Waterloo

Our last full day of vacation.   Slept in and after lunch we drove to the Battle of Waterloo Monument.  I didn't really know anything about Waterloo except that Napoleon was defeated.  The odds seemed to be stacked against him, as he eventually found out.  Having grown up in Revolutionary Morristown and then living in the heart of the American Revolution in Boston, it seems natural for me to end up in another part of the world where the French Revolution came to an end.  I almost feel compelled to make my next move St. Petersburg!  Just kidding!  Maybe the American Civil War.

Back to our day in Waterloo.  There were a few tourist buses but we got up to the top of the Monument before them and just made it down before the rain started.  They had an couple of interesting films which gave you some good detail on the 10 hour battle of June 18, 1815.  They also have a panoramic painting which was made in 1912.  Randy took us home through some stone back roads.  Made for a bumpy ride but well worth it for the scenery.

1912 Panorama

Tourist Group - not much room!

View of Lasne

That's all for now.   Probably won't post for a while.  Let me know what you think.   

TOURING BRUSSELS

Our last busy tourist day was Wednesday.  We took a drive to see the Atomium just north of the city.  The Atomium was built as the icon for the 1958 World Fair of Brussels.  Meant to represent an optimistic vision of the future and the modern super-technological world;  "A better life for mankind."

It is 335 feet high.   There are stairs, escalators and an elevator to assist in getting up and down between the spheres.   There is a restaurant located in the top sphere.  We did have lunch there.  Originially the monument was not meant to last past the Fair but it was so popular it became a symbol of Brussels.  Renovated in 2006, they added several exhibits to the spheres.  Two of those exhibits were closed while we were there due to changes being made to them.  But I'm sure we will return, with visitors in tow.
Located nearby is Mini-Europe.  This is a place that has iconic buildings made to scale from all over Europe.  They did a good job on a lot of the buildings, adding a lot of detail and even figures.  But I kept getting this feeling that I should have a little golf club and an orange ball in my hand.

VIEW OF MINI EUROPE

MINI EUROPE

Grand Place, Brussels

Antwerp

London

After our lunch at the Atomium.   We drove to Belgium to walk around Grand Place and restock our chocolate hoard!  Weather was borderline but fear not the rain started in earnest as soon as we left the car and started walking.  Popped in and out of a lot of chocolate shops, looking for my favorite chocolate covered biscuit.  Once found, I knew life was good again!   As you can see the sun was in an out with some good downpours in between.  We did get to spend about 15 minutes outside one of the pubs for a beer but then quickly moved inside to watch the rain pour down and clear the square.  All in all, a great day, even with the rain.

I'm sure this was Kate Middleton's first choice for her gown and 

for Pippa but they didn't have it done in time!

The Palace for Belgian royalty

Well that's it for now.  Enjoy the photos!