Waterloo

Hello everyone!

Having such a great time on our tour. Last night I went to the welcome dinner and meeting. Troy was on a day trip so couldn't come. I was curious about how old everyone on our tour would be and my instinct was right - there is no one else our age. Everyone else on the tour seems to be 60+! Now most 22 year olds might not feel comfortable being on a tour with people old enough to be their parents and grandparents for ten days, but we are loving it! Everyone is really friendly and they're just as much (if not more!) interested in the history as we are. I feel like if I had done a Topdeck tour for the Anzac anniversary a lot of people wouldn't care about the history or significance as much. Another massive difference is you don't have everyone on their phones 24/7 - a welcome change!

The welcome dinner was really nice and we all met our guide, Rod, who is English and a war historian. Troy arrived back later and I filled him in!

Today we had breakfast. Oh my god the hotels on this tour. I'm used to sleeping in all sorts of uncomfortable places but no joke last night was the best night of sleep I've had all year. And the brekky was the best I've had all year! Mum, Nan, Pa, Ian and Robyn, it was so much like the Hilton on grand final day! Amazing. 

We set off and headed to Waterloo. Most of you probably know who Napoleon was but I'll give a quick summary just in case! Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military leader who basically wanted to take over everything in Europe in the early 1800s! He led the French army to invade most of Europe. Today we visited Waterloo which was the battle that saw Napoleon's countless invasions finally come to an end. On June 18 1815 (so 200th anniversary this year!) the battle of Waterloo happened here, that saw napoleon's French army fight against the allies (led by the duke of Wellington) and the Prussians and lose. 217,000 allied/Prussian soldiers fought 120,000 French, and 70,000 men died in the bloody ten hour battle. It changed the course of Europe's future forever. 

We saw the huge expanse of battle fields and then watched two short films. We then got to see a panorama that was 110m x 12m and depicted various main parts of the battle. Then we went back out into the battlefield and climbed the Lion Mound, a mound built from soil from the battlefield in between 1824-1826. Atop the mound is a Flemish lion and after climbing the 226 steps (Troy is insane and ran it!) you can see the huge area where the battle took place. We were treated once again to brilliant sunshine and clear skies again so you could see a really long way!

Then we drove in the surrounding areas and saw various monuments to those who died, as well as La Haie Sainte which was captured at 3pm on the day of the battle and Hougoumont Farm. 

We stopped for lunch at a roadside stop. This tour was quite expensive as I mentioned yesterday but today our admissions and our lunch was all included! We had a packed picnic lunch in the sun and then drove to Kortrijk, where we are staying for the next four nights. Out hotel is like a palace, it is the oldest hotel in Belgium and was first mentioned in 1398!! Victor Hugo once stayed here. The bathroom is literally twice the size of most rooms I have slept in this year hahaha. I am in heaven! Could definitely get used to this!

Troy and I walked around town this afternoon. We saw the belfry and main square, then headed to the shopping area. Troy bought a few things but I was good and only bought a new pair of tights (mine have broken, so I was allowed!). 

Tonight we had a really great night. Had a couple of drinks in the hotel bar and then went out for dinner with Neil, Bob, Dave, Trevor and Janet. I especially really enjoy Trevor and Janet's company. They're so kind and so easy to talk to with lots of great stories about travels! They remind me a little of you Nan and Pa, making me miss you more than I already do!!! We went to a Thai restaurant next door to the hotel. It was hilarious reading a Thai menu in Dutch!! But the food was absolutely delicious and after four months without Payom Thai (one of my fave restaurants at home) I was so happy to have some pad Thai!!

Have had a great first day of the tour and there is lots more interesting history to learn about in the coming days. Tomorrow I'm really looking forward to experiencing the last post at the Menin Gate. 

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox