Augustijn Abbey Ale was the ‘official’ drink at the Welcome reception, opening the ‘Fun & Beer Tour Belgium 1999’. At 3 PM all guests had arrived in the hotel, happy to get acquainted with each other, telling about their flights, and sorting out the check-in procedures. Every body received a piece of history: a polo shirt with the ‘official’ logo of the tour. As a nice extra surprise, Pierre Celis, the most famous Belgian brewer, popped in with a case of his new beer, the Grotten-bier or Cave-beer. It was a photo-opportunity for most. The glasses of the Augustijn and the Grotten-bier found a home in the luggage of our guests. They would be the first of a whole collection. (Isn’t it Dave?)

4 PM, and we were all sitting in our VIP-bus, on our way to the heart of Brussels. A light rain proved that we were in Belgium, indeed. Lucky for us, it was the only time during the whole trip that the rain would bother us. The sight seeing tour brought us near the NATO headquarters, the European Parliament, the huge memorial Cinquantenaire, the Justice Palace, the Royal palace and so much more.

Huge front portch of Palace of Justice

Two hours later we arrived at the famous ULTIEME HALLUCINATIE restaurant, down town Brussels. The original Art Nouveau architecture of the interior was a first pleasant delight. The dinner and beers brought us in the mood to become friends with the other guests on the tour. A new surprise was the visit of Bernard Van den Bogaerde, brewer at De Koninck in Antwerpen, who came to wish us a pleasant tour.

Jo says cheers during the welcome dinner!

A couple of beers while waiting for the dessert.

A two hour dinner had its effect combined with the jetlag on most. We chose for an early retirement in bed, not without bussing through the royal domains in Laken, gazing at the Japanese and Chinese pavilions, and the world famous Atomium. Some of us were still thirsty and had another couple of beers in the hotel before bed.

Day II