After another nice breakfast I spend the morning working in my room. I do have a break when the cleaner appears when I go off for a coffee in the square.
Lunch is a baguette bought on the way to the coach park and eaten once I’m on the bus. I have walked up early as I am always worried it won’t start. I don’t know why, and shouldn’t worry. But I do.
It starts.
I drive to the hotel to pick the group up at 14:30 and take them to Ypres where they will be staying for the Last Post at 20:00 this evening.
I came across country so I could point out a few sights on the way but at one village the road was completely closed so we were sent on a diversion which cost about 20 minutes.
On entering Ypres the road I wanted was also closed but this didn’t pose a problem as there are numerous ways into the centre.
The group are visiting the “In Flanders Fields” museum before having a couple of hours free before witnessing the Last Post.
This moving tribute is performed by the local Fire Brigade at the impressive and awe inspiring menin Gate monument. Apart from the German occupation this has gone on since the 1920’s and is something that must be seen.
I drop them all off close by and retreat to the coach park which has been moved and is further out of town than before.
It is very warm and muggy on the coach so I decide to go for a stroll around Ypres which I enjoy.
I drive back to the dropping off place at 19:00 and wait for them all to come back at about 20:30 after the Last Post has been played.
I have a chat with a Shearings driver who has a lovely coach but is not happy with it! I would swap him tomorrow!They all come back on time and I take the motorway back to Bruges which takes just under an hour.
By the time I have parked and walked back it is 10:00 o’clock and I am hungry! I haven’t had any dinner yet.
It is too late for a big meal so I go to a favourite bar, Rembrandt’s, close to the market square and sit down for a couple of swift beers and a bowl of lasagne.
Where this bar is there are about fifteen buildings next to one another and all of them are either a bar, cafe or restaurant! It is a lively spot as two of the bars are noisy with music and youngsters and flashing lights! I am at an age when it is nice to just sit and watch the world go by!
A large group of men in suits appear having just come from a conference (most still had big badges around their neck!) and were looking for somewhere to sit.
I could see them looking undecided and like a small wave they went one way, then another and back again trying to figure out the best option.
In the end the suits went to the pub/disco bar with the loud music and looked totally out of place.
Not long after another load of suits arrived and did the self same thing!
I hope they had a good night.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment