My wife and I are planning our first trip to Belgium and would like any input regarding city/places to visit. We will be in Belgium 6 to 8 days. What is the weather like in either mid-October or mid-November? I've noticed many recommendations for Brugges and the Ardennes Region (what towns?). We will be flying to Brussels...how many days should we spend here? Other than beer, waffles, Leonidas chocholates and fries, what else is great to eat? Are there any good Belgium wines? Is the tap water safe to drink? Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much! <BR>

Tom, <BR>Despite having been ocupied for centuries by foreign powers; despite being the battleground for other people's wars; despite being an independent nation for only 170 years or so and despite having over 600 varieties of beer to cope with, Belgium and the Belgian people are absolutely delightful. <BR>For a wealth of information about <BR>Belgium: - where to go, what to see, where to stay, check out www.visitbelgium.com on the internet. It's the official site of the <BR>Belgian National Tourist Office. You'll also get information at <BR>webcrawler.city.net/countries/belgium/. <BR> <BR>I've been to Belgium four times, <BR>most recently last July and August. By all means visit Brugges for a couple of days. It's a magnificent, small city - easily walkable. Check out Ghent and Louvain/Leuven. If you have a car, drive to the Ardennes in eastern Belgium and on to Luxembourg. Belgium is about the size of the state of Maryland. We've stayed in Brugges, driven to Luxembourg for lunch and returned to Brugges in mid-afternoon. <BR> <BR>In the meantime, visit your library or bookstore and search for a copy of the Insight Guide to Belgium. Insight Guides are just that; they really do give you an insight into the customs and traditions of the country and its peoples. <BR> <BR>I'll dig through my files and Email you some of the information I have that may be interest or value. <BR> <BR>Just one comment regarding temperature in October and November. Belgium's temperatures vary widely between the coast and the Ardennes and Luxembourg's border at all times of the year. I'll give you specifics in my Email.

<BR>Tom, absolutely go to Brugges. We like it better than Venice as far as towns with canals are concerned. And when in Brussels, wander around the big Square (forget what it's called) and try a strawberry beer, a specialty in that area. <BR>And have a strawberry waffle for me for DESSERT. I love them, and had the best one ever, after a huge and filling dinner, then saw that was on the dessert menu. I could have had another in spite of being so full! Another neat historical old town to visit is Ghent or maybe it's Gent, don't remember. Have a great time.

Me again, Tom, <BR>Lightning caused me to shut down. Don't know whether my last note made it or not so here we go again: <BR> <BR>This note will hopefully respond to most of your questions. Regarding weather: October is a wetter month than November which is much drier throughout all areas of the country. Daytime temperatures decrease as you move inland and in October range from the low sixties on the coast to mid fifties in the Ardennes. In November, temperatures range from mid to high fifties in the west to mid forties in the east. <BR> <BR>Brussels deserves two days, as does Brugges, though you'll want to stay longer in Brugges, I'm sure. I'll detail some sights to see, places to go outside of both cities in a subsequent Email directly to you. <BR> <BR>Seafood is superb in Belgium. The Belgians have made an art of preparing mussels, for example. Dishes are regional, even in so small a country: smoked Ardennes ham in the east; Flemish carbonnade, lean beef casserolled in beer in the Flemish part of the country. Waterzooi consists of a stew of vegetables and cream; in some areas of the country chicken is added; in other areas fish. Even the waffles differ: in Brussels, they're served with sugar, butter, fresh cream and fruit; in Liege, with caramel syrup. <BR> <BR>Just off Brussels' Grand 'Place is the Rue des Bouchers, a pedestrian street lined with restaurants with ornate outdoor displays of seafood. Very tempting but prices are geared to the tourist trade. Better to walk west past the Bourse to Saint Katerina Street and dine there. Food is excellent and much more reasonable in price. <BR> <BR>Belgium has no wine; most is either French or Luxembourgois, but they certainly have excellent beers. Of particular interest is the Lembec beer. After brewing in the conventional manner, fresh fruit is added and fermented. You end up with a delicately carbonated beverage with the taste of cherries or raspberries, peaches or apple cider. Very distinctive and pleasant. Try some of the Trappist beers, like Chimay, as well. Tap water will give you no problems. <BR> <BR>More to come. <BR> <BR>

I've been to Belgium twice in the past year and I love it. I would not go to Brussels without staying at the Amigo Hotel. It is what a hotel should be! <BR> <BR>The restaurants in the fist market are good and plentiful, but also try to go to In't Spinnekopke, and if mussels are in season, be sure to order a bucket. <BR> <BR>On the last trip, I had to cancel dining reservations at Hostellerie Saint Roch, outside of Liege and am still unhappy about doing so. If you can go there and stay and dine there, I am sure you will have a great experience. <BR> <BR>Brugge is a nice little city. Lots of character and restaurants and shops. I saw one reader who enjoyed it more than Venice, but not for me. Venice is great. Brugge is very nice and should not be missed, but, in my opinion, Venice is better. <BR> <BR>We had dinner at Au Vieux Liege in Liege and would not go back. In my opinion it is over priced and over rated for what it is. <BR> <BR>Also - if you enjoy chocolate be sure to hit one or two of the chocolate shops off the Grand Place. My mother wants to know when I am going back to Belgium so she can have more chocolates!

Our favorite among all the superb chocolate shops in Galler, off of the Grand Place in Brussels.We thought it was the richest and fullest flavored. Yum! Another great meal experience is "Pain Quotidien" - a bakery on the street leading the the Saturday antiques market, and the park honoring the different professions of the medieval guilds. There are other locations - when we were in Brugges in July we sought out the one there - the name there is in Flemish. Fantastic bread and all kinds of exotic spreads - lots of kinds of chocolate!Enjoy! <BR>

Thanks to everyone for providing such helpful information. We just booked our reservations today and are anxious to explore Belgium. <BR> <BR>Happy travels! <BR> <BR>Tom