Larian Studios Forums General Chat Chat (Anything) Around the World in ??? Days

Ok I'm done with the Eifel Tower for now. Think we should head north Belguim and stop in at Seth's. I'm sure he wouldn't mind showing us around. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

I'm following too, although there was still much left to see here... But we can't see everything in one life, so we have to make choices, eh?

It's a good idea, Lady Sarah! I suggest that we visit forum member's countries for our next destinations. They could do great guides.

Since we're gonna be in Belgium, we'll have make a jump at Larians Studios, to congratulate the developpers and shake some hands!
And after Belgium, why don't we head up to Germany? It's right beside, there are lots of members there, and at the same time we could make an appointement to meet with Alrik, so he could make us visit his homeland, if he's interested in joining the trip.

So when you're ready, I am!

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Wow. Here we are in Brussels!


Brussels is a cosmopolitan city, with a liveliness and an appeal that are intimately related to its role as a crossroads for all of Europe. Architectural styles range from Gothic cathedrals and churches to the gracious classical facades of the Palais des Nations, the Royal Palace and to the many art nouveau and art deco houses in the comfortable neighborhoods where the Bruxellois live.

One of the magnificent buildings in Brussels'
central square, the Grand Place. The square
is surrounded by dozens of ornate buildings
and cosy bars - the ideal place to start your
tour of this lovely city.

Look at those carvings!

Hey guys,
Did you know that the architect of that the Gotic City Hall you see on Lady Sarah's picture commit suicide? After he discovered that the front wasn't completely correct in line, he threw himself of that same building!! He came down all flat! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

If you go a little further you will meet our Belgian pride! Manneke Pis!
[color:"orange"] Manneke Pis pist het lont uit
Lang geleden toen Brussel weer eens belegerd werd, boden de inwoners van de stad zo’n heftige weerstand, dat de belegeraars uiteindelijk moesten afdruipen. De Brusselaars richtten meteen een groots vuur op, maar ze wisten niet dat de belegeraars uit woede besloten hadden de stad in brand te steken. Daartoe hadden ze, ergens bij een poort, de lont aangestoken die naar een groot kruitvat liep. Gelukkig had een jongetje het gevaar bemerkt en het blusmiddel te voorschijn gehaald, dat hij onmiddellijk bij de hand had.
Dat zo’n heldendaad gestandbeeld moest worden lag voor de hand. [/color] (can anyone translate that?)
Manneke Pis
After a little stroll we'll meet someone Everaert Tserclaes
Atomium

Would you guys like it if we stay in Belgium for a while? I would love to show you my homecountry. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Manneke Pis, peeing on a fuse.
A long time ago, when Brussels was under siege once again, the inhabitants faught back so hard that the enemies had to leave.
The inhabitants of Brussels made a big victory fire.But they didn't knew that the enemies, out of anger, decided to put the whole city on fire.
To start that, they had put a lot of gunpowder near one of the gates to the city. And had set fire to the fuse.
Luckely, a little boy noticed something "fishy".
And to put out the fire, he used the one thing that was in immediate reach.
It's obvious that such an act of bravery deserved a statue.

That's more or less a translation.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
(o yes, manneke pis means: little man/boy pee)

@ Seth
Thanx Sethie boy!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kissyou.gif" alt="" />
I'm not feeling very well at the moment soo I didn't had the courage to translate the text.
Are you gonna join us for the Belgian part of the trip? I hope you do, we can show our friends soo much of Belgium, they will know that Belgium is more than Brussels alone!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

If we are finished in Brussels, I would like to take you all to one of my favorite towns in Belgium. Bruges. Whenever you're ready!!

Sure, Gal, take us to Bruges and show us the sites there and tell us why you
like the city so much. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sounds very interesting. Do we leave tonight or in the morning? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Shan <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/alien.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I guess you would do Jurak a favor if you waited for him.
After all...
Belgium is "the beer country".

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

@ Seth
Don't you worry, I will make sure that everyone on this trip will gets what he/she needs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> Drinks, food and entertainment!! Belgium has it all.
I will show Jurak the ways to all the breweries we have, from Brussels to Bruges and to Antwerp.
Let's start here! Belgian Breweries Cheers Jurak!!
There is something I forgot to tell you about Tserclaes. You know, the statue of that dying man? When you rub his rightarm you will have luck in love for one year!!
For the Jews amongst us, or anyone who is interested we have a nice big synagoge. You can also see the page in English or in French. Look at the bottom of the screen. In the St. Michaels and St. Goedele cathedrale are our whole royal family married and baptised their children.
Let's have a look inside (see link), but be quiet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shhh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shhh.gif" alt="" />
After the musea and churches we go see a balletperformance in De Koninklijke Muntschouwburg. I heard they give "the Swanlake". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Ok, this will be it for today, tomorrow there is another day. If you have any suggestions about tomorrow, places to go or things to do, please tell me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

About our flee from France, I'm really sorry but I was in kind of a hurry to show my country. But if you guys like I will return to France after our tour around Belguim, ok?

Hey, no need to go back to France for me Gal. Belgium is just fine. Having a
tour guide who knows her way around is great. Show us some more of the great
places around there. I have never been to Belgium before. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

And sure LaFille if you want to head to Germany next, let's go when Gal gets
through showing us around Belgium. Any particuliar place in Germany you want to
go?

Shan <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Like... there was a chance they didn't got that. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
It's like impossible in Belgium to go without food and drinks. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Belgians are famous for their love of good food and drinks.
-And for their love of taking time off from work to have a good time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
Just don't cover everybody in mayo. It's typically Belgian to put that on almost everything. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
You'll have a hard time getting everybody in shape (and sober) again when it's time to move on.
I better call weight watchers already. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

But I missed most of the France visit <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />. Oh well...

