Weds 26th Nov.

Off we go to Brussels.

Lunch is a Beanfeast pate sandwich whilst waiting to go onto the Euro Tunnel Shuttle.

It’s very exciting driving into Brussels in the dark, with the bright city lights enticing us to walk around and see what’s on offer.

Once settled into the hotel (definitely posher than a Travel Lodge), that’s precisely what we do. Paul looks at a map for about two seconds, knows exactly where to go, and we set off to look for vegetarian restaurants. The first one on my list is supposed to be open until 9.30. We find it and read on the door that it closes at 8.30. No problem; it’s only 7.45. We step in eagerly, only to be told that they stop serving food at 7.30. We step out again, with me muttering darkly about vegetarian restaurants not doing themselves any favours! After another brisk walk in the increasingly cold evening, we find the next vegetarian restaurant on the list. It’s a dream of a veggie restaurant! Sumptuous Moroccan-type décor, warm and cosy, yet fairly sophisticated. It’s a set-price buffet, with lots of delicious dishes. As a vegetarian, I would be swooping upon it and filling my plate with everything in sight. Of course, as a vegan, I have to interrogate the waiters to find out what I can eat. (So it’s just like my usual experiences of eating veggie in a non-veggie restaurant.) Anyway, the food is lovely – rice, vegetable korma, salads, braised endive (surprisingly tasty!), and other stuff I’ve forgotten. I have to confess, I am envious of some of the things Paul’s having. I am able to have dessert (included in the price, so I’m determined to have it) by eating the top part of my (non-dairy) chocolate and chestnut tart, and making Paul eat the pastry base so that it doesn’t go to waste.

A good night’s sleep is interrupted by a burglar alarm going off at about four o’ clock the next morning, followed by an extremely noisy bin lorry.