Inside The Perimeter

After breakfast we four spent the morning wandering Brussels looking for a bank/ATM to get cash. I might be doing the same later this week as I continue to quickly drain the euros I brought with me. I didn’t get cash yesterday because I am still not sure that I will need to, but more importantly I don’t know if I have the facilities to do so. I suppose I could accept to get screwed by exchanging USD for Euro.

One of the reasons for the need for cash was the chocolate and beer tour on which we embarked in the afternoon. The tour was really fun. I was surprised how many of the participants were from the US, including a couple from Charlotte, North Carolina and two young women who are roommates in St Petersburg, Florida. We stopped into three chocolatiers, sampling a couple of their sweets in each. From there we ambled around Brussels learning a bit of history. At one stop there was a very friendly cat that sauntered up to the group, and although I wanted to pet it, I resisted the urge. At that point we saw the statue of the peeing boy and started drinking beer. The group stopped into three beer places, drinking a couple of beers (short pours) in each. Wisely in the second bar we were served some cheese, meat, fries, and bread. Unwisely I volunteered to challenge the tour director in a down down contest. Being the suspicious type I saw that she was going to cheat by raising her glass before the time she claimed we’d start drinking, so it was game on and I gulped my small glass in one shot, defeating her (at least in my mind). I still have some skills from my hashing days…

Today is another travel day, destination Bruges via train. The BRAG tour officially starts tomorrow with a “get to know one another, get situated” day. On Friday we begin our migratory riding.

Wordle: five, my starter was CURSE
Connections: fail, Blue > Purple > X > X > X > X

Unfortunately I have a lot to health issues fix when I get home. Where I will find the time to address my issues is unknown, but it may have to take priority.

On a brighter note… I spent a fun day kicking around Brussels, visiting the Atomium and Mini-Europe, the latter of which impressed me far more than I had expected. But apparently you knew this because i mentioned it in a comment? Ah beer… So far the downside of Brussels has been the cost of public transportation. It was $8.50(ish) each way for the tram/train to the area housing the two attractions. To add further cost, I was charged entry and the gate didn’t open, so I hat to pay $17.00 to get there; I may dispute the initial charge, or I may just chalk it up to the high price of travel in 2024.

Yesterday marked the 365th day since my relaunch of Duolingo German studies. I still can’t speak the language very well.

Wordle: five, my starter was LEAST
Connections: one mistake, X > Blue > Yellow > Green > Purple

At my age you’d think I’d be used to change, especially four years from our worldwide pandemic. I was bummed to find upon my arrival in Düsseldorf that the Visit Düsseldorf store across from the main train station has closed. This was a welcoming visitors center in which I bought my DüsseldorfCard that I used to take transit. I subsequently purchased a virtual card, but it made me sad nonetheless.

Though I can’t say that my stay in Düsseldorf was monumental, I did enjoy my time as best as my body would permit. I walked as much as possible, drank almost exclusively alt beer (the local specialty), ate so much that I wanted to burst, and took a few photos in the process. I certainly didn’t expect to well up at the sound of “You are my Sunshine” as played by a band outside a brewery on Sunday morning; this was a song sung to me often by my mother when I was a child.

My limited German skills were put to the test as I opened each conversation in German in hopes that I could understand the response provided; spoiler: I mostly could not.

Well before you read this I will be on my way to Brussels, Belgium, by way of a couple of trains, via Aachen, Germany. I am meeting ITP-Readers Barb, Sal, and Allan there and we will kick around Brussels and Bruges before starting our cycling adventure on Thursday.

Wordle: three, my starter was RIPEN
Connections: perfect, Green > Yellow > Blue > Purple

I think that today is Friday. Normally I’d chalk my cluelessness up to my pretend retired lifestyle, but today I am just clueless due to travel.

Today I head to Germany, Düsseldorf to be exact, by train. This will be my third visit there, the last being 2017 when I saw the start of the Tour de France.

After Düsseldorf I will be heading to Brussels, where I will meet up with Barb, Sal, and Allan.

I find it a little hard to believe that it has been ten years since I visited Amsterdam and Brussels, and Werder Bremen. The latter means that I have been rooting for Werder Bremen for ten years? Yikes!

I forgot to mention that on my flight I watched a movie called Hard Miles, a documentary about Frank Lloyd Wright, and believe it or not a documentary about Pine Lake, Georgia.

