Still very cold and dark mornings, but that did not put Arno and Thomas off from doing a little early run, from our Hotel to the Avis Car Rental offices outside the old city. A number of phone calls, brainstorming and two hours later, they arrived very cold an wet back home. Why did it take them so long?? Arno booked us a 7-seater vehicle for the next 21 days of our trip. The plan was to pick the rental up in Ghent and drop it off in Paris. Unfortunately, at the local rental shop, this arrangement was not working for them, since they wanted their cars back in Ghent. Eventually they found a solution - we can take one of their 7-seaters (fitted with winter tyres…there were 9 seaters, which would have been a bit easier for us with our luggage, BUT they were not fitted with snow tyres….), so long he just bring the car back to Ghent. Ok. We will just need to' make this one work'!! The new plan is that Arno will drive the car back to Ghent and then take a train back to Paris. I guess it is the best solution.
So after all this unexpected drama, we did not manage to visit the Ghent Altarpiece in the St Bravo Cathedral. This work of art was chopped up in pieces by the Nazi's in their mission to collect art for the Führer Museum, which Hitler dreamed about. Later it was found and recovered in a salt mine in Germany. Restored to it's place in Ghent after the WWII, but unfortunately one of the pieces was stolen again, never to be found.
We were heading east towards Lochristi. This is the little town from where our friends, Inge and Philip relocated from. They now live (with 3 of their 4 children) in Riebeek West - our neighbouring village in South Africa. We stopped (in pouring rain) at the Leonidas Belgian Chocolatier shoplet in the town to pick up some echter Belgiese truffels and sjocoladen. When I told the shop owner, Daniella, where we were from, she jumped for joy - because she is a good friend of Inge!! I love the way that we can connect with people around the globe, if we just took a minute to talk to them!!
Next stop was for lunch with Barbara, Wim and Michael. Also friends of Inge and Peter. Alana stayed with them for a few days in April. Now it was our turn to meet up with the family. A Lego paradise awaits us!! We had to tear ourselves away from this very kind (and very musical) family. We can not wait to welcome them to our home!!
The afternoon was spend in really tricky driving conditions. We crossed the border of Belgian with The Netherlands and stop in Maasdrich.. Andre Rieu fans will recognise this name straight away. This very southern town in the Netherlands is home to one of the worlds best known classical violinists and back orchestra directors. They tour the world and was one of my fathers best loved musicians. My dad, on his last trip to Scotland, bought us tickets to see Andre Rieu's concert in the 'flying saucer' arena in Glasgow.
Dinner at the Christmas market followed - the best smoked salmon brötchens!!
The last stretch to Valkenburg (also in The Netherlands) led us to the Hotel Heeren van Valkenburg, owned and run by Olaf and José. Together with their two daughters, they even live on the first floor. Our rooms were on the second and 3rd floor. The Theron kids did an amazing job, hoisting our big bags up the tiny tiny stairs.
Olaf and Jose are planning renovations in January 2023 on the rooms we were in. (I guess that was why we could still afford it to stay at this location for two nights!!) The hotel is situated right at the old city gate, giving us walking access to the sweetly decorated little streets with café's and decorated shop windows.
Arno and I went for a little stroll after we got settled in. Minuture wooden footbridges, decorated with fur tree twigs, red ribbons and lights. We came across a three story high Christmas tree in a small little square. The setting was highlighted by die reflection of this tree on the wet pavement. Surely my highlight of the day.
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