July 3
We took our wet tent west under gloomy German skies to the
countryside. Germany is bigger and less densely populated than the United
Kingdom, so driving along the massive road network can lead you to very quiet
and untouched places of beauty.
A quick word on driving before I continue. Though it is
commonly known that the Europeans drive on the right side of the road (right as
in side – we know it’s not the
correct side!), some issues soon become apparent once using your vehicle. To
provide an example, my gearstick has always been on my left. Until Maxine, that
is. A couple of times I have instinctively tried to change gear, only to
succeed in rolling down the window. Not something you want to do in the rain.
The tempestuous conditions had become more intermittent by
the time we reached Brühl, which possessed a lovely residential palace
strikingly similar to Schönbrunn in Vienna. It also had another stately home
which, particularly in the drab conditions, more closely resembled a haunted
house.
We continued south and west along some smaller roads to the
Eifel National Park. As one could expect, it was full of dark green trees
soaring from gentle hills, and a lovely sweeping drive. The roads in Germany
have been of an excellent quality thus far. The winding curves around the
mountains as you drive through the park allow you to pick up significant speed.
I felt like I was transported to an alternative career as a host on Top Gear,
and that I was dreamily drifting along the German country roads.
Sadly, if you go too far west, these silky smooth asphalt
trails lead you out of German borders. We crossed into the pot-holed land of
Belgium. Other than staying in a nice campsite reminiscent of a university
campus, Belgium was not at all memorable. Though the drab conditions may have
played a role in addition to only being there for a couple of hours, Liége was a particular let down, mainly on the grounds that they
couldn’t satisfy my craving for waffles.
After popping into Liége
and leaving somewhat unfulfilled, we decided to head on to our next destination
with haste. This proved to be a wonderful decision, as we headed into a country
that proves that biggest doesn’t always mean best, and certainly doesn’t mean
richest.
Love you all
Matt
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