Orval, Belgium and other beer adventures.

On the way home back to the states Ana thought we should spend a couple of days in Belgium to sample the beer to make confirm that it is still tasty. Good news was that is was just as tasty as last time. We rented a car and drove towards Rochefort to be withing reaching distance or the Orval Abbey. We had to investigate rumors of the fresh beer they served there. The plan was made and executed. 

We camped out in this nice little cottage operated by a nice older couple who made sure there was plenty of beer in the fridge. They also cooked up regional meals for us so that we had an authentic experience.

Chateau Jemeppe was right across the street.

Ximena trying to sneak in. 

The Orval Abbey.

Inside the gates of Orval Abbey. There are rooms for people to stay

More of the same.

Sculpture garden.

Cistercian Ruins.

So Ana and I had a discussion, a grand plan of leaving Ximena to be raised by the Monks and Nuns that way they will teach here the skills of making both cheese and beer. And when she turns 18 we'll come back to pick her up and start our own brewery called Orvalita.

There there was an afternoon spent in Luxembourg.

Phone booth in Luxembourg.

On The way to Gent we stopped by Delirium Brewery.

I can get down with this sort of trophy case.

Hanging out with the head brew master.

Then there was Gent to see our good friend who are well documented on our past posts about Gent.

Brussels and Gent Belgium.

The World Cup had just started and everyone had the fever. We were waiting in line to get our boarding passes at the airport in Addis Ababa when Mexico finished playing. Ana and I were sporting our Mexico shirts when a pair of men stuck out their hands to congratulate us for beating their team, Cameroon. We friended a passenger who was going to be on our flight and he asked us to go hang out with him at the bar to help cheer on his team, Spain. Spain was taken to the cleaners that evening by Holland. Our new friend buried his face in his knees while other patron taunted him in a friendly way. I'm sure most of the world had their eyes glued the screen that night watching the games. The fever had infected most of us travelers waiting to get from point A to B. It was a positive atmosphere and everyone walked throughout the terminal with a sense of hope. Perhaps if the world leaders approached politics like World Cup fans, maybe there would be less of the bad stuff. 

Our ritual of stopping over in Belgium to break-up the flight back home was one we were looking forward to...friends, food, beer and paths winding around old city centers. It wouldn't be the chaos of Egypt or Ethiopia we've come to love and hate. We ventured out of Gent this time and went on a day trip to Brussels, it made a difference tagging along with friends.  
  

A glass of Orval and a bag of cashews seemed like the right way to start off a Sunday. 

The Sunday Market in Brussels is a way to get to see and experience the vast variety and cultures of the city.  

Since we more or less balked on the concept of breakfast, lunch at an old Greek Cafe where you get to walk into the kitchen and choose your dish sounded like the perfect idea. 

The place was packed and the food delicious.

Ana destroyed her meal.

A view outside.

Outdoor flea market, yes please. 

This could be your new trophy.

Shopping makes people thirsty.

Apparently, I picked-up a German hunting hat. 

Home decoration idea #41.

If you plan on buying items, you need an old lady cart to carry your goods.

Manneken-Pis and waffles, doesn't get more Brussels than this.

I was on a Geuze kick.

Looking up our friend's street at mid-night.

Looking down our friend's street at mid-night.

World Cup fever pouring out into the streets. Belgium beat Algeria, which always makes me happy. In fact I root for any team that plays Algeria. Ana and I encountered Algerian fans 4 years ago in Brussels and the ones we saw were awful. They took to the streets after their team lost and were taunting and physically harassing non-fans. Algerian fans also did some stuff to the Egyptian football team when we lived in Egypt. This is the root of our prejudice.  

9 pm and it was still light outside.

BFFs.

Belgium

Spring break usually means escaping the cold and finding a warm beach somewhere at any costs even if you live near the beach you seek a warmer one. I suppose we all need to thaw out after a cold winter. In our case we did the opposite, we went searching for cold and found it. The warmness we sought was the company of old and newly made friends.

True, we spent most of our time in Flanders, but did venture to the French side for a couple of days to cautiously explore Belgium's other half. Maybe the former industrial town of Charleroi wasn't the best example, but it was an adventure and that is we seek out here at Camels and Tacos.

Need a quick fix of frites (fries) or fried shaped processed meats? There are plenty of establishments that will cater to your appetite.

How to clog the arteries 101.

James and Harry enjoying a pinch (normal beer).

Harry surprised us with this breakfast item. I didn't think I'd ever eat head cheese. Let this be a lesson in the never say never category.

Is it a bar or an antique shop? Enjoy your favorite beer and buy an old tube radio for 40 euros.

Another Bar/Antique shop that serves soup and quiche.

Museum of Industrial Archeology and Textile in Gent is a great way to spend a couple of hours. We weren't allowed to take photos of the exhibits, so a view of the city is all you get.

Canal shot.

Curtis (Joy Division tribute band) drummer Stephane finds the love of his life in a painting at Chantal's.

Hatched egg Easter cake (say that 5 times fast-bet you can't.)

Each bakery we passed sold their own handmade Chocolate bunnies.

Bunny patrol on the herb garden.

Why stop at head cheese...quail eggs and goose liver pâté was also on our menu...

...as was a sorbet made from cava.

Jab forks in a grilled mackerel and garnish with a side of baked tomatoes-let your dinner guests dig in.

End dinner with cheese, dates, nuts, chocolate eggs, or whatever you want.

Els aka 100% was responsible for our 8-hour Easter feast.

The funeral

Goedroen and Els making a mess.

I learned something new about digestives. After a heavy meal, an after meal sip of a little somethin'-somethin' will put your intestines back in order. Els dad makes a pear liqueur.

A wood stove in action.

House of  the artist.

A night stroll through Gent

Belgium's Angry Birds.

The 5 Euro Turkish pizza is always hearty.

James is a painter

He was commissioned to make a Botero-esque painting. A nod to Goya and Velázquez in the background.

Els textile interpretations of paintings by James. 

Then there was Charleroi, more importantly Shanty. We found Shanty on airbnb and by his photos we knew we had to stay at his place.

Shanty acquired his decor on his travels to India and the far east.

His office/kitchen

You're thinking restaurant, we were thinking restaurant. More importantly we were thinking Belgium-French nachos. Nope. Dance club. Charleroi has a lot of them.

Instead of nachos we tried something new. It was a cold day, so why not have a cold mystery meal for lunch. Unlike the Dutch side where some English is understood, an hour away no English is understood. We concluded the cold meal ended up being some sort of fish. Later we found out it was eel. Glad eel is off the bucket list.

Ana was more cautious and ordered les boulettes (meatballs in tomato sauce).

Around town

Exactly.

We did find our Mexican restaurant in Charleroi, it might have been called Chi Chi's. We also found a very wasted Mexican lady from Acapulco wanting to be Ana's best friend. She had the attention of the whole establishment. We did sit next to a nice lady and her kids...she asked why in the world would we came to Charleroi. The other table next to us had birthday party and the restaurant busted out the champagne and sombreros.

Shanty decided we should have a wig party at 10 in the morning. He brought out his box of wigs and fun was had by all.

I see a new hair style in the future.

Ana as a blonde.