Val and I are sitting in our hotel room alone in Brussels getting ready to head back into Germany to visit some friends we met in Western Australia way back in March. We have loose plans to see them either in Cologne or possibly Baden-Baden. I say loose because we haven't actually spoken to them, but have been trading emails and plans keep moving. That's the way we sort of like it, especially after the past three weeks.

Our group of revelers has been diminishing in size since the end of Oktoberfest and this morning we said good-by to Scott Fox who is flying back to the States today. Ken and Dave also leave today, but they are in Amsterdam and we said our good-by's a few days ago in Antwerp.

The past few weeks have been a blur. I realize I haven't written a journal since the beginning of Oktoberfest, but we've been running almost non-stop since then. Actually, it's been like that since we arrived in Budapest on the 8th of September. So, here is the abridged (and somewhat censored) version of what took place during that time.

...when we last checked on our band of merry-makers, they were drinking too much beer in Munich. This was slightly interrupted by a wave of colds that ran through the group, starting with Ken Kane and finally ending with me in Antwerp, although mine is very mild and I think I'm already over it. The partying went on pretty much non-stop during the four days we were there, although folks did get to do some sight-seeing. Val and I actually went on a castle tour which we have threatened to do the last 2-3 times we've been in Munich. Some folks went to the Deutsche's Museum, others the English Garden, and others the BMW Museum. A bit of culture thrown in to the debauchery.

On Thursday night in Munich we said good-by to Joe and Dana who were flying home the following morning. The rest of us boarded trains for Brussels and the next leg of the adventure. When we arrived, Val and I peeled off for the evening and met a friend, Ian, who we originally met in the Maldives. He happened to be here on business and he graciously volunteered to show us a few of his favorite drinking spots here in town. We met him at A La Mort Subite around 6:00 and proceeded to visit 5-6 bars until we finally parted ways around 3:00 am as we all staggered home from a long night of great food and strong Belgian beers.

We spent a few more days in Brussels seeing many of the sights and enjoying some of the finest beer and food in all of Europe. On Tuesday we left for Antwerp, the diamond capital of Europe. Val and I have been there before and have a few favorite spots we wanted to visit, including the Kulminator Beer House which has one of the most extensive menus of beers in the world. We also met a friend of ours there who lives in Belgium. Martin is a man we met on a live-aboard dive boat in Australia in 2000. I have been keeping in touch with him via email ever since and it was great to finally see him again.

We spent a few days in Antwerp where we said good-by first to Paul and Chandra and then Ken and Dave before heading south to Brussels where we spent Scott's final evening in Europe.

So Val and I are alone again for the first time in several weeks. Whew, it's been hectic, fun, a bit stressful at times, and also a reminder that our trip is almost over. We have started to realize that we will be back in Portland in less than a month and the thought is a bit daunting. It's time to start thinking about restarting our lives again at home. Depressing, but at least if we take it as a challenge, it will be interesting for a while:) We also realize there are a million details we need to start thinking about as the date arrives, but we'll just have to see what happens there.

In the meantime, we have a train to catch in a few hours to go see Maren and Gary and start the festivities again.

Until next time, enjoy every day as if it's your last!

Eric & Val