Captains log 07/07/13 ok it's time to actually do something rather then just lay about and sleep. We get up early our way to the train station to book our trip Florence. Ok the guy seemed to be helpful, a thought we would later find out was completely wrong! We couldn't get on the train we wanted so we organized a train to Munich then a sleeper to Florence, all sorted! We go back to the hotel to book hotels, and plan our route. Ok all the office work is done, now time to see the city. We walked though the church and the town hall. This is an amazing piece of gothic style buildings, it looks something like Norte dame in Paris, on a smaller scale. It was so, so very nice. After a brief look around we set out to try find the palace and its gardens. We come across a small lot of trees a fountains and the generic giant man on a horse statues. So we thought we were in it, however we were wrong, this was just a small taste. For some reason the belgiums really love water fountains and features, there everywhere. It's pretty but strange. After waddling about getting slightly pink in the lovely 28 degree weather we found the palace, it was so nice. It isn't used now but it's such a lovely place to look at. Across from there was the garden. Now this was big and looked half forestry but again with two giant water fountains, a band playing on a stage, and the generic European trait of, the suns out, it's perfectly fine to be either in baths or half naked in the sun, even though we're possibly 10 hours from a beach. Fun times! We start our walk back and realise that the central train station wasn't that far from our hotel, it's just had to find when your lost and confused and without a map. We get "tex-mex" on our way home. Bella and I both had an amazing chili con cane. In an cast iron pot, with heaps of cheese and spicey goodness. We haven't really had anything from Belgium apart from the beers, oh well it was still good. Bella had a cocktail and I had some strange lime infused beer, it was no Carlton dry fusion that's for sure. Ok a quick nap and I've finally convinced Bella to let me go to one of the many casinos around Brussels. Ok now this was a mission. We went to three trying to find a blackjack tab. Everything is pokies here, it's so annoying, and you need to have your passport and be a member to go in, rather a mission. We finally got into one with a table, and well let's not talk about it. My table effort was poor, topped off with a twenty euro bet, I drew a 7 and a 4. Dealer has a 5. Lovely. I double my bet for 1 card. 40 euros in. I draw a 9. That's 20. Sweet, chances of him drawing 21, very small. The guy next to mean gets 3 cards, non of them a picture. Lovely, I'm thinking a bust is order. Next guy busts, next guy busts. Dealer time. He draws a 6, f*** I think. He then draws a king. 21, how the hell. There was like 20 cards drawn before that picture and he gets it! I lost 100 euros, oh well still up 50 total from the trip, but I've been banned now, that made me gruffy. Left and got kebabs on the way home, these were nice and went to bed. I had trouble sleeping and was generally annoyed! Oh well Belgium you have been fun! This place has been my favorite so far. Wether or not because we haven't done anything and its actually felt like a holiday or because it reminds me of Perth. It's small, I feel safe, it's generally cheap, the people are all really nice, and it has a true city fell, with offices and business's not just tourist attraction and best of all no gypsies on the street trying to sell you stuff! It's ok Florence tomorrow!