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24 Hours of Beer Festival
Belgium
Today Newsletter, 5th Edition.
24
Hours of Beer Festival: Sat/Sun Nov. 3/4 -- details
at http://www.24-uur.be/en/index.htm
87 days to First Sip!
NOTE
The Voice of Radio Free Belgium has been silenced often
the past week due to an ISP problem (Damn that Code
Red!), we're working on it, so website access can be
intermittent in the evenings.
TIP
O' THE WEEK
We've debated about whether to share this important
bit of drinking travel advice, but the truth wants to
be free. So, be forewarned and don't read if you're
feeling weak-kneed this morning.
Remember
this traveler's advice: "bring lots of spare underwear!"
"Yes, he spoke with authority, as his Wales visit, in
which the entire bar sang Tom Jones 'Delilah' at maximum
decibel level, even as the lactose-laden stout wreaked
havoc on his bowels! Ask about the "Scot with the enormous
balls" story some time...
MONEY
SECTION
In
1999, Americans would have paid $1.25 or so to get 45BF
(Belgian Francs). Today? It's just under $1.00. So,
buying power is 25% greater than 2 years ago.
In
2002, the Euro as a physical currency is introduced,
so you'll see many items listed in BF as well as in
Euros. This may be your last chance to Feel the Franc,
as it were. FYI, the US Dollar currently will give you
1.13Euros (sorry, I don't have the symbol for the Euro
currency, which is a Big "C" with a horizontal line,
like a curved "E".
SAFETY
Clothing -- try to look more European, less "American."
You'll almost always still look like a (drunk) tourist,
but you can look less vulnerable by fitting in a bit
more. For example, most Europeans don't wear shorts,
even in summer. Experience more, buy less. You'll find
that you travel lighter and happier, and are less prone
to theft. Ship items of value. Don't wear a lot of jewelry.
AIRLINE
UPDATES
See the website for links to airlines and reservation
websites. Dan Rowley and Chad Wright have booked tickets
at this time, for Nov 1-12 (arriving BRU Friday, Nov
2).
BELGIUM
- WERD UP
First, so nobody gets confused, the festival is in "Antwerp"
which is known, in Belgium, as Antwerpen. Not much better,
but there ya are!
The
top 1/2 of Belgium (including Brussels, Bruges, and
Antwerp) is Flemish. The bottom 1/2 is basically French.
What's the difference? Well, Flemish writing looks weird
with lots of "K's".
Possible
Day tripping on Friday, Nov. 2nd. My main consideration
was to get up to Antwerp and the hotel Friday by about
noon (figuring in time at the airport, passport entry,
rounding everyone up if you want to travel together,
trains to Antwerp). However, if enough people are interested,
we could spend a few hours in Brussels that morning,
look around La Grand Place and downtown, and then hit
the train up to Antwerp. Let me know! (NOTE: No Museums
on Day 1 please, ) Since most of us are flying
coach, we'll probably want/need a nap for a couple hours
when we hit the hotel. Well, I will, so there.
ATTENDEE
(Commitment) / LENGTH OF STAY (LOS) / SNORE QUOTIENT
In
detail on the Who's
Going Page!
New
Member Focus: Joining the Belgium Tour Team 2001!
Introducing George Anderson. He's a gregarious drinker,
and a US citizen working in London for Bank of America.
He'll be riding the Chunnel rails from London to Brussels
and Antwerpen to join us for the weekend festivities
before heading back to Merrye Olde Englande.
Introducing
John Jaser. I thought I'd also introduce everyone
to the one-and-only John Jaser (I mean, could there
possibly be another?). The founder of our Belgium
Tour Club, he found the 24 Hours of Belgian Specialty
Beer Festival on the Internet, during business hours
of course! He's a BrewMaster extraordinaire (lessee,
e-x-t-r, yup) and quite capable when it comes to cheezy-ass
stories about Belgian brewing. He lives in CT. God bless
homebrewing.
NEXT
WEEK'S ISSUE
Coming up,
as we start to pin down flight details, we should consider
whether to get hotel rooms together near the city's
old center in Antwerp, at least for Fri/Sat/Sun Nov
2/3/4 of the festival!
REMEMBER
Life stinks like rotted panda meat if you
don't drink enough. Don't Email the editor with personal
problems, jerky.
Cheers,
BilFish
Editor, Belgium Today!
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