Antwerp

If you are looking for an off-the-wall,

comfortable, friendly holiday, this may

be the best place to go.

Belgium's second biggest city, near to a not-very- picturesque river, lots of old town, including a wonderful cathedral and Ruben's house. A good time to go is Easter. It blows a bit and can be a little cold, but that's just another excuse for calling in somewhere for a hot chocolate. At Easter time, everyone gives you chocolate eggs - we even had eggs for breakfast! Chocolate ones. There's architecture to see, trams to ride, antiques to buy, everything you could want, including bear shops. The first thing you see in the city is the magnificent railway station, built like a cathedral but just by the zoo. Unlike most cities, where the area round the station is slightly seedy and there's a bit of a walk to civilisation, you come out to see smart bistros and many diamond shops. Antwerp has some of the best restaurants in Belgium, perhaps in Europe. They do nothing to show off here - Belgians just expect high standards of food and service, and they get them. Seafood is a speciality. Easter onwards, for a month or so, is very special in this area. Asparagus is in, but not the usual green stuff. This is locally grown white asparagus, and very wonderful it is too! And expensive. There's plenty to see here, castles, boat exhibitions, statues, docks and more. The city does get invaded during the day, especially at weekends and by Japanese tour parties, but they keep out of everyone's way. There's a little train to go on, horse and cart trips, boat trips down the river during the summer (we went at Easter and, yes, they gave us eggs when we left the boat). There are short trips and long. When we went there was a "flower exhibition". Sounds boring? Not a bit of it. An old church and surrounding buildings now used as a meeting centre was done out by different artists in different rooms, with live music too. And there are lots of shops that sell bears!!