Antwerp, Belgium – Day 7
So I got to Antwerp yesterday around 5. I didn’t have good directions for Brussels so I found a train station and took the train in. Problem solved. My ticket was 6 euros, the ticket for my bike was 1.90 euros. I was a little self conscious trekking my bike through the station, until I saw a guy RIDING through the station.
The hostel was nearby and single rooms were cheap so I got one. Laid out ALL my stuff to dry since I was rained on for over 4 hours. There wasn’t much ventilation though. Stuffy. (They moved me to the best room in the place this morning.). I passed out for 3 hours then went walking in the rain.
Went out walking looking for FOOD – didn’t stop to eat all day because of the rain. Bought a “big frites” (fries) with curry sauce. It should be called “Feed a family of four” fries, and hungry as I was, could barely finish half of it.
Looking out my window this morning I could see the Orthodox Jews walking or biking by on their way to work. Diamonds are supposedly a traditional occupation for them. Antwerp handles 80% of the raw diamonds in the world, there is a district by the train station exclusively for diamonds. I’m going to the diamond museum tomorrow.
Walked to Chinatown and looked around. Wanted to buy a diablo (Chinese yoyo gadget) with 2 sticks for Brady. Didn’t find it. Got groceries and went back. Scared the heck out of myself opening a bottle of sparkling cider wine, the cork exploded like a gunshot, hit the ceiling and bounced off the floor.
My rule for picking wines is 2 things – anytime I see someone buying 2+ of something, it’s probably good. And anytime I see there’s few left on the shelf, that’s also a good sign. No, I haven’t gotten drunk, the alcohol content is low. And wine is as cheap as coke and other soft drinks so why not?
Found that there is supposedly a Lindy night tomorrow at a jazz club. I only have white running shoes so I found a few vintage stores. In Belgium vintage mostly means 80s style clothes, but some 70′s and 60′s stuff too. Found leather shoes for 12 euros, but because I walked in during happy hour, they were only 6 euros – about $9. The guy who rung up my order had a poofy MacGyver haircut – think mullet with the mullet cut off – and too-tight blue adidas pants. Not blue jeans, pants. It kinda worked for him. 
Went to the stores other location and found a leather coat for 25 euros – a little less than $40. Fits perfect but needs a button sewed. Sweet.
There’s chocolate stores all over so I stopped at one. Ordered every kind they had with alcohol in it. (No, I wasn’t trying to get drunk on chocolate). Yum. Also went over by the cathedral and found a hot chocolate place. Amaretto goes well in hot chocolate.
(I’m probably sounding like an alcoholic, but I haven’t even been buzzed this whole trip. So there.)
I also biked through the main shopping street. It is WEDNESDAY. And it was CROWDED at 3pm. I’d HATE to see it on the weekend.
Antwerp isn’t Holland, not as nice. But it has interesting architecture, a huge cathedral and many ornate old buildings.
Going to the diamond museum and further out in the city tomorrow. Friday I’m going to this supposedly funky market before taking a train to Amsterdam and then to Leiden to get to my buddy Harm’s place. He and Jovanka have adorable girls that laugh at me a lot.
Saturday I have a flight to London.