Ed  in Europe

  

Part 3 - Belgian Chocolate and Dutch Swords

 

Still in Brussels the next day, we walked to to a local chocolatier where we faced our next "Competitours" Challenge: Making real Belgian Chocolates, complete with artistic and taste judging. (That's some of the group above, wearing hairnets).

After seeing how chocolate is made from the cacao, we had several tastings to guess added flavorings; they included peppers, chiles, and various spices. ...My personal favorite chocolate turned out to have cardamom.

We made various decorated chocolates from:

" ---Yum-m! "

 Here is our hollow chocolate "Bambi" we made and decorated:

 

Maybe my eyes were closed ...meditating on the taste of chocolate (?)

After several hours there, none of us ate any more chocolate the rest of the trip!

Afterwards, we took a train across the Dutch border to the town of Maastricht. We went to a local Fencing Club (as in sword-fighting). You see, in America we have Tennis Clubs and Yacht Clubs; in the Netherlands, they have Fencing Clubs.

Our Fencing Master demonstrating a sword... that's some of our group on the floor.

The Fencing Master gave us a brief intro to Fencing, then showed us some basic moves. After more instruction, our teams paired off for our next Challenge: a judged Fencing Competition!

As it turned out, Hans and I did a duel. I'm the one on the Left, Hans on the Right:

 To the surprise of us both, I whupped him...!

The next part includes underground fortifications and 1300-ft high cliffs...

--Ed