6th June: Ieper and onwards Nieuwpoort - An English camper next door offered us coffee. Good start. Next to the Menin Gate there is a memorial erected by the Indian Government for the 130000 soldiers who died in the two world wars. After breakfast went place where John McCrae wrote "In Flanders field..." - a war poem. Visited Yorkshire Trench - was 10 meters deep - used during the First world war. Moved on and had excellent waffles and hot chocolate on the way. Reached Niewpoort. Was getting cold. Rain too. Tented at Niewpoort. Chatted with a scuba diver at a tavern while we waited for dinner table.
7th June: Nieuwpoort to Lapscheure - Had Chitale's "poshtik" ladoo as breakfast. Mostly bicycled along the North sea coast. Lots of building along the way. Mostly old and retired people. Hot chocolate + croissant. Had frites (Belgian fries) at Zeebrugge. Ride became beautiful along canals toward Lapscheure under canopy of tall trees. Stayed at Karls' aunt Maria and uncle Adiel. Had nice wine and supper (fresh salad, tomato-mozzarela, bread, cold cuts, smoked salmon, locally made ice-cream + fresh strawberries) with Frank (Karl's cousin) and his wife Beatrice.
8th June: Lapscheure to Brugge and back - Nice breakfast with Maria and Adiel. Ready and crossed Damse Vaart (canal) by Kobus (tiny boat connects the two shores by hand-cranked pulley system). Travelled light along beautiful canal route to Brugge. Sunny but cold. Lots of bicyclist. Some racing very fast. As we enter Brugge, we climb into a windmill. Onwards to Brugge Grote Markt (Main market square. However not always a market place though) where the bellfry (bell tower) is located. Went all the way up. Also nice quadrangle. Good place to just sit and relax. One street musician in the quadrangle playing music. Then into a beautiful basilica. Later to Brugge museum (about history of Brugge). Visited lace shops. Back to Maria and Adiel. Dinner with Frank + Beatrice and Beatrice (Frank's sister) at Knokke right on the North sea coast. Had garnalen (grey prawns) with tomaat (Tomatoes) + mayonnaise and tasty frites! Drove along zwin (nature reserve by the coast with unique flora and migratory birds) - which floods on full moon nights.
7th June: Nieuwpoort to Lapscheure - Had Chitale's "poshtik" ladoo as breakfast. Mostly bicycled along the North sea coast. Lots of building along the way. Mostly old and retired people. Hot chocolate + croissant. Had frites (Belgian fries) at Zeebrugge. Ride became beautiful along canals toward Lapscheure under canopy of tall trees. Stayed at Karls' aunt Maria and uncle Adiel. Had nice wine and supper (fresh salad, tomato-mozzarela, bread, cold cuts, smoked salmon, locally made ice-cream + fresh strawberries) with Frank (Karl's cousin) and his wife Beatrice.
8th June: Lapscheure to Brugge and back - Nice breakfast with Maria and Adiel. Ready and crossed Damse Vaart (canal) by Kobus (tiny boat connects the two shores by hand-cranked pulley system). Travelled light along beautiful canal route to Brugge. Sunny but cold. Lots of bicyclist. Some racing very fast. As we enter Brugge, we climb into a windmill. Onwards to Brugge Grote Markt (Main market square. However not always a market place though) where the bellfry (bell tower) is located. Went all the way up. Also nice quadrangle. Good place to just sit and relax. One street musician in the quadrangle playing music. Then into a beautiful basilica. Later to Brugge museum (about history of Brugge). Visited lace shops. Back to Maria and Adiel. Dinner with Frank + Beatrice and Beatrice (Frank's sister) at Knokke right on the North sea coast. Had garnalen (grey prawns) with tomaat (Tomatoes) + mayonnaise and tasty frites! Drove along zwin (nature reserve by the coast with unique flora and migratory birds) - which floods on full moon nights.