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24 Hours of Beer Festival
Belgium
Today Newsletter, 8th Edition.
24
Hours of Beer Festival: Sat/Sun Nov. 3/4 -- details
at http://www.24-uur.be/en/index.htm
64 days to First Sip!
NOTE
All editions of the Belgium Today Newsletter can be
found online at http://travelpete.com/belgium/
— Various editions have flight plans for all travelers
who have booked tickets so far.
Now,
for those considering a trip to Amsterdam, some disturbing
news... "Red tape ties up red-light district in Netherlands"
Read
the original New York Times article via our web version
of this newsletter, link to http://travelpete.com/belgium/dutch_article.shtml
BONUS:
New Pictures added
from the 2000 24 Hours of Specialty Belgian Beer
Festival!
MONEY
SECTION
Brought
to us by frequent contributor Dan Rowley.
Rummaging
through old stuff last night I came across an exchange
rate table from the LAST time Bill and I had occasion
to cross the pond, Fall 1999. We thought things were
cheap then, but look at where exchange rates are today...
For those on the fence, this means your dollar goes
pretty far...
In
1999, one dollar bought .9423 Euros. Today it buys 1.0967.
That's like getting an automatic ten percent discount,
and more! It makes conversions easy, because you just
look at the Euro price and know it'll be about 10% less
than that in US Dollars.
In
1999, one dollar bought 1.8433 German marks. Today,
2.145. That's 16% more beer for your hard-working dollar.
In
1999, one dollar bought 38 Belgian Francs. Today it
buys 44.25. Another 16% improvement. How much more chocolate
can you buy for your significant other? I'd bet it's
pretty near 16%.
In
1999, one dollar bought 2.07 Dutch Guilders. Today it
buys a staggering 2.41. Think of the extra time you'll
spend in Amsterdam "coffee" shops! Or, spend nearly
20% more time with your red-light companion without
your significant other noting a dip in the budget. Spectacular!
(Editor's
Note: The Belgium Today Newsletter does not, you know,
generally condone this category of behavior, at least
not very much)
For
those who haven't booked their Europe-on-the-cheap vacation,
DO IT NOW! Beer - it's not just for breakfast anymore.
EXCUSE
OF THE WEEK
Why are we going on this trip?
Inquiring females demand to know....
This
week's excuse: Bachelor party. Yep, it's a post-wedding
bachelor party for Bill Fisher, and a baby shower at
the same time. What could be more natural and deserving
than this?
TIP
O' THE WEEK
Reminder: You'll need Conditioning for Downing Belgian
Brewskies.
You'll
need to prepare for the fact that Belgian brews range
from about 5% alcohol to more than 10% alcohol by volume.
This means extra care in preparing for the journey.
Plan
to spend the week or two prior testing your limits a
few times. Try an all day drinking session. Get used
to drinking, then going out eating, then doing some
more drinking.
AIRLINE
UPDATES
See website links to airlines and reservation sites.
Erich Beckmann has confirmed reservations. He'll be
arriving on Sabena 552 JFK to BRU with John Jaser Friday,
Nov. 2nd at 8.15am. He'll be returning November 11th,
late morning, to JFK.
Thus
far, we are all arriving Friday morning between 7am
and 8.15am, try to join us!
HOTELLING
Who
is in for getting rooms together at the same hotel near
the city's old center in Antwerp for Fri/Sat/Sun Nov
2/3/4, which is the weekend of the beer festival? Email
me and let me know.
When
I compile a list I'll produce some suggestions for next
week and start planning to book rooms. Also, mention
whether you mind rooming with other folks or want your
own room.
BELGIUM
- WERD UP
On
the bright side, I checked with the Belgium Tourist
Board.
The
very sexy Sabine (err, I hope she's a girl) said the
only events planned during the time we'll be there is
the International Antique Fair in Brugge over the weekend,
so we'll totally miss it!
There
are also a couple of religions festivals on the 1st
and 11th, so there could be weird people walking around
in strange costumes. They aren't bums, they are worshippers.
Remember this.
ATTENDEE
(Commitment) / LENGTH OF STAY (LOS) / SNORE QUOTIENT
In
detail on the Who's
Going Page!
Tote
Board:
7 Men of Impeccable Honor – Definitely going to
Belgium
6 Men of Indiscriminate Discipline – Perhaps going
to Belgium
REMEMBER
Dude, where's my beer?
Cheers,
BilFish
Editor, Belgium Today!
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