Used the basement PC facility to write a Tripadvisor report. Leisurely start from hotel in taxi to Eurostar and then Virgin service to north of England. Only problem was getting drenched again walking from St Pancras to Euston in London.
Now its washing time!!
Wednesday 29 January 2014
The science day
The tram outside the hotel took TSH and Diva to Atomium, which is the huge structure which looks like the particles in an atom. It is a relic from an expo held in the 1950s, at a time when everyone was enthusiastic about the peace and the advance of science. It is impressive now and must have been even more so then. The first part of the visit is in an elevator to level 8. Diva is OK with lifts but when 15 people are crammed in she isn't. So she stayed at the bottom whilst TSH went to look at the view, which wasn't spectacular on such a cloudy day. The attendant was great and offered Diva a personal trip but that didn't seem right with a long queue waiting.
The exhibition was about innovation - the biro and velcro. And a demo of a 3D printer, which is up-to-date and impressive.
Dinner was planned in the hotel restaurant but it was closed on Sunday. No information in the room or on the restaurant door. 'Its on the website'. The hotel, which isn't bad, really, has lost touch with reality. They also stated that there is a guest computer facility in the basement, which isn't signed anywhere.
So it was snacks from the machine - but they were M&S standard, so it could be worse.
The exhibition was about innovation - the biro and velcro. And a demo of a 3D printer, which is up-to-date and impressive.
Dinner was planned in the hotel restaurant but it was closed on Sunday. No information in the room or on the restaurant door. 'Its on the website'. The hotel, which isn't bad, really, has lost touch with reality. They also stated that there is a guest computer facility in the basement, which isn't signed anywhere.
So it was snacks from the machine - but they were M&S standard, so it could be worse.
Tuesday 28 January 2014
Diva and the waffle
The hotel has a diy waffle making machine in the breakfast room. Diva has never made a waffle before but the instructions seem clear. Pour the batter in. No clue about how many scoops so 2 seem better than 1. 'Turn the waffle over'. To do this, the lid must be closed and then the device can be rotated. Diva's waffle overflowed. Then the device can be opened to reveal uncooked batter stuck everywhere. Should it have been cooked before closing? Diva slunk back to the bread counter. The machine might never waffle again but a member of staff could be seen trying to resurrect it. Diva doesn't even really like waffles.
Today's walking tour was around the upper town, which is much grander than the working town toured yesterday. The decision was taken to take the tram from outside the hotel. This meant that the tour was picked up part way through. It proved difficult to orientate when approaching from an unusual direction, as the map was not detailed enough. But the route was located and the royal palaces marvelled at. Lunch was taken at the Novotel near the Grand Place again. TSH and Diva prefer hygiene and clean toilets to the atmosphere and grime of some of the smaller cafes.
A navigational error in the afternoon led to a longer walk than expected but eventually the tour was completed.
Dinner was at the Italian again (in spite of the Buble tape, which was on again). More good food and then a walk back in torrential rain. A roof tile crashed down just a few inches away, brought down by the extreme weather. A lucky escape.
Today's walking tour was around the upper town, which is much grander than the working town toured yesterday. The decision was taken to take the tram from outside the hotel. This meant that the tour was picked up part way through. It proved difficult to orientate when approaching from an unusual direction, as the map was not detailed enough. But the route was located and the royal palaces marvelled at. Lunch was taken at the Novotel near the Grand Place again. TSH and Diva prefer hygiene and clean toilets to the atmosphere and grime of some of the smaller cafes.
A navigational error in the afternoon led to a longer walk than expected but eventually the tour was completed.
Dinner was at the Italian again (in spite of the Buble tape, which was on again). More good food and then a walk back in torrential rain. A roof tile crashed down just a few inches away, brought down by the extreme weather. A lucky escape.
Marianne in Brussels
The day started with a metro ride to the centre of the city. The Grand Place is one of the great squares of the world, with medieval merchants' houses alongside a royal palace. Everything is ornate and in many cases coated in gold. TSH and Diva used their DK guidebook for a walking tour around the lower town, which is really the working town. The small shops come really close to the old royal palace - in medieval times royalty and peasantry lived in very close proximity. The walking tour started in the GP, and then took in the grand (the Opera House), the scruffy (lots of graffiti) and the gentrified (fish restaurants and a fabulous cheese shop). The return metro trip was so crowded that Diva got claustrophobic and had to get off and wait for an emptier train.
There are nominally internet facilities on the TV at the hotel but navigation is not clear and its not very usable. TSH improvised a scoop from the foil on the top of the jar of coffee. The hotel do not provide spoons - its all supposed to happen in a stupidly complex drinks machine. Hence the kettle from housekeeping and the coffee bought at the Carrefour across the road.
Dinner was taken at the hotel and was acceptable without being great. Diva has taken a holiday from her studies but sometimes there's no getting away from Leonard Cohen, as Marianne played in the restaurant (not his own version). It was preferable to the Buble on a loop we had the previous night in the Italian. Diva does not like Buble but TSH really hates the music.
There are nominally internet facilities on the TV at the hotel but navigation is not clear and its not very usable. TSH improvised a scoop from the foil on the top of the jar of coffee. The hotel do not provide spoons - its all supposed to happen in a stupidly complex drinks machine. Hence the kettle from housekeeping and the coffee bought at the Carrefour across the road.
Dinner was taken at the hotel and was acceptable without being great. Diva has taken a holiday from her studies but sometimes there's no getting away from Leonard Cohen, as Marianne played in the restaurant (not his own version). It was preferable to the Buble on a loop we had the previous night in the Italian. Diva does not like Buble but TSH really hates the music.
4 nights in Brussels - high maintenance
An early start and breakfast on the train for TSH and Diva. First (unscheduled) stop at Stafford because someone got off earlier leaving a bike on the train. The mind boggles as to how you could do that.
The walk from Euston to St Pancras is easy enough and there TSH was greeted by name at the entrance to the carriage. The meal was good but TSH broke all his (self-imposed) rules. He snacked, drank alcohol at lunch-time and ate the dessert.
The Brussels metro was challenging because TSH and Diva did not at first understand that their hotel was on a circular line and they had not worked out which way they should be going. On arrival at the correct station, the escalators were out of order but a kind young policeman carried Diva's bag up the steep steps.
Once in the hotel, reception soon learned they had arrived. A kettle, extra coat hangers and additional toiletries were provided. But the room was nice - spacious, with a nice bathroom with separate basins (good for territorial people).
TSH opened his birthday cards, including his first ever 'grandad' card.
An excellent Italian restaurant rounded off the day.
The walk from Euston to St Pancras is easy enough and there TSH was greeted by name at the entrance to the carriage. The meal was good but TSH broke all his (self-imposed) rules. He snacked, drank alcohol at lunch-time and ate the dessert.
The Brussels metro was challenging because TSH and Diva did not at first understand that their hotel was on a circular line and they had not worked out which way they should be going. On arrival at the correct station, the escalators were out of order but a kind young policeman carried Diva's bag up the steep steps.
Once in the hotel, reception soon learned they had arrived. A kettle, extra coat hangers and additional toiletries were provided. But the room was nice - spacious, with a nice bathroom with separate basins (good for territorial people).
TSH opened his birthday cards, including his first ever 'grandad' card.
An excellent Italian restaurant rounded off the day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)