 5-day pass.
Garden inside the Antwerp Zoo.
Megan at the elephant exhibit - she's growing up on us!!We took the elevator down 31 stories to the St. Anna Tunnel, a pedestrian tunnel built in 1933 that runs under the Schelde river. We had been told that the french fries at Frituur are the best in Antwerp - so we indulged. They are made from real potatoes and cooked as ordered. Very yummy - though they should be careful of flavor contamination from the other foods they fry in the oil. The kids loved the wide open space and playground. We enjoyed a fantastic view of Antwerp across the river. Very cool. Access back was an easy tram ride (under another tunnel) - we've now been in 3 of the 4 tunnels in the city. (1.5 vehicle tunnel, Tram tunnel, pedestrian tunnel, and Kennedy Tunnel - for all vehicles).Inside the tunnel - don't do this if you are claustrophobic!
Frituur - supposedly the home of the best french fries in Antwerp.We'll probably be here a few more days. The fridge at our house went out and I'd like to make sure the replacement arrives fine on Saturday. Now there's a fun experience ... shopping for a refrigerator online only with an unstable Internet connection. It was possibly the most frustrating thing of the week. It's amazing how many refrigerators are in the $2k+ range that get really poor feedback for functionality, noise level and durability. I finally settled on an Amana bottom freezer with french doors on top. Hope it's lovely. Huge kudos to Rebecca at Frederick's Appliances in Redmond for facilitating the purchase and delivery. Their delivery fee includes installation and removal of the old, unlike Sears... whose delivery fee includes only delivery and removal (no installation). Huge thanks to our friend Holly for dropping everything and calling them for me to get pricing and explain that her friend needed a sales clerk to help over email/IM.
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