The first of many blog posts from Belgium this winter
We are lodging in Gent for the 4th straight year. I always dread getting ready to go, am reluctant to leave Chicago, then as soon as I arrive remember what a wonderful town Gent is.
There will be non-stop action all this week. But first, Don and I “hit the ground running” once we got to town by going for personalized fittings for Tempur pedic pillows. Hard to be beer experts without a good night’s sleep.
I reread “A Tall Man in a Low Land” on the night flight from Chicago to Brussels, an Englishman’s take on Belgium, by Harry Pearson. This in preparation for a 4 day excursion with dear friends – will give a copy of the book as a keepsake of the trip and try as much as possible to share Harry’s optic on the Belgians with our pals. Book handles such topics as pigeon racing (invented here), candidates for prize as the worst name for a Belgian beer (a contest idea in there), oddest town traditions (pea soup fest is high on list), musings on Belgian contempt of government, love of dogs, rules of the road that terrify non-natives to reveal the Belgian character with humor and affection. It and busts the myth that Belgium is boring. Pearson sure appreciates the food and the beer – especially Dupont’s – which of course endears him to us even more. *****recommendation.
Speaking of Dupont – we will be there on Tuesday for the collaboration brew for Philly Beer Week and will be taking pictures during the day. Probably really dumb, but I will be test driving my new camera on Tuesday. I liked the Philly Beer Week page and hope you will too. We need to get cracking on making sure that crowd knows the beer is heading their way.
Monday, we have a visit to Dendermonde to catch up with our friends at Dilewyns, Belgium’s newest brewery. Our first visit since their grand opening. When we were there last spring the place was still under construction. Do you know about their sensational
Vicaris beers. More news soon.
Took hundreds of pictures today but must learn how to handle pixelmator to shrink em for the blog. One fun thing about Gent is the awesome graffiti. 