Wordle: four, my starter was CLOAK
Connections: fail, Yellow > X > X > X > X

You will be shocked to read that I arrived at the airport obscenely early. After checking a bag and clearing security I sat at a bar and did some people watching. It blows my mind to think about the number of people on the move every, single, day. I tried hard to avoid it, but I overpacked and will be punched by this for the near future.

Sometimes I don’t think I belong in society; I don’t fit in, and wonder if I should buy land and get away from everything and everyone.

I didn’t get much sleep on the flight so I am currently running on fumes.

Wordle: five, my starter was JOINT (in honor of being in Amsterdam)
Connections: perfect, Yellow > Green > Blue > Purple

It’s getaway day for me! At this point whatever I have forgotten to pack will be purchased in Europe.

And now you might be expecting to see how much money I earned starting last year in order to pay for this trip. Recall my goal was $3500. I didn’t make nearly that amount and cannot tell you exactly how much I did because I stopped tracking my progress in early April; at that time I had earned about $1300.

I’ve loaded (more content than I can possibly consume) and charged all of my electronics. This will be the first trip on which I have not packed a camera. What?!?! I am relying on my aged iPhone XS to save my memories, and may ask ITP-Readers Barb and Sal for some of their photos as well.

This morning I have already mowed the lawn, and while I certainly want it to rain in order to help WLF survive, hopefully the lawn isn’t too tall when I return.

Barb and Sal, I look forward to seeing you two and Allan in Brussels next Monday.

Wordle: four, my starter was TRADE
Connections: three mistakes, X > Green > X > X > Purple > Blue > Yellow

Well, I’m packed for Europe. After looking at more weather forecasts I decided to put back a few shortsleeved shirts and replaced them with a hoodie and pair of jeans; after putting on so much weight I hope that I still fit in my jeans. Packing was my major accomplishment yesterday, along with cleaning my stovetop after my cowboy candy debacle.

Today I will be doing my final house chores in preparation for my departure tomorrow.

Wordle: three, my starter was REACH
Connections: perfect, Blue > Purple > Green > Yellow

Old phone, new carrier. Who dis? Yep, on Saturday I officially told AT&T to go pound sand and changed my cellphone provider. When I return from Europe I will do the same for internet, and live with the consequences.

I have finally started packing for Europe. I have to continue to remind myself how soon this trip will begin. Seems like just yesterday I was getting ready for Iowa.

Yesterday I saw that a tomato hornworm munched into one of the hot banana peppers on my plant. While I didn’t see it doing the munching, I could tell by the distinctive poop left on a leaf that it was a tomato hornworm. I hope it experienced the same pain from eating these peppers that I do.

A short, but violent, storm dumped 0.5″ of rain and some small hail at the ITP Estate yesterday afternoon. No damage occurred to the house nor WLF, at least from what I could tell as I walked around the property picking up small branches after the rain passed.

Last night I was told by ITP-Reader Barb of the permanent closure of another Atlanta brewery, this time it was Grant Park’s Eventide. I had a lot of good times at that brewery, and will miss having it as a local option.

Wordle: four, my starter was PLANE
Connections: one mistake, Yellow > Green > X > Blue > Purple

Could there be more madness in my near future? If not for the fear that something would happen to my mother’s urn while left unattended for a week, I would have signed up for the North Carolina version of BRAG yesterday. The ride is from October 6-13, which would kinda work for taking my mother to New York, admittedly I would be wedging in the bike trip.

This morning I am helping Betsy, being a driver for her doctor’s appointment. I’m bringing the iPad and Kindle for my waiting room time killing.

Today’s Wordle was another in my stable of starter words. Sadly I didn’t choose it, though I’ll gladly take a deuce.

Wordle: two, my starter was TRUCE
Connections: perfect, Yellow > Green > Purple > Blue

Can lightning strike in the same place twice? It can in Wordle!

The rest of my day will be anticlimactic. I will be doing laundry this morning, and popping into a couple of banks to take care of business which needs to get done before I depart for Europe next week. Today I also need to make a decision about my cell phone, and, book a hotel in Amsterdam in which I will spend the night upon arrival. If I can find the time I also want to make a batch of pickled banana peppers since my hot banana pepper plant continues to be prolific.

Wordle: ONE, my starter was [REDACTED]
Connections: perfect, Yellow > Blue > Green > Purple