Day 1: Friday 6 August 2004: The arrival

Fons · Post by **Fons** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 7:02 pm

Annie_in_exile wrote:What about taking the metro? It would take about 20 minutes to get to Heyzel and it would spare the drivers from searching for parking spaces first near Atomium and then back in the city. I highly doubt that driving there would save any time. (Sorry for being so negative.

What are the prices of the Brussel Metro?
In Paris it's every time you're going undergroud €1

rufus50 · Post by **rufus50** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 7:04 pm

the 6th is the last day that I work before I go at Hongary. Normaly I must be in Brussels for my work and I will eat a hamburger at the "Budabrug" (Marly site) I will spend a lot of notes there. I didn't go at the centre of Brussels, but maybe you can find my notes at the Budabridch...

(Sorry voor mijn engels, maar dit was mijn slechtste vak op school)

Mr Euro · Post by **Mr Euro** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 7:17 pm

Ah, Annie, could you guide us for that part? I don't know the subwaysystem that well in Brussels.

Annie_in_exile · Post by **Annie_in_exile** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 7:29 pm

Fons wrote:What are the prices of the Brussel Metro?
In Paris it's every time you're going undergroud €1

1,40€ for a single ticket, and a card for 10 trips is/was 9,80. Same ticket is valid in the metro, buses and trams, and you're allowed to continue in any of those means of transport within one hour. You just dip your card into the orange machine and the system checks the ticket. If you pass one hour from the first stamp time, you need to buy a new single ticket, or the machine subtracts one more trip from your 10-trip-card once you put it in.
There are several options for the daily cards as well - unlimited travel for:
1 day costs 3,80 euros
3 days 9 euros (this can be used during three 24-hour periods within 5 days)
5 days 12 euros (5 days within a 10-day period)

Then there's a 72-hour tourist card with access to museums, free transport etc, but it costs 30 euros.

Please note that the airport bus line (number 12) is excluded and needs a separate ticket which costs 3 euros/1 way.

more info: http://www.stib.irisnet.be

And about acting as a tour guide: I wouldn't mind at all, but at this stage I can't promise anything. I've sent you a private message and explained my own situation a bit - it's not certain whether I'll be in Brussels or not.

- Anyway, it's metro line 1A towards Roi Baudouin, drive 13 stops from the Central Railway Station, jump out at Heyzel and follow the stream of people. Piece of cake.

Mr Euro · Post by **Mr Euro** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 10:23 am

we meet at 7 o'clock in the evening (19h00/7 PM) in the mainhall of Brussel Centraal (Brussels Central).

I will wear a red T-shirt and will standing near the big exit. This will make life easier on all participants.

Ganymede · Post by **Ganymede** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 11:18 am

I preprogrammed your phone number. Tell me your ringtone and I'll let the sound guide me...

BTW I'm on a rather tight schedule. I'm hoping I can get away from work at 4, get the house in order and leave before 5, because I'm counting on at least 2 hrs travel...

Annie_in_exile · Post by **Annie_in_exile** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 11:27 am

Ganymede, take your eagle

I'll be working til 7 pm but will find you guys later. I'll just visit each and every pub in the city center.

Ganymede · Post by **Ganymede** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 11:42 am

A very noble mission!

No, the eagle stays at home. That's one of the reasons I can't go straight from work: I have to make sure he has enough food and clean water to last till Sunday.

(alternatively, the eagle being Zeus, he'll be keeping an eye on us in whatever shape or form he choses...)

Mr Euro · Post by **Mr Euro** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 11:52 am

You surely will recognize me in my red t-shirt.

Chiel · Post by **Chiel** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 2:30 pm

Or you could ring to one of us to find out where we are

Annie_in_exile · Post by **Annie_in_exile** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 3:08 pm

Nice one. Especially when most people of the group don't have the faintest idea where they are in the city, not at least in the beginning. "Well, I can see an old building right next to me..." Maybe we should have ordered some t-shirts in advance, with a text like "I'm a tracker but I'm lost"

Meetings like this really test the capacity and features of your mobile phone...

avij · Post by **avij** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 9:03 pm

Mr Euro wrote:we meet at 7 o'clock in the evening (19h00/7 PM) in the mainhall of Brussel Centraal (Brussels Central).

I will wear a red T-shirt and will standing near the big exit. This will make life easier on all participants.

Alright. I will be wearing my black "There are only 10 people in the world" shirt. As a matter of fact, I'm already in Brussels, cursing the azerty keyboards to the deepest hell. I checked out the meeting place earlier today. Mr Euro, do you know which persons will be there at 19h00 and which persons will come later, so we don't have to wait for persons who weren't even supposed to join us on Friday? I think Philippe will join us on Saturday, for example.

Mr Euro · Post by **Mr Euro** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 9:11 pm

Yeps, I have a list and everyone has my cellular phonenumber, so they should call me when they are late or can't find it...

emmem · Post by **emmem** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 9:52 pm

How long will the waiting at the main entrance of the central station last? If I manage to leave at work in time I'll come by train and will probably get there a bit after 7.

emmem · Post by **emmem** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 10:39 pm

I've looked at the weather forecasts (Centre of Belgium):

Tomorrow

overcast with risk of precipitation, or variable cloudiness with risk of thundery rain showers.
Temperature: 18 to 25

Saturday

variable cloudiness with risk of thundery rain showers
Temperature: 18 to 27

Better take an umbrella

Source: http://kmi.be/english/index.php?menu=Menu1_4