Tuesday - Turnhout instead of Amsterdam

Tuesday: Jim let us have the car today so Randy drove Jim to work, then came back and picked me up. The first thing we did was drive back to Metallo to ask Jim for directions to Amsterdam. Then we headed out, stopping to use the gas card for the first time. Driving to Amsterdam, we passed a group of old Cadillacs on the road, which look enormous compared to European cars. In Amsterdam we stopped to ask directions