FUN-travel: Belgium – Lasne & Dinant
October 26, 2011 by Susan Clarke
Day 26 – Sunday, October 9 – Brussels Airport to Lasne – cloudy, low 60’s
- arrive 8:30 pm (1 hr time change) only 1 hr flight
Lasne Cottage
- takes 45 minutes @ Hertz to correct charges that don’t match reservation – get to lot & car has dings & dents – no one there to verify – have to go back in terminal – total waste of time!
- take off w/Google directions (after other car renter shows us how to get in reverse)
- like Scotland, roads don’t have clear signs, make wrong turn, go back & figure out they paint the lanes to follow
- get off freeway & feel lost – McDonald’s on corner – OMG! they speak French! – one person speaks a little English & point us in same direction we were going
- finally arrive @11 pm after driving on narrow, rural roads
FF (FUN-facts) – new car challenge – now driving on same side as US, but got 6 speed manual shift to save money
Day 27 – Monday, October 10 – Lasne, Belgium – cloudy, cool, sprinkles – high 50’s
Dinant Bridge
We’re here because my niece Mary’s husband has taken a 3 yr job transfer from San Diego – have cute cottage w/kitchen (500 sq ft) in country – 400 euros for week – B&B is $20 more per day & for that I can make breakfast!
Dinant Church
- Take morning walk along path w/stream & cows grazing
- Rest
- Relax
- Recharge
- FUN-food Lunch – Lasne Deli – Caprese Salad – roasted & fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, shaved parmesan & prosciutto – Italian Sandwich – really good bread w/prosciutto, tomatoes, olive paste, greens 18 euro
- drive to Carrefour – huge grocery store & stock up
- FUN-food Dinner – Le Barbavin (Belgium food) – menu in French (imagine that) Lotte (fish) sauteed on mashed potatoes – salad of haricot verte (green beans) w/shrimp in balsamic dressing – fabulous French wine Marasal? (should have written that down) – Gran Marnier & cap for dessert – food just so-so
FF (FUN-facts) – local beer is cheaper than water or coke @ grocery store (& it’s good!)
Day 28 – Tuesday, October 11 – Drive to Dinant, Belgium – weather same as yesterday
- Depart 10:30 – drive to Dinant – try back roads but too much construction – get on freeway –
- massive backup there too due to roadside maintenance – have never seen so many semi trucks ever!
- Arrive 1:00 (60 miles)
- FUN-food Lunch – Le Cafe des Arts – cap/latte & Mediterranean Salad – tuna, anchovies, tomatoes, eggs, cucumber, red onion, green beans on mixed greens – huge! as usual we share – 18 euro
Dinant River
- short walk through lovely old town – take tram to Citadel 15 euro- feels like a rip off as you can’t take the walk that shows on the TI map
FF – Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone was born in Dinant in 1814.