Bliss Tonight....

[gness]

...and I loved this.....
Dinner and a rack of Tasteme Belgian Beer at an outdoor cafe.....I don't like beer....I tried tonight....a whole variety but it's a dull drink.....

Then along came a man and young lad...about eight or nine.....playing accordions....they were fantastic.....the lad so enthusiastic and jolly....
Had a little chat with dad....yes he taught the son to play......so a few euro in the blue pot.....
Three hours later having a G outside the Irish bar....along came a man and a lad.....about twelve or thirteen....playing fiddles.....yes it was dad and big brother.....winked at dad and stuck a couple more euro in the blue pot....

Lovely family.....made my day really.....x

[tonyav]

Up here you go to the bar and get tasters of each beer you want to try.


Only been in one pub that does that down here, mazie. That was in Dorset with different ciders.

[Zacs-Master]

Ha pixie! Funny but not true. There are many complex flavours in ale.

[Zacs-Master]

Tasters are called 'flights' in and around Yorkshire. Many pubs and bars do them.

[mazie]

I was a bit amazed when we moved here. I'd be drunk just on the tasters! Mind, it's expensive for drinks in Edinburgh, the food is reasonable but a pint is a bit pricey

[mazie]

How much is a typical pint with you Zacs?

[gness]

Nice five day break, BB.......just for the music and atmosphere.....and because Brussels is a fun city just now......
Despite what Zacs says.....and the lessons I had tonight about hops....fruits.....and something else I've forgotten.....beer is a really dull drink.....
You see....if you have to twitter on and on about it it can't be that good.....who wants a drink you have to talk up?....

Now a pint of Guinness....needs no twittering....just sip.....smile and lick the foam from your lips....that's a proper drink..... ;-)

[mazie]

Or a Pint of Red wine ;o)

[pixie374]

Or white... think you missed out the liquorice part, gness;-)

[pixie374]

Oh...and toffee. They have strange beer in Yorkshire...x

[Zacs-Master]

About £3.60 Mazie.

[mazie]

About the same here Zacs. £3.60 to £4.00 is usual. Seems a lot to me.

[Zacs-Master]

Well, I suppose if you want to limit your 'beer' experience to an oversweet, overpriced, mass produced, syrupy sludge then......

[gness]

Much as I love red wine, Mazie..... I think a pint would see me useless.....not a fan of white.......your drink, Pixie?
I'm not sure my companion mentioned liquorice.... though I may have stopped listening by then.....mesmerised by the chandelier made of pink china elephants....... :-)

[Zacs-Master]

Well mazie, with the minimum wage set at about £7.50, it's about 25 mins work, so not too bad.

[pixie374]

Zacs mentioned the liquorice... White wine or bacardi and coke for me please x

[mazie]

I know Zacs, you get what you pay for and my lot love their real ale. Me, I can't stand the stuff, or the Whisky that they all love up here

[Buenchico]

I hope that you're not simply staying in Brussels. It's only a short (30 minute) hop on the train from Brussel-zuid/Bruxelles Midi to Ghent, which is absolutely stunning (and full of lively bars too!)
https://visit.gent.be/en/home

If you do fancy giving it a go, the station to aim for is Gent-
Sint-Pieters but you might see the city referred to on station indicator boards as 'Ghent', 'Gent', 'Gind' or 'Gand'! (You need to take a Number 1 tram from the rail station into the city centre, with the destination shown as Evergem/Wondelgem, alighting at Korenmarkt).

It's only a little further along the same rail line to Bruges (a.k.a. Brugge), with Ostend (Oostende), on the coast, just beyond that.

[gness]

Hi, Chris.....Brussels only because we're here for the music festival then home.....but, having decided never to fly again, I'll be looking at places I can get to by train.....
Never been to Ghent but hear it's lovely so maybe next year this will be a longer holiday and Ghent and one or two other places can be on the cards.....Gx

[aelmpvw]

//having decided never to fly again//
is that because of the ill-advised pilot who let you loose on the plane's controls?

[gness]

No, Ael......I've mislaid the broomstick..... ;-)....x