La Roche-en-Ardenne

It was two very despondent Aussies who said goodbye to the Swiss Alps on Saturday.  We were very happy and relaxed in our mountain chalet and did not relish the thought of a long drive.  We had grown very attached to our lifestyle here and really enjoyed the hiking and beautiful scenery.  But move on we did and we are now settled in La Roche in a beautiful apartment right on the river Ourthe. 

We always knew that on the day after we arrived at this quaint and pretty town, we would go over to Waterloo as it was this weekend when they were celebrating the anniversary of Napolean's defeat.  So we headed off again on Sunday for the start of what would turn out to be a brilliant day.  Firstly we went to a village called Plancenoit and watched a reenactment of the battle.  We sat on a hillside and opposite was a mown field and a huge wheat field.  We then watched for two hours the French and British fight a battle in these fields with canon and muskets and calvary and pipers.  It was really stirring.  We had read where it was not so good and had decided not even to go to the battle reenactment but as we drove right by Placenoit on our way over and people were streaming in we decided we would go.  Got some great photos which I will put up later.

From Waterloo (after going to the Lion Mount etc) we headed for home and decided to pop into the town of Namur for something to eat.  We went for a walk and once again there were people streaming in.  They had set up a clay tennis court in the square outside the cathedral and were playing the Legends Cup.  Well, lo and behold, Pat Cash and Peter McNamara were playing Guy Forget and Yannick Noah.  So we got tickets and sat in the stands and watched three great matches.  John had a chat with Pat Cash and we just had a wonderful unexpected afternoon. 

When we arrived home we had an email from our friends we met in the Dordogne, Phil and Bea, and they were staying in town so we went and collected them and we all had another wonderful dinner together and a catch up on our travelling news.  So all in all a simply fabulous day.

We have visited some of the towns around La Roche including Dinant and Rochefort but none compare to our little town with its meandering river and pretty buildings and wonderful eating places.  The Belgiums offer chocolate, frites and sauce, and beer.  What more could one want in one's diet.  I can't think of anything.  La Roche is a vibrant little town and unlike French villages there is always something going on. 

Yesterday we drove to Bruges and Ypres - this was a revisit - and we enjoyed both these towns again.  Bruges is a gorgeous town with its canals and squares but becoming very touristy.  Ypres has just reopened last weekend its "In Flanders Fields" museum and we spent a couple of hours looking at this and the Menin Gate. 

Today we are just relaxing.  Might go out later this afternoon but need a catch up.  Very happy here and loving this lifestyle of one week in each place. 

Hope all is well at home.  Thanks for your emails.

Deb and John