Day 64: Chimay, Belgium

Number of tie wraps: 50 (holding steady)

Countdown: 8419 miles down, 166 to go

Quote of the day: “The tour is only in French.”

We enjoyed a relaxing day in Chimay that included plenty of Belgian food, beer, chocolates, and local sights. For lunch, Luke and Karen ordered fondue, and dipping those pieces of toasted bread into the cheese proved to be harder than it looks. More than one piece of bread slipped off the fork and took a cheese bath before being rescued.

 

Luke demonstrates the proper way to eat fondue

Luke demonstrates the proper way to eat fondue

 

After lunch, several of us toured the Chateau de Chimay, a small castle that has played an outsized role in the history of Chimay, which we learned about in a 20-minute 3-D movie that depicted various scenes from the 1,000+ history of the castle. This castle is different from many “tourist castles” in that a royal family still lives in it — Princess Elisabeth, her son Prince Phillipe, and his wife Princess Francoise. Our innkeepers were guests at the royal wedding when it took place several years ago.

Luke demonstrates proper wear of the 3-D movie glasses

Luke demonstrates proper wear of the 3-D movie glasses

 

The castle houses the sort of elegant objects you would expect, but it also had an unusual art exhibit by Koen Vanmechelen as part of the Cosmopolitan Chicken project, which interbreeds chickens from around the world with the goal to produce a globally diverse chicken. I’m still not sure I understand the significance of that goal, but I think you’ll have to agree that the project has produced some interesting artwork, including the “chog” in the second picture below.

A ball of chickens

A ball of chickens

I'm not sure what to call this -- a chog?

I’m not sure what to call this — a chog?

 

After the tour, we ran back to the town square to catch a tram tour of Chimay and the nearby village of Virelles. After we bought our tickets and settled into our seats, the tram driver said, “The tour is only in French. Is this okay?” We figured we’d at least see some interesting sights, but we hadn’t counted on the tram taking off onto some dirt roads that bounced us around so much we thought we were back in Siberia. However, we did manage to pick up some of the flavor of the local culture.

The tram for our tour

The tram for our tour

One of the many sights we saw during the tram tour

One of the many sights we saw during the tram tour

 

After the tram tour, Karen and I picked up some chocolates from a local store (8 euros for 250 grams of chocolate that would have probably cost $40 in the US) and then met Simon, the other housecat at our bed and breakfast.

Buying a stash of Belgian chocolates -- you can't go wrong with these!

Buying a stash of Belgian chocolates — you can’t go wrong with these!

Simon, one of our roommates

Simon, one of our roommates

 

About 6:30 we ate some chocolates and then wandered back to the town square to take in a free folk music concert and try out some Troll beer.

Free folk music concert

Free folk music concert

Glass for Troll beer

Glass for Troll beer

 

We called it an early night after meeting another Chimay kitty and having a quick bite to eat at a local pub.

 

Yet another Chimay kitty

Yet another Chimay kitty

 

I’ll leave you with the view from my window of the church at night. Tomorrow we drive to Rheims, France, the location of the first-ever air race!

View from my room

View from my room