Friday 29 May

Woke up late - both had a bad night.

Left car in parking building under hotel and walked to La Carriere Wellington - the newly opened (2008) underground tunnels that the NZers added to in WWI. As with Albert the tunnels have been around for hundreds of years (used for building material). During WWI NZers given the task of extending tunnels, thousands of troops housed underground as a prelude to a surprise attack. Fantastic guided tour (not allowed to walk around by yourself and this is easy to understand once you are underground). Fantastic experience and I just hope my photos turn out OK.

But the wait and tour time has used up a chunk of the day so I don't try to find the pole where the resistance were shot in WWII.

On to Le Quesnoy. Arrive aound 3pm; light lunch and walk to the NZ Memorial. Good to see Rue de Helen Clark has not been changed to Rue de John Key!

Running out of time so postpone Vimy Ridge and Anthony Wilding's grave until Sunday.

Aimed Tom Tom at city closest to Ieper (Ypres) as I don't have TomTom map of Belgium and no detailed paper map either. In other words we are on our own! Once we get into Belgium we are instantly lost but stop twice and two groups of lovely people give us directions. The second man draws a clear sketch map and we quickly arrive in Ieper.

Cruised around Ieper until I found the main square and Menin Gate - the hotel was easy to find once I was orientated.

Register. Question 1. Do they have laundry service. "Yes". "So we can get laundry done, right?" "Not on Friday, Saturday and Sunday!" We've been here before!
Question 2. Do you have in room wifi? "Yes" "I would like some please" "It's not available in your room". Luckily there are two free and very fast Macs in the lounge. They'll do.

Magnificent meal. In Belgium Tina has Irish steak and I have NEW ZEALAND rack of lamb! We move tables to get away from an obnoxious, foul mouthed, loud, sexist, rude NZer now living in England. He is a FIGJAM ie F I'm Good, Just Ask Me!