Antwerp

Hello all!

Last night we went into town and went to the oldest pub in Luxembourg - built in 1691! Tried some local beers and then walked around town to see it lit up. Luxembourg is so funny. It was Saturday night and it was so quiet! We headed back fairly early. 

This morning I had breakfast with Lisa and Jordan and then we said our goodbyes. It's funny how close you become to people after just one or two days when travelling! You experience so much together. Lisa is going to be in London in June and Jordan will be back in Nottingham in September so we have said we will keep in touch! 

Jordan and I walked to the train station and I headed off on my way to Antwerp. My first train was three hours to Brussels, and on this train I chatted most of the way to a lovely Swedish man in his 60s. We chatted about all the places in Scandinavia we had both been and shared photos. Passed the time very quickly!! Towards the end of the journey I noticed a man rush off the train with a bag and get off the train. Next minute s lady is crying and screaming her bag has been stolen, I'm guessing that was the rushing man. It shook me up a little to be honest, reminded me of the feeling I had in Spain two years ago when my phone was stolen. But she was very silly, who leaves their valuables bag unattended on a train while they go to the toilet?!

Swapped train in Brussels and got a local one to Antwerp. Here I got to the station and went to tourist information where a really friendly member of staff gave me a map and explained everything I should do here. I walked to my hostel which is only a few months old and very modern and clean, so cheap for $40 Aussie a night including brekky!!

Headed off by myself in the sunshine. I went straight to an exhibition the information worker had recommended. I went to the Rubens House - the house that the painter Peter Paul Rubens lived in from 1610-1640 and painted most of his masterpieces in. As well as touring the normal exhibition of the house with nice furniture and paintings, a special (and apparently very rarely seen) group of paintings were on show called "Rubens Privè" - a collection of portraits Rubens painted of his family and friends. Quite unusual as he's normally famous for more religious paintings. I really enjoyed the exhibition! There were paintings of his two wives (the first died of the plague) and his children and friends. It was interesting to gain an insight into how affectionate he was towards them and how he wanted to remember them. A couple of the paintings were just plans so it was also cool to be able to see how he planned a painting and the layers he painted to culminate to a final product. It was strange to know that most of he people in the paintings had lived in that very house 400 years ago!

Next I just wandered around. I didn't know anything about Antwerp before I got here - I'm quite enjoying rocking up to places with no expectations! You're only ever satisfied. I saw the cathedral (which I'll go in tomorrow) and then walked through the old town. There was a queue a mile long outside an ice cream and waffle shop, so I decided to conform and join it. Long queues usually mean good food! And boy was it good! The 25 minute queue was well worth it when I dug in to my waffle with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and strawberries. Me and Belgium are going to be goooooood friends - it was AMAZING!! And I met some more nice people while sitting here. An English man asked for a chair on the table I was sat at alone, and I said he could have the table. He, his wife and their two friends sat with me and we ended up chatting for an hour! They were from the midlands and their son works on the Dawn Princess cruise ship that sails around Aus and NZ. We exchanged numbers and they said I can stay with them in the summer if I get stuck!! 

I then walked past the town hall and through the main square of old town - Grote Markt. So beautiful! I'll go back tomorrow. 

Headed back to the hostel and I'm in a room with two really lovely girls. I've had a great day meeting nice people! Julie is from Norway and Elle is from Finland. The three of us went and had a nice chilled out dinner at a traveller's bar. I had a veggie burger and we all tried different beers. Beer is so cheap and nice here! I had De Könninck. 

Loving it here so far!

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox