We took a drive to Charleois airport and left about 9 AM on Thursday to make sure we could get there. We will leave in the dark about 4:30 AM on Saturday. Checked out where to return the rental car and talked with Ryanair rep who told us we need to be there 2 hours before flight; the flight is at 7:15 AM. Now, if we just don't bobble the directions in the dark.
On the return we stopped to take a pic of the house we rented in Jurbise from 1981 to 1985. That's it with the silver car in the drive. It was a perfect little house for our family with a big back yard for the boys to play in.
Nick wondered if our neighbors still lived on either side. Josianne, Ernst and their son, Jean Louis (who was in college at that time) lived to our right. We thought the parents might be dead and the son would live there. They never used the front door, so we walked around back. Josianne, 86 yrs. young was working in the vegetable garden. Nick called out "hello." We approached and in French I introduced myself. She remembered us.
Her husband died four years ago. Her son, Jean Louis, 54 yrs. now, is a veterinarian married to a doctor. They live several houses down on the same street. She took us over to the house on the other side and Michelle, Stoney's age, was working in her garden. Henri, her husband, was at work. Our boys played with their son, Denis, and daughter, Celine. She invited us in and offered us a glass of wine.
We opted for a glass of apple juice and had a toast. Of course, they were surprised to see us after 34 years. We have wonderful memories of our years in Belgium. On the way back to Chievres, we stopped at a boulangerie and bought croissants.
Our son returned from Germany on Thursday and he surprised us by coming to our room about 1 pm. We were not expecting him until late evening.
Our earlier bed time routine and earlier wake ups several days before leaving really worked to alleviate jet lag. We have had 2 nights of good sleep and are acclimated to European time.
April 25 -- Zach took us to AFN Benelux for a tour of his work place. He was trained as a combat camera/combat videographer and here he does radio work and tv spots and whatever else needs to be done. He has had to learn a lot as he goes along and he's still learning. It can be stressful but he enjoys living in Europe. Tomorrow he has an event to cover on post. So we had lunch and dinner with him today and said our good-byes. We are very proud of him and grateful for those he serves with who help him as he learns the ropes in radio and tv.
Au revoir, Belgium. On to France to visit Lourdes...
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