Arriving in Brussels from Ireland on Thursday 23rd June 2005, we have three days in Belgium. We would like to visit Brugge and Ghent, but most particularly be present for the playing of the Last Post at the Menin Gate and pay our respects to fallen Australians.
We will not have a car. Can anyone assist with information on the best transportation from either Brussels, Bruge or Ghent and we can work that into our next stop, which is Paris on the 27th June.
Many thanks

The most logical itinerary would be Brussels - Gent - Brugge - Ieper (that's where the Menin Gate is).
Ieper can easily be reached by train from all the cities mentioned above.
From Brussels there's a direct connection - journey is 1 hr 42 min. From Gent and Brugge you will have one change (in Kortrijk) - journey resp. 1 hr 11 min. and 1 hr 47 min.

You can also easily train to Paris, direct from Brussels Midi to Paris Nord on the high speed Thalys train. From Brugge, Gent or Ieper by intercity to Lille Flandres, then further on by TGV to Paris.

SherrillK, I hope you are successful in getting to Ypres for the Last Post. In Nov. 2000 while staying in Brugge we took a day trip with Quasimodo Tours of some of the sites of WWI. The tour did stop at the Menin Gate but too early for the Last Post.

For those not familiar with the ceremony you can read about it and see a film clip at:

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~dccfarr/last.htm

Good luck.

SherillK, if I were you I would certainly allow a night in Ieper. Not only not to miss the Last Post ceremony - which is daily at 8 pm -, but also to visit the In Flander's Fields interactive museum and make a tour (there are shorter and longer guided tours) to some of the battlefields. I was there in October and was quite impressed about the number of cemetaries in that area.

Thanks to each of your responses. Miriam - can you recommend a B&B or Hotel in leper so we can stay overnight? We really want to be present at the playing of the Last Post, but would not be confident about travelling back to Brugge or Ghent at that hour.
Thanks

We stayed at hotel Ariane (on recommendation of our US friends, BTW). The hotel is located at 5 min. walk from the busy market square and 10 min. from Menin Gate. Make sure to have dinner at Ariane. Their chef does a wonderful job!
Website: http://www.ariane.be

On the other hand, if you prefer not to stay overnight you can easily catch a train to either Brussels or Brugge after the ceremony. It lasts only half an hour and the last train leaves at 9.39 pm. Moreover you'll be here in the middle of the summer and the sun won't set until 10 pm.

Myriam,
Many thanks for a resolution to our question.