Weekend Antwerp

Once more, we'll be spending a weekend in Antwerp - the town in the north of Belgium where our grandmother was born.

When my sister and I grew up, were kids in the 1960's, there was nothing of any importance in Dendermonde where we lived. So when we needed something (clothes, for instance) for a special occasion, our grandma took us to Antwerp to shop. She bought us clothes in 't Moleken - a shop especially for children's clothing. Little did we realize then it was the most expensive shop for kids in Antwerp and even in the rest of our country. Our grandparents were rather well off, granddad having fought in two world wars. He got a regular pension as an officer, plus an extra one for several deeds of bravery, and a third one for having suffered major wounds.

So we got the know the town pretty well, and continue to go to Antwerp when we need something. Also, there are many theatres and an opera, plus arena's where well-known artists perform. Plus thousand of restaurants and café's and lots of historical buildings. And a zoo.

We have our favorite restaurant there. Well, more of a bistro. They have a small menu card, but what they cook tastes like heaven! We've eaten the best beef stew there. Simple food, but oh so good.

Lately we have got to know Brussels as well. For a long time we never went there, but last year we began our discovery. Not so long ago, just before Christmas, we also spend a weekend there. Another interesting town is Hasselt in the province of Limburg, near the German border. Actually, there is plenty to see in Belgium as a whole. But you never know your own country as well as places in other countries, right?