1 day, 3 countries, 4 currencies

Wow was yesterday (Thursday) a long day. Up at 5, at Victoria for the 7am bus to Dover, via Cantebury. Snagged the front seat, so had a lovely view the whole way. It's a really nice bit of countryside too! Arrived in Dover, waited in lounge for check in time. Got our first taste of what was to come - all the PA announcements were in French and English, the French obviously being not understood at all! Lol. The sky was lovely and blue for our trip, sun shining. And, must say, it was nice to see the cliffs, but they truly weren't anything spectacular! Could see them the whole way to Calais, which was nice - someone else was saying it isn't often you can see both countries... I'm not sure how true that is. Eventually made our way to Calais train station, bought tickets to Bruges via Lille. The train itself was really flash!! Eventually arrived in Bruges at 6.30. They delay at the ferry terminal was quite long... Mum was totally shattered though, so we went to the markets, bought some gorgeous jewellery, had dinner - set menu, full of Flemish traditional dishes... So we've had them now and can return to eating kebabs!! They look really nice here too!! Oh and some chocolates, sorry, pralines!!! Had a decent nights sleep, and moved on slowly this morning to the train station for trip to Ypres/Ieper for battlefields tour and Menin Gate experience tonight (silence and buglers play the last post every single night at 8pm). Should be good to do the tour with some rain - should provide a real trench warfare experience. It does all look like All Quiet On The Western Front actually, with slight modernisation, of course!!! Despite not understanding a word anyone is saying, we are ok, cos they realise our blank looks mean we need English. I feel a bit bad though, it shouldn't be up to other people to talk to me, even though I realise they are in the tourism industry etc. I have my little phrasebook and am prepared to use it, but haven't needed to yet! Oh, we sat in first class yesterday, didn't realise we were in it til the guard checked our tickets! Haha

Ok, well almost at the station we change trains at, so will hit send now!