Antwerp

Checked in at the Billiard Palace Hotel, which is a find for the budget traveller, close to the Central Station with a billiar hall cum card parlour on the first floor. Found a low dive off a side street - the Arizona - (no pictures) populated with a mixture of local  Belgians, Turks and Arabs. A large drunk sat next to me and said, ' Let me give you some advice. This is a dangerous place.' I did not stay for a second drink.

I spent the next day walking the streets of Antwerp, a beautiful city. Ticked off the cathedral and its wonderful paintings. Walked under the river in the pedestrian tunnel under the Schelde to buy a guide book for the Belgian stage of my walk.



Dutch doesn't seem to be a difficult language. Many of the words are cognate with English, even if they are spelt differently. This establishment offered edible crotchless gummy undies. Perhaps the chewing would help with my smoking. Or perhaps the candy posing pouch.

Found Hoffy's, a Kosher Restaurant, in the Diamond Quarter. Both the cook (pictured above ) and the manager are married to women from their ultra-orthodox Addis community in St Kilda's. Sea bass and accompaniments were excellent and not expensive.