Travels 2015: Belgium (September)

Hi guys,

So since Toni and I both love to travel, I thought I'd start a mini ongoing series about places we visit. 

I went on a trip to Belgium and France in September, to visit the war cemeteries, museums and the town itself of Ypres. About 40 of us visited together, and despite the obviously somber tone, the trip itself was hugely enjoyable. (it's also how my boyfriend and I got together!)

The journey took something like 8 hours on the first day: getting down to Dover, getting on the ferry and then driving through France to Belgium, stopping off at various points along the way. 

These are the Yorkshire trenches in France, now the sides are concrete instead of sandbags. 

The second day included a whistle stop tour of many of the cemeteries along the Western Front as well as a museum in Ypres.

A German cemetery in Belgium.

We glammed it up in a youth hostel in Ypres for the two nights we spent on the continent, managed to watch the rugby World Cup, and ate some pretty shit food. 

Later on the Saturday night, we went to the Menin Gate and watched the hugely emotional Last Post performed by the fire brigade of Ypres. 

It's so much more impressive in real life, but I was moved at the fact that it draws a crowd every night to listen to the Last Post tribute. 

On the Sunday we began our trek back home, stopping off on the way. Some people had gone and got so drunk the previous night that they were throwing up all day, but I was fine, and we drove for about 16 hours in total, including stops.  

All in all, it was such an emotional trip, but I would recommend to anyone who visits the area to go and see a couple of cemeteries or monuments, even if history isn't necessarily your thing.

Amber