The IT guy was kind enough to drop me off in central Antwerpen although he was going to Gent. It is amazing how simple and easy life can be, when you hitchhike. However, the opposite can certainly also be the case. Luckily, I’ve been spared the worst.

After walking only a bit around the city centre, I headed to a bar to get out of the blazing winds. This place turned out to be a tiny room with a little bar in the corner. I think it was run by the woman in the bar, who, by the way, gave me samples of the different beers on tap, when she saw the confused look on my face when faced with the choice of beers. I went with a De Koninck (a dark local beer) and I did not regret it. Especially when I think of the price; 1,8 € for a draught beer (the Belgian wine glass-shaped beer glass). Mere minutes had passed after I sat down, when it started raining. Buckets. Pouring. Cats and dogs…. and then the thunder came. Although the beer was good and cheap, and the local patrons seemed friendly, though all over 60 (at least), I decided to defy the weather and search for a new place to explore. After passing a university building, I found another bar, which was actually a student bar. It was probably due to the weather that I felt like moving on to Brussels, so I ordered a La Chouffe and sat down. The feeling kept a firm grip on me even after emptying my beer, so I set course for the railway station, but first I had to eat something. The choice fell on a moroccan restaurant and boy was I in for a treat. A Duvel and a big plate of lamb chop, sausage, steak and kebab later, I was happy and ready to go to Brussels.

I entered the beautiful Antwerpen train station (really – it is magnificent!). The time had passed 22.00 (10 pm for you Americanos ) and the ticket sales had closed. I headed for the ticket machines. They neither took cash or card! COME OOOOON?? European train station? After walking around the station and becoming more and more desperate, I found someone who looked a bit official. She told me that I should just board the train and find an official there. I found my platform and boarded, but no controller ever came. Win! But seriously? Why the f**k don’t they just allow the machines to take cash and/or card?

Minutes to midnight, I arrived in Brussels and I had NO clue about where to go, so I just went. Chose a direction and walked. Even in the dark of the night I could see that Brussels were much bigger and more beautiful than Antwerpen. I was looking forward to waking up the next day. I asked a couple of people on the way, if they knew where I could find a hostel, but they kept talking about hotels. Yeah right, I’m not going back to Le Méridien, I thought as I smiled at them and said thanks. A few minutes later, I heard coughing and sniffling behind me. A guy was walking behind me. He looked quite “casual” (to say the least), so I asked him if he knew a hostel in the area. He did. Actually he was going there. Within minutes I was checked in. Before going to bed I sat in the common room/café/bar and checked my mail/Facebook, while youngsters around me were partying (I feel so old sometimes…). Like in Antwerpen, I had only sat down (this time in my bed) when I heard thunder and saw massive lightning. I guess that the storm had turned and followed me to Brussels! I fell asleep within minutes.