Getting To Belgium

Pics: Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, The Band House in Lichtaart

J'aime Air France! I was a bit worried about enduring the 11 hour flight, but all went smoothly, although sans sleep. Two meals and some complimentary vin rouge didn't hurt. The X-men movie about mutants was ridiculous, but the Grisham book I picked up, The Runaway Jury, is good, as is the Lonely Planet's Belgium Guide and, when I'm more alert, Guns, Germs, and Steel. We're waiting in Charles de Gaulle, Paris, airport now, passing time until our train to Brussels rolls. It's a high speeder, rolls over 100 mph northbound through French countryside into Belgium. The adventure has begun, with really, at this point, no telling what surprises may lie around the corner, what version of an Iconoclastic Fury (the name given to the 1566 Protestant-Catholic clash and massacre under King Philip II) the Cowlicks my inflict on Belgium.

After 18 hours we arrived at our band house near Herentals, following two trains, the high speed from Paris to Brussels, then the local commute train from Brussels to Herentals. We were like the tourists with luggage you laugh at riding BART or CalTrain during rush hour in the Bay Area. Standing with our gear on the train, waiting for the door to open at our stop, wondering why it wasn't opening, weary of 18 hours of travel, until someone tells us you have to push the button to open the door . . . ah, a "special kinda dumb" as Josh likes to say about the Cowlicks finding their way through Flemish speaking Belgium.

Tonight's our first show -- Tilburg, Holland. The basic itenerary is our tour van and driver will pick us up each evening here at the house, head to the show, then return at night. Daytimes we can adventure around via bike or train, exploring Belgium. Apparently the Blasters did this tour last year and stayed here at the Tour House as well.

I'd like to especially thank Karen for her support at home while I adventure abroad!