It is Red T-Shirt Day – We are off to see Daisy!
It is a relatively short hop from Gent to Brugge. In the past, both have been covered in one day. Today, with The Friends of Hector mostly resplendent in red t-shirts, it was to be the full Bhuna.
Those who bus, took the bus to the Centrum. The majority walked into the old town. We lost Robin. He had told the man who never speaks to tell me that he had stopped for a sandwich. The man who never speaks lived up to his title and the message was not relayed. Robin was not a happy chap. We found Robin wandering around the Maarkt. He had found his way here, his navigational skills are astonishing.
Gambrinus was the rendezvous; Jonathan made it on a later train. David went walkabout. The prices did not appear as extreme as they did back in February when Hector and Marg first set foot on these premises. We are now used to paying ridiculous sums of money for small quantities of Bier.
We all tried the Huisbier to start then Howard and Hector moved on to share a bottle of Cantillon Grand Cru. Two grown men sharing one bottle, only in Belgium.
We moved on to Garre, the tiny venue down a lane and up a steep internal stair. Peter made it up, just. Jonathan managed it too, but how to get them out? Hector was straight in to his favourite Belgian Bier: Hanssens Kriek. The complementary Cheese was served without Celery Salt, ah, Celery Salt.
We sat across three tables, Les Freres with Dr Stan and Neil. The waiter was incredibly knowledgeable; he had total respect for Hector’s order. Howard and Jonathan could not be left out and ordered the same for Bier 2. I followed with the House bier ‘Garre’ just to shake them off.
2be is more of a shop, but the Café at the rear is on a prime canal side site. Perfect. Draught Kwak amused me here in February, and as a creature of habit… Craig and Yvonne ordered a bottle of Urthel’s Hop-It served in ice bucket and fan fare. Robin had disappeared, I know where he went.
We caught up with Robin at Daisy’s: ‘t Brugs Beerjte to give it the correct name. This is accepted as being the best pub in Belgium, and Daisy herself had emailed me to assure me that the place would be open today. Success! We met a couple from Enschede, my opportunity of mentioning the Can Studio in the Rock Museum at Groningen. They hadn’t been.
More Hanssens Kriek. Even Craig succumbed. The driest, most sour Bier I have ever tasted.
Hector’s Timeout
Having passed the Taj Mahal at lunchtime it was closed. In February it had never opened. One more chance of a Curry-Heute.
Back to Gent
Jonathan’s bus exploits caused him to miss the train. We were back in Gent by 22.00, time for a Bier. Being reduced to one favourite place, it was back to the Waterhuis and see the still on duty, Kathleen, she even permitted us a smile of recognition. Us locals.
More Piraat, then I had to take Robin back through the mob. Now the rock concert was right outside our hotel window. A good time to write a Blog.
Favourite Brugge Bars
Bierbrasserie Gambrinus, Philipstockstraat 19
2be, Wollestraat 53
Staminne de Garre, de Garre 1
‘t Brugs Beertje, Kemelstraat 5, 8000