Wilkommen.
February, supremely cold - a plan had been hatched to tour some of the continent’s better derp offerings. After landing in Koln to be greeted by sideways snow, five of us (Ric, myself, GeoVBeltphone, Only2Testes & Aar’ Clough) set out to traverse the snowy wastes of central Deutschland... via Liege and Pierre’s living room.
Our mid sized, French built family wagen had ample space and mod cons, however, with a paltry 90 brake horse power, hills in 5th gear were power sappingly mundane and overtaking articulated lorries became a long drawn out experience. Not my words Carrol, but the words of Top Gear Magazine...
Anyhow, following a slip sliding 4 hour power drive at speeds of up 250kmh* in temps of -10c we arrived at our hostel (the film) -esque hotel long after we should have done.
*may be an overestimation
Next morning and first on our piece of paper was KinderKlinik somethingorother in the middle of a big forest - o2P spent hours poring over a hot google trying to find this place with minimal clues, which paid off - top job 10/10 bro nice morgue yeah.
Next off to the ubiquitous brocation of Dr Anna, whom we were reliably informed, didn't actually exist. Bit of a sad tale behind this one, as is usual with places that have such a wealth of personal artefacts left behind. You'd not guess it was as derp as it is from the outside either...
Lots of driving later, we headed over to our most hospitable friend, Pierre's for customary wursts (the wrong ones apparently) drinks (the right ones), chats of "baldings" and "kupperchiefs" and bedded down as usual, in his living room.
Next morning was a quick whistlestop tour of two stalwarts of the Ruhr, Zeche Hugo and some vintage winders that I'd visited on last year's Euroderpentrip then onto Belgium and our first taste of Chocomel...
Entering Belgium, we headed to what has been named as "Heavy Metal" - a mothballed Steel mill, as reported by Ric, here. Not afraid to say that I lost my mind big time here, suffered from a massive case of vertigo after getting right to the top of the gantries and coming across a bit without hand rails and getting severe leg wobble... bad times.
Next was a complete contrast, Crystallerie Derpington. Charming in places, too cold to hang around long.
Next, the Labyrinth school, which is on the outskirts of a really nice Belgian town with the same name as a famous battle. Conversion is in full swing and it'll soon be a complex of posh dwellings. Cheers to Camera Shy for the infos re: builders, whom were not present.
Then on to Antwerp and a stay in the starkest, most minimal hostel ever to arise at 4.30am (by accident) and an early morning visit to the Centre de Commerce.
Followed by a convoluted, icy expedition to Maybach Powerstation.
Then a quick stop at the Crypt in Brussels
And onwards... I'd caught a severe case of CBA so waited in the car and twiddled my nib whilst the gents tried the Horror labs and were watched by a woman. Then the SNCB graveyard which has been emptied of all but 2 trains... Then Tapioca farm (derp) followed by a swimming pool...
Yet more driving this time back to Koln, a quick visit to say "Hullo" to John Salomon, more beers and BROVIA based lols in a hipster hostel and then home... All in 3 days.
Reports of some of the nicer places to come later.
J.
February, supremely cold - a plan had been hatched to tour some of the continent’s better derp offerings. After landing in Koln to be greeted by sideways snow, five of us (Ric, myself, GeoVBeltphone, Only2Testes & Aar’ Clough) set out to traverse the snowy wastes of central Deutschland... via Liege and Pierre’s living room.
Our mid sized, French built family wagen had ample space and mod cons, however, with a paltry 90 brake horse power, hills in 5th gear were power sappingly mundane and overtaking articulated lorries became a long drawn out experience. Not my words Carrol, but the words of Top Gear Magazine...
Anyhow, following a slip sliding 4 hour power drive at speeds of up 250kmh* in temps of -10c we arrived at our hostel (the film) -esque hotel long after we should have done.
*may be an overestimation
Next morning and first on our piece of paper was KinderKlinik somethingorother in the middle of a big forest - o2P spent hours poring over a hot google trying to find this place with minimal clues, which paid off - top job 10/10 bro nice morgue yeah.
Next off to the ubiquitous brocation of Dr Anna, whom we were reliably informed, didn't actually exist. Bit of a sad tale behind this one, as is usual with places that have such a wealth of personal artefacts left behind. You'd not guess it was as derp as it is from the outside either...
Lots of driving later, we headed over to our most hospitable friend, Pierre's for customary wursts (the wrong ones apparently) drinks (the right ones), chats of "baldings" and "kupperchiefs" and bedded down as usual, in his living room.
Next morning was a quick whistlestop tour of two stalwarts of the Ruhr, Zeche Hugo and some vintage winders that I'd visited on last year's Euroderpentrip then onto Belgium and our first taste of Chocomel...
Entering Belgium, we headed to what has been named as "Heavy Metal" - a mothballed Steel mill, as reported by Ric, here. Not afraid to say that I lost my mind big time here, suffered from a massive case of vertigo after getting right to the top of the gantries and coming across a bit without hand rails and getting severe leg wobble... bad times.
Next was a complete contrast, Crystallerie Derpington. Charming in places, too cold to hang around long.
Next, the Labyrinth school, which is on the outskirts of a really nice Belgian town with the same name as a famous battle. Conversion is in full swing and it'll soon be a complex of posh dwellings. Cheers to Camera Shy for the infos re: builders, whom were not present.
Then on to Antwerp and a stay in the starkest, most minimal hostel ever to arise at 4.30am (by accident) and an early morning visit to the Centre de Commerce.
Followed by a convoluted, icy expedition to Maybach Powerstation.
Then a quick stop at the Crypt in Brussels
And onwards... I'd caught a severe case of CBA so waited in the car and twiddled my nib whilst the gents tried the Horror labs and were watched by a woman. Then the SNCB graveyard which has been emptied of all but 2 trains... Then Tapioca farm (derp) followed by a swimming pool...
Yet more driving this time back to Koln, a quick visit to say "Hullo" to John Salomon, more beers and BROVIA based lols in a hipster hostel and then home... All in 3 days.
Reports of some of the nicer places to come later.
J.
