FRIEDBERG, GERMANY

Just a few pictures for all of you who know Nandl and Gisela Steiner and their friendly, excellent, gasthaus the Zieglerbrau in Friedberg.  The food was great, the evening fun as always.  What else can one do during this wet Spring except visit old friends, eat and drink well???

HIKING IN BAVARIA

I am still in Bavaria staying near Augsburg and today was the warmest sunniest day so far this year.  It was perfect for a lovely hike with my old friends who have gone on a "Wanderung" every Tuesday for years.  They always have a second breakfast about an hour after starting the hike - see picture below.  This is Sekt that is always accompanied by a fresh Bretzen.  They even bring along collapsible flutes:)

spring in Bavaria

typical german lunch 

friendly service

GERMANY

It was a long long wet drive from Belgium down to Bavaria, Germany on Tuesday last.  It is never nice on a rainy, misty day to keep on driving with the trucks throwing even more rain and mist on the windshield so that visibility is awful.
Anyway made it to Augsburg, the city where I used to live and where I have many wonderful friends.  As usual I was made very welcome by Gill and Wolfgang in their comfy home where a warm happy dinner was waiting.  No need to tell you how lucky I feel.
It is still cold and there were hailstones tonight so the BBQ party that should have taken place down in Bad Tolz was cancelled.
Had a good visit to the StadtMarkt in town today where all the stalls pass out so many good samples of their great cheeses, meats etc that I was quite stuffed.  Shopping there is a fun affair with the country farmers joking, most people raising a glass, lots of bubbly around and no one in a hurry.  Friends seem to meet here for hours and make it a weekly affair.

Gill and Wolfgang

friendly Greek stall

cappuccino before the Aperol

AFFLIGEM, BELGIUM

I had a lovely stay in Peggy and Johan's house as I mentioned in the last blog.  It is in the quiet area in Affligem and the house has much of the original old tiles and walls.  The courtyards are just beautiful.  I felt so lucky to spend time there with such grand people.  Johan loves to cook so we were eating well and certainly enjoying the Belgian beers with some good wines as well.

GENT, BELGIUM

Spring just won’t arrive.  Today the 16^th of May was just freezing and the rain never stopped.  I have been overnighting at campgrounds near cities and using public transport to visit them.  It is not much fun camping when I can't open the roof or put out the canopy.

 Still since I wasn’t far from Gent I went in to the lovely city and had a nice stroll around.  The famous Van Eyck altarpiece is being restored so couldn’t see it but I did find the tiny Dreupelkot pub on the river where they stock over 200 types of Jenever.  Just had to try that.  The glass is filled to the brim and tasted so good had to try two of them – one of Almond and one of Cherries recommended by the host.

The campground was huge and like the rest of the region has so much greenery, lakes, walking and biking paths that it must be wonderful in good sunny weather

BRUSSELS

On to Brussels and to Affligem to visit friends Peggy and Johan in their lovely old home in Affligem not far from the city.  We went to Brussels by train on the first sunny day in weeks

With good friend Peggy at the Sunday Flea Market and below she is enjoying a beer with her husband Johan.  They are friends that I met on the boat going to Luang Prabang around 2001

Made it to Bruges, Belgium after landing at Dunkirk.  This is a UNESCO Town always full of tourists but now it is wet and windy.  It stayed that way all weekends but I love it anyway.  There is a scene to be painted around every corner.

All the Belgium specialties are on sale.  Look at this huge cup of Hot Chocolate – you get it full of steamed milk and a chocolate holder full of your choice of dark or white chocolate chips with a miniature whisk.  No wonder all the faces light up when they see it along with some sample chocolates.   Many in the wonderful old shop also ordered the famous waffles with even more chocolate sauce and whipped cream 

 I've put in a few extra pictures here but I love Bruges even though it was still wet and raining.  I did climb the 366 steps in that Tower above where the huge bells ring out every 15 minutes.  I should put yet another picture below of the view from above

South East England

Driving along the south coast of England seemed like stepping back in history.  All those names connected with battles, Merlin, Canterbury Tales, Stonehenge as well as the funny names of places like St Mary in the Marsh, Cripple Corner, Ticehurst near The Weald and Rottingdean.

Rye is a lovely town with windy streets,, interesting old buildings and great shops.  Most of the town dates from medieval times.  Above are a few of the winding streets with the Old Mermaid Pub and part of the old graveyard.  I like the sign on top in front of one house:)

MEETING OF CALIFORNIA VANS SUSSEX

I left for Sussex the next morning and the weather turned cold, wet and windy.  It stayed that way all weekend preventing much getting together on the farm where all of us camped out.  A shame because a hog roast had been organized but people had to flee to their vans to eat it having been drenched while waiting in line for the food.  Still it was great for me to get information and hints from all the nice neighbours there.  These VWs are so well made but there’s quite a bit to learn about how to best manage them.  There were wonderful outdoor accessories to buy and I stocked up on colourful “whacky practicals” all collapsible useful items like a teapot, bucket, pot and bowl.  Now I’m all ready for the road.  Have to take a photo of those when I use them