Isn't Brussels arcitecture supposed to be influenced by Jugend? So I've heard, at least... That was a nice church btw.

And there is other things to do besides eat and drinke here, right? Right?

Right?

Übereil

Hey, Ubereil, I missed most of France too, but everybody wanted to move on, so
here we are in Belgium. I'm with you since I don't drink and I am not a very big
eater, I sure hope there is more to do here than eat and drink. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I could go
all day, not eat a thing, and still not be hungry that night if I am doing
something that I love to do or am really interested in like museums, old castles,
old ruins, old churches, etc. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

So Gal, Ube and I want to do something besides eat and drink here in Belgium.
What can you find to keep us occupied? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Hey, Ubereil, any football games to go to around here or do you know? We might
could sneak off to one while Gal and the others are visiting the eating and
drinking places. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Shan <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

We could go see Anderlecht of Club Brügge play some of the minor teams. The minor teams in Belgium isn't supposed to have any defence, so it could be quite entertaining <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />.

Arcitecture is allways nice, so old buildings and such would be nice too. And I don't really mind big meals either <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />.

Übereil

Well, well, I'm not a very big eater either. I feel weakness before hunger. Though, I'm a taster and I love to eat, so I'm happy here. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Just no more mayo, please. I really don't like mayo. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ouch.gif" alt="" />

Hey, that Belgian beer/brewery directory was impressive! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> But I think some people here loved it a litte more than the others and remain stucked to the pubs, eh? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" />

And I must say that I'm also impressed by the quality and state of your roads. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />
So flat and soft (a bit squeezy in some cities, though)... Ah, if it were all like that in Quebec! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Those churches were really beatiful, too. But I think you must find something that'll make us move a little bit more; with all this food/drink, we might end up rolling instead of walking... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
I've heard there were beautiful places for outing and excursions here in Belgium... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" />

About Germany, I haven't thought about any particular place to visit yet. I suggested it because there are also a few forum members living there, and that, imho, the best way to discover a place is to see it by & throught its inhabitants. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

So, what do we visit, now?
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I was several times in Brussels ( I think I know the core quite good now ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" /> ) - but never found the Dinosaur Museum ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

@ Alrik
It's not a waste that you didn't find the dino-museum! I was there last summer and it sucked!! Almost everything is destroyed by vandals and what ever is still standing, is now restaurated, so but we have other museums that are much better.
Museums in Bruges Take your pic!! We have a relic with some blood of Jezus (they say it's real blood) in the Basilica of the Holy Blood, a diamond museum and a chocolat museum etc...

@ Shan & Ub
You don't have to eat and drink al the time here, but you need to or you will fall over. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> We have enough buildings and churches to visit that your heels will be gone by the end of this trip!! Bruges will be the city of today. If you like dolphins, the Boudewijn Park will just be something for you. It's a small themepark, so you kids will have fun, I hope?
You can visit the city by horse and carriage (Sorry for the large pic, this wasn't the intention) , or by boat. After all Bruges is called the venetian of the north. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
There is also a brewery in Bruges for the lovers. The homebrewery traces its origins back to 1564.
@ Üb
If you would like to say some football, Bruges is one of the biggest teams here. We have Racing Brugge and Club Brugge. Both good teams, but I'm not the one to give you nay advice in football. Club Brugge look here for more...

If the girls would like to go shopping, that can be an options, but take out the big ping-ping because in Bruges we have mostly boutiques and very expensive shops.

@ Lafille
No more mayo for you, but not for me also. I hate mayo, I like lighter stuff on my fries.

@ Seth
You seem to forget that we still have to go to France and Germany, THE place to gain weight. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
But please come along, I like to show of with my friends. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" />

Ok, guys I think these links will keep you busy for a while, if you run out of ideas, just let me know, I'm gonna look for a suitable transportation for our next move to Gent! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

Nice park, but now I feel for some football (and Gal, I allready posted that link. Isn't it great when you can choose between dutch and french? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />). And since we're in Bruges, why not go to a Club Brugge game?

Their stadium is called Jan Breydelstadion, and I think it was build in 1975 (the site is in Dutch...). It looks like this:



A quite nice stadium, really.

If only I can find where to look up their comeing games... Ah, here it is. They meet Standard Liege (sp?) on Sunday. Will we still be here then?

Übereil

um... I'm known (in a good way ofcourse <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />) in some parts of Germany. So maybe I better not. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

And how can you talk about Brugge without mentioning the Brugse Metten, 1302 and the Guldensporenslag.
And don't forget Damme and the Zwin. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohh.gif" alt="" />

Shame on you.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

Hey, Gal, I enjoyed the park too. The carriage ride was great and so was the boat
trip, but hey no fair you and LaFille ganging up on me and splashing water all
over me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> If we take any more boat trips, you guys sit on the inside. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Hey Ube, of course we will be in town Sunday. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The stadium looks really nice.
Do you think it will be full Sunday? Can we buy our tickets early or do we have
to wait and buy them at the gate? Which team are we rooting for Club Brugge with
the locals or the other one with the visitors. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I just want to make sure I
yell for the right team. It gets embarrassing when you are the only one in the
group yelling for the other team. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Gal, I think Ube and I are off to the football game on Sunday to see Club Brugge
game. Sounds like loads of fun. Anybody who wants to come along is welcome. If
you guys would rather see something else. We'll catch up with you after the game.

Ube, can I get a snack at the game? I always get hungry at football games. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Shan <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/alien.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />