Day 36 – Tue 15 Jul 14, Asse

Forecast: 23-22 deg C, cloudy with an afternoon thunderstorm; no riding today.

We are staying with Guido and Magda in their lovely house in a rural setting 19km North West of Brussels. Wendy became friends with them while attending International Pharmacy Conferences all over the world. 

We intended to go on a bike tour of the area today but due to the ordinary weather we did it by car. 
First we had the nicest breakfast this trip, cooked by master chef Guido. The choice was enormous but as we were not cycling we had to restrain ourselves. 

Next was a short visit to St Anne Church, 13th century, which featured in at least one of Peter van Bruegel (classic Dutch painter 1520-1569) paintings. Bruegel is quite a legend around these parts due to having lived in and painted the landscape. 

It was then off to the Gaasbeek Castle, a 13th century classic style (fairy-tale) castle in a lovely forest setting. They had an interpretive art exhibition inside, some parts of which we understood some we didn't. The furniture, fittings and garden, complete with multi-coloured peacocks, all looked spot on for the period. 

Lunch was taken at a very classy restaurant just up the road. A little more up-market than our normal breakfast bread-roll and a piece of fruit. 

From lunch we went to the Coloma Park Rose Garden, which is part of a 16th century park created for the local people. There are also some lovely old buildings that have been restored and left to form an information centre and a restaurant. Sometime you've just got to stop and smell the roses. 
But the best was yet to come, a visit to a local Belgian chocolate factory (Neuhaus), with as many free tasting samples that you would care to consume. Where to start?  Once we had a taste, or three, we felt obliged to buy a chocolate, or three. Just doing our bit for the local industry, we don't really like chocolate. 

Guido and Magda then prepared a beautiful home cooked meal for us, their son and daughter-in-law. What a meal, champagne, beef and pork Carpaccio, pork medallions with a side serve of roast potatoes and tomato/peppers etc sauce. What a beautiful day with wonderfully generous and hospitable people. 
It was another late night!



Gaasbeek Castle



Guido and his grandson Lars
Wendy and Lars
Church of St Anne
Gaasbeek Castle

Guido, Wendy and Magda at lunch
Coloma Rose Garden

Carpacchio entree

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