Today’s first stop was halfway between Antwerp and Brussels, in a town called Mechelen. Het Anker Brewery was bustling for a Tuesday early afternoon—and let me tell you, they serve some strong beers. That didn’t stop elderly ladies from downing them like water, though.
I particularly enjoyed the whiskey-infused beer—it had a subtle sweetness that masked its strength, so you didn’t quite realize what hit you. Fortunately, I didn’t have to cycle on the roads, just on separate bike paths. It was the shortest ride of the trip, just three hours.
In Brussels, I hoped to visit the Cantillon Brewery, known for its Lambic beers, but they were closed. I thought, “No problem, I’ll head to the Delirium Café—they’re bound to have some.” So I went. They had just one type of Cantillon beer: a small bottle of Geuze. When I heard the price—€17.80—my jaw dropped. It might’ve even knocked against the counter. I like beer, but not that much.
Afterwards, I wandered through the city center but quickly grew tired of the crowds. I’ve never been a fan of busy places, and ever since we moved to a quiet rural village, I get irritated even faster when I have to weave through throngs of people.
Tomorrow, I’ll need to leave relatively early, so I’m hoping to enjoy one of Europe’s most beautiful main squares in some early morning tranquility before heading out.
Today in numbers:
55 km — distance cycled
1000 — outfits for Manneken Pis
2004 — varieties of beer commercially available at Delíríum Café, a Guinness World Record