R. Craig Collins > Web Page Design > Portfolio > Brussels

Christmas 2001, Brussels © R. Craig Collins, 2001/8

Though we had been to Florida during the Summer, In late Fall, my father's condition worsened, so I took another quick trip out to visit...

He and Mary Ella said they were holding up well, and both said that we should go ahead and take our planned trip.... so we finalized plans for December.

To Travelogue

Mother flies into Waco 
Sunday    12/23/2001 American #0434 ELP to DFW 02:09pm-04:47pm 
Sunday    12/23/2001 Am Eagle #3779 DFW to ACT 05:31pm-06:17pm

To Brussels
Tuesday   12/25/2001 United   #1836 DFW to IAD 12:15pm-04:03pm Airbus 319 Seats: 
Tuesday   12/25/2001 United   #0950 IAD to BRU 05:40pm-07:20am Boeing 767 Seats: 

Hotel (Click for Map)
Holiday Inn Centre City (Internet Site)
Chaussee de Charleroi 38
Brussels, 1060 Belgium 
2 rooms: 2 double beds, breakfast included

To  Metro, Tram, and Bus (Internet Site)

Tours (click for Map)
Wednesday 12/26/2001  3 hours Bus tour of Brussels (Internet site)
Saturday  12/29/2001  9 1/2 hour Bus tour of Ghent and Bruges (Internet Site)

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Wednesday, December 26, 2001
7:20 am Arrive BRU on time, after light breakfast, clear customs, claim luggage, and have to abandon first taxi (too small).
Take inadvertent trip to Waterloo and arrive at Holiday Inn City Centre about 9:00, check in, unpack, and explore before lunch in the hotel.
Short nap, and then off to City tour, cold Grand Place, sleepy daughters, and lace factory tour in snow

Grab a bite at Quick Hamburger, check out Metro, walk Louise Ave. at night, finish with hot cocoa, then settle in for the night.

Friday, December 28, 2001
Breakfast followed by Metro ride to Bruparck! Started with Mini-Europe on a brisk morning, then went to Atomium; once inside the wind and rain hit, and the structure swayed and groaned, and sheets of water hit the windows.


Rode escalators down through 1958 modern furnishings, the went to Bruparck! village for fajitas. We purchased pictures, and then as the sky cleared, headed back to the metro. Got off at Rogier and fought the mall, then off to BCCD, the Horta designed comic book museum.
Then walked up hill to the Botanical Garden (Botanique) at dusk, metro to Louise Station and dinner at Quick. Grabbed some waffles, then ate those with hot chocolate in hotel. A little BBC (cable television) and then turned in.

Saturday, December 29, 2001
Breakfast early, watched the snow.
Bus to tour, boarded the big bus, drove past the big Basilique National du Sacré Coeur, and on to Ghent.

Drove past the Count's Castle, then to the square. Visited the St. Baaf's Cathedral on the square, saw St. Nicholas, and the Belfry. Went into St. Baaf's, saw the pulpit and wandered. Then on to Bruges. WOW!

Walked through a convent and then saw lace being made. Then over to Vivalde for stew, 'grandmother's pork', and dessert.
Wandered by the canals to Notre dame, and saw the Michelangelo statue. Then past the Belfry, and the over to the TWO squares, Ice Skating and the Hôtel de Ville. Shopped for chocolate and lace, then returned.

Walked in the snow to the Pizzeria around the corner. Pizza and chocolate cake, then hot chocolate.

Sunday, December 30, 2001
After the usual breakfast, we caught the Metro expertly to Schuman, and walked to Parc Cinquantaire. There was snow falling, snow on the ground, and the park was beautiful.

The Arch was closed for a New Year's Euro bash, but the Museé de Histoie opened just as we arrived


The Arc d' Triumph, New Years Eve, at the roll out of the Euro

. We tour the old clocks, sleds, roman areas, pre-roman areas, and especially like the model of Rome and the model of the Parthenon.
Gracie did no care for the Egyptian mummies or the pre-historic Belgian tombs. Had a fantastic lunch of quiche, and finished up the coins, religious icons, textiles, and more glass. Took about 5:00 to see it all.
Then we went around to AutoWorld, and spend 2 hours among the old European cars, motorcycles, and carriages. Metro back to Louise, then we ate at the Frittery, where we had pita and chicken kabobs, and frittes. I even had a Belgian beer. We stopped by a store and got Belgian chocolate one more time, and ate it in the lobby.
We managed for a van for the morning and started plans to waste our last 500 Bf.
packing took several hours and we planned for a 7:00 breakfast, 8:00 clear out, 8:15 check out, and 8:30 pick up. Airline check in is scheduled for 9:00, plane at 11:55, with 9:05 transit to IAD, 2:19 customs layover, then 8:30ish arrival in DFW.
What a vacation!

Family Dining for the Day
Breakfast @ Hotel
Lunch @ Museé de Historie,
Quiche
Dinner @ Frittery
Pita or Chicken K Bob/Soda or Belgian Beer/Frittes
Dessert @ Grocery
Chocolate

From Brussels
Monday    12/31/2001 United   #0951 IAD to BRU 11:55am-03:00pm Airbus 319 Seats: 
Monday    12/31/2001 United   #1455 DFW to IAD 05:20pm-07:38pm Boeing 737 Seats:


Activity
Location
Time
Required
Date
CST
GMT+1
Total
Transit



Depart
Hotel
 
Mon; 12/31
1:25a
8:25a
 



Transit
Shuttle
0:30 hr
Mon; 12/31
 
 
 



Arrive
BRU
 
Mon; 12/31
1:55a
8:55a
0:30 hr



Customs Process/Brunch
BRU
3:00 hr
Mon; 12/31
 
 
 



Depart
BRU
 
Mon; 12/31
4:55a
11:55a
3:30 hr



Transit/Refreshments
UAL #0951
9:05 hr
Mon; 12/31
 
 
 



Arrive
IAD
 
Mon; 12/31
2:00p
9:00p
12:35 hr



Customs Layover
IAD
2:20 hr
Mon; 12/31
 
 
 



Depart
IAD
 
Mon; 12/31
4:20p
11:20p
14:55 hr



Transit/Dinner
UAL #1455
3:18 hr
Mon; 12/31
 
 
 



Arrive
DFW
 
Mon; 12/31
7:38p
2:38a
18:13 hr



Luggage/Transit
Shuttle
0:52 hr
Mon; 12/31
 
 
 



Depart
DFW
 
Mon; 12/31
8:30p
3:30a
19:05 hr



Transit
Car
1:55 hr
Mon; 12/31
 
 
 



Arrive
Home
 
Mon; 12/31
10:25p
5:25a
21:00 hr


6:12 airports(+:10) + 12:23 flying (+1:55) + 2:25 to/from airport = 21 hours


Wednesday 01/02/2002 Am Eagle #3904 ACT to DFW 12:25pm-01:17pm
Wednesday 01/02/2002 American #0561 DFW to ELP 02:19pm-03:10pm