Belgium - Land of contrasts. Once got verbally abused by a checkout girl, in Flemish, 'cos I had the temerity to address her en français. She gave me a right mouthful (and not in a good way). Walked into a backstreet bar in Ypres a few years back and thought I'd walked onto the set of An American Werewolf in London. Still not sure how I got out alive. Don't smoke anymore but when I did tobacco was always cheaper in Belgium than France and various criminal gangs had set up little Portakabins just over the border. You had to be 'escorted' by people in the know. Diesel could also be scored in dodgy deals with furtive looking Frenchmen. ( Although thinking about it, is there any other type?). Other than that, all the Belgium's I've ever met have been extremely pleasant.
