August 27th. Made it to Antwerp!

We didn’t sleep too well last night.  I guess just worrying about oversleeping and being late to the airport.  Our hotel was really close to the airport but what should be a five minute drive is more like 20-30 depending on traffic.  But we were awake long before we wanted to be and got to the airport in plenty of time.  Check in went smooth as silk. The flight left a wee bit late but then arrived a wee bit early. Got through customs and picked up our luggage and were out of the airport in record time.  Weather was lovely.  Still in the thirties in Amsterdam and Antwerp. Supposed to start cooling to low twenties by Thursday. So we were prepared for a three hour drive to Antwerp but were pleasantly surprised that we were here in 1hour and 45 minutes. We had just told ourselves that the gods were smiling on us as everything seemed so easy.  Shouldn’t have said that.  We spent 45 minutes driving in circles, through tunnels and back again.  Dodging bicycles (again) and getting cut off by other not so polite drivers.  What started as a really nice drive had deteriorated into a sweaty, stress filled cursing and swearing nightmare.  The problem was that everywhere our GPS tried to send us was either a one way street or was closed due to construction.  It was near heart attack time when we came upon a hotel with a no parking sign out front.  WE PARKED!  Ian went in and the very nice, friendly receptionist called our host and explained what was happening.  He tried to give more directions as to how we could get there and even the receptionist couldn’t follow his directions.  We knew that we were within a couple hundred yards of our accommodation.  So Ian got on the phone and told Yves (pronounced Eves) and told him “you have to come and get us!”  And he said....... I still can’t believe this....... “well, I have a car but it will take me forever in this traffic”.  He was with us in fifteen minutes.......on foot!  So I was prepared to hate him.  But I couldn’t.  He couldn’t have been nicer.  And wait until you see the place we are in.  So anyone out there that is considering coming to Belgium,  come here!  We are right in the centreof the city.  But it’s so quiet that all you will hear are the occasional chiming of church bells.  We are within a block of a good grocery store and a block or so of a nice traditional pub.  Or so Yves tells us.  We will explore the rest of the city tomorrow.  We now have some groceries in and a bottle of red and a bottle of white.  Who could ask for anything more?  This Yves is I think a writer.  There is art and art books and everywhere.  A well stocked kitchen, laundry facilities, freezer (which means ice Brenda).  Ian and I think maybe we should just move in.  He has much better taste than I.
Can’t wait until tomorrow!