Wrapping up our Tauck adventure in Brussels
Today, we leave the ms Inspire behind and spend our last day with Tauck in Brussels, Belgium. Photo © 2014 Aaron Saunders
Today, guests disembarked Tauck’s beautiful new ms Inspire in the port of Maastricht as the cruise portion of our Belgium & Holland in Spring itinerary draws to a close. But there’s still one more full day of touring ahead of us, as we travel to Brussels and the Hotel Amigo.
There were many goodbyes to the fabulous crew of the Inspire, and to our Tauck Cruise Director Steve, who will stay with the ship and welcome the next group of guests onboard as she turns and heads north back to Amsterdam.
Steam rises off the ms Inspire’s inviting hot tub this morning in Maastricht. Photo © 2014 Aaron Saunders
The stern of the ms Inspire this morning in Maastricht. Photo © 2014 Aaron Saunders
Luggage was collected for us from outside of our rooms and brought separately to Brussels, while we disembarked and boarded three motorcoaches for the three-hour drive to the city.
About 90 minutes into our drive, we stopped at a truck stop along the highway (a TEXACO, ironically enough) for a bathroom break and a stretch of the legs. Next door was the swankiest Ibis hotel I’ve ever seen, and it was nice to get out and have a little stroll.
Heading back to the coaches after a quick pit-stop en-route to Brussels. Photo © 2014 Aaron Saunders
Pit-stops are always a good chance to get a few snacks for the road – though I’m not sure what exactly is going on here! Photo © 2014 Aaron Saunders
I heard a few guests were told by the gas station’s management to not take photographs inside with their iPhones, though I waltzed in with a DSLR and no one said anything to me. It’s an odd policy for a place that sells beer and porn side-by-side newspapers and potato chips. Speaking of, if you’re here, try the Paprika-flavoured potato chips. They’re great.
Stopping en-route to view the Atomium, constructed for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. Photo © 2014 Aaron Saunders
In Brussels, we battled traffic like I have never seen before. When I think of popular European cities that are busy even during the ‘off-season’, I think of places like London, Paris and Rome. But Brussels is every bit as busy as Paris, with throngs of tourists disembarking from motorcoaches at every turn. There’s also absolutely tons of traffic.
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