Monday, Aug 4 Antwerp and Masstrich

Monday August 4 - Antwerp and Maastricht

Early start today as we have a lot to fit in.
We had an early breakfast as we were leaving not long after docking.
We docked in Antwerp about 8am. We hoped on our bus tour to Maastricht. Each bus had its own tour guide who gave a talk on the way to our destination .
Not a huge amount to see on the way there.
Once in Maastricht we met up with our local guide, a rather fun chap who made the walking tour rather fun.

Stumble Stones - To remember the people who lived in the house who where killed during WW!!

The tour took around an hour and took in the the sites of the inner city. Starting with the walls that used to defend it. We also saw a working river mill.

Andre Rieur house. 

 A most beautiful church and many pretty lane ways. 

Sadly the shops weren't open as it was the first Monday of the month. At midday an Air Raid siren went off. It is to remember all those peoples lives that have been lost in war. This happens each month so that no one will forget.
It was a shame though as many of the shops had huge sales on :-(.
In fact there are 72 shoe shops in this tiny town lol






After our walk (which started cool and cloudy but ended hot and sunny), it was time to return to the bus and a short trip to Neercane Castle where we had lunch in the Michelin Star restaurant.

We were greater in the forecourt with champagne and salmon blinis. We then moved in to the reception hall for lunch.

First course was sole and broad beans.

Followed by a most delicious dish of venison with apricot ginger sauce, polenta and seasoning and sour cherries. The venison just melted in your mouth it was superb.




Dessert was a type of bombe Alaska with a pineapple ice cream in the centre. Followed by tea or coffee. I sat next to our bus tour guides, who are in there twenties and are still at university.

It was very interesting to just chat with them over lunch.
We then walked back down via the vineyards to the buses for our 1.5hr trip back to Antwerp.
Paul then went on another walking tour this time into Antwerp itself.
I went back to the ship got a cup of tea and relaxed for a while before getting ready for diner.





Our diner tonight was in the new intimate dining room with the couple we sat with at the Moulin Rouge, Brian and Beryl from Western Australia.
We had a great night with them.
Diner luckily was not big dishes, but still five courses.
We started with a special prepared aparretif then had duck liver mousse.
This was followed by pumpkin and ginger soup with truffle foam. Must admit non of us could smell or taste the truffle. Next was beef tenderloin. Which was very tender.
Next was desert of apricot three ways.

Apricot dumpling, apricot ice cream in a very nice twill and lastly a shot glass of apricot liqueur. Very yum.
We then all went to the lounge for a drink and listened to tonight's entertainment, a chap who sang so very well. He did songs from musicals like Grease, West Side Story etc. he was excellent.
Bed