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Belgium
Today Newsletter, 12th Edition.
24 Hours of Beer Festival: Sat/Sun Nov. 3/4
(More Details at Official
Festival website)
18 days to First Sip!
NOTE
Let's
get ready to R-U-M-M-M-B-L-E!®
It's 16 days until departure, things are ROLLIN' ROLLIN'
ROLLIN'
We
may have a late addition. Looks like friend Ian is still
trying to get through negotiations with his lovely bride
to allow him to join us. I'll keep everyone updated
on his progress. So far, Ann 1, Ian 0.
ARRIVAL
We
have been breathlessly awaiting word of Steve Urban's
flight plans to Belgium.
Well, I have at least, I paid for a lot of hotel roomage!
His
final itinerary has him arriving in Brussels along with
everyone else...Yeah! Except he's gonna be late! Boooo.
But, to make up for it, he's promised to get us a car
tour of Brussels! Yeah! But we'll have to try and hook
up with him and the ride in central Brussels. Boooooo.
However, I'm an expert navigator and have full faith
in our ability to sit still until we are found! Yeah!
Steve's
friend is offering up a driving tour of Brussels and
a ride up to Antwerp in the Evening! Yeah!
American
Airlines #1327
Depart: Hartford/Springfield, CT (BDL) at 4:15PM - 1-Nov-2001
Arrive: Chicago, IL - O'Hare (ORD) at 5:49PM - 1-Nov-2001
Class: Coach Seat(s): 23B Meal(s): None
American
Airlines #88
Depart: Chicago, IL - O'Hare (ORD) at 8:45PM - 1-Nov-2001
Arrive: Brussels, Belgium (BRU) at 12:00PM - 2-Nov-2001
Class: Coach Seat(s): 31C Meal(s): None
American
Airlines #89
Depart: Brussels, Belgium (BRU) at 2:40PM - 19-Nov-2001
Arrive: Chicago, IL - O'Hare (ORD) at 5:05PM - 19-Nov-2001
Class: Coach Seat(s): 30C Meal(s): None
American Airlines #788
Depart: Chicago, IL - O'Hare (ORD) at 8:42PM - 19-Nov-2001
Arrive: Hartford/Springfield, CT (BDL) at 11:46PM -
19-Nov-2001
Further,
I've got inside information on George Anderson's arrival
time on Friday night. He'll be joining us in Antwerp
(direct from London) and is expected between 9:00p and
10:30p. I'd like to suggest either meeting him at the
hotel or leaving a note on where we can be found. Is
it likely we can stay at the same watering hole for
an hour or so around the 10:00p timeframe?
I
also mentioned to George he may have to wake my ass
up if I'm jetlaggin' it Friday evening, but I figure
we should get on a good schedule and go out at night
anyway.
MONEY
SECTION
The
exchange rate continues to be stabilized, which is good
for us, around $1 US = 44 Belgian Francs. In fact, it's
actually gotten better by almost 1 BF in the past week
or so.
Again,
I'll let everyone know if it starts to spike downward
significantly (so that we can purchase some Belgian
Francs over here if necessary).
PACKING
Last-minute
packing items!
I'm
bringing my 6 GB Jukebox MP3 player, along with the
digital camcorder for full embarrassment. I'll also
have my digital camera to record events and share at
the end of the trip. Oh, and I'm bringing my Game Boy
Color, excellent for long trips!
If
you've considered making a purchase of a camera or whatnot,
now's the time to do it! Also, I'd urge Dan to purchase
and bring the ol' digital wallet to store extra digital
pictures!
ITINERARY
CONCEPTS
As always, see Belgium
Today Edition #10 or #11
for detailed itinerary proposals.
Okay,
now it's time to discuss:
1.
Where to meet in the Brussels airport for the 5 of us
meeting there.
2.
Where we might want to stay in Amsterdam. (i.e perhaps
not at the American Hotel or the Hotel New York!)
AIRLINE
UPDATES
We arrive Friday morning from 7am — 8.15am.
Perhaps
I was just kidding last week, but this week I'm kinda
serious. Could everyone PLEASE
update me on your final (as of now) itinerary including
flight numbers and arrival/departure times? This will
help us coordinate at the Brussels airport. Please make
sure to double-check with the airlines first!
Beckman
and Jaser are on Sabena from New York (see
Edition #7 for details), arriving 8.15am. Urban
is likely to join them on this same flight.
Bill
is arriving 7:20am on United from Washington Dulles.
(see
Edition #3)
Dan
and Chad are coming in on Continental at about 8am.
George
Anderson arrives late Friday night in Antwerp (via train
from London) at about 10:30p local time.
HOTELLING
We
are booked for Antwerp, let's now consider Amsterdam!
I've
got a suggestion for Amsterdam. I've found a hotel that
is centrally located and seems to have a good thing
going. I've emailed them, and they've also got availability
of an apartment with kitchen we could use, which might
be cool. I'm expecting 5 people for Amsterdam at this
point. The 5-person apartment appears very centrally
located and is $35/person/night. Let me know if we're
settled down enough in our itinerary to consider reserving
this place!
This
find for Amsterdam is the Hotel Hoksbergen.
At
the maximum rate (i.e. a double) it looks like the price
would be about $41/person/night, so I think we're in
good shape with this option.
I'm
assuming at this point we would arrive Thursday afternoon
and stay through Sunday morning (possibly Monday morning
for Dan/Chad).
ATTENDEES,
LENGTH OF STAY (LOS) & SNORE QUOTIENT
In detail on the Who's
Going Page!
Tote
Board:
7 Men of Impeccable Honor – Confirmed for Belgium.
REMEMBER
"If it feels good, do it. If it tastes
fine, sip." — Better than Ezra
Regards,
BilFish
Editor, Belgium Today!
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