Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Thanksgiving in Belgium? Why not!?!

When a nice family from California contacts you to design a special Thanksgiving beer tour to Belgium, as the Belgians would say, “Why not!?!”

I’ve just returned from an eight-day tour with the Loefflers of Northern California.  We spent three nights in the dreamy city of Ghent, three nights in the romantic medieval city of Bruges and one night in the unshaven city of Brussels.

Highlights included brewery tours at Van Steenberge, Bosteels and Halve Maan, a visit to Gravenstein castle and dinners at the illustrious Belga Queen in Ghent, the sublime Erasmus in Bruges and eccentric Restobiers in Brussels.  Another highlight of the tour was a surprise marriage proposal from Dustin to Charlotte...she said, "Yes!"

I have travelled with many fine groups, but I have to say what a fun bunch of nice people in which to beer travel they were.  As with any tour, we faced challenges and obstacles (Belgium up to its old tricks) that had to be overcome, but they were all done with flexibility, a smile and great beer.  A special thank you to the Loefflers for beer travelling with Belgian Beer Me! Beer Tours.  I know it will this tour will provided many fine memories for everyone in years to come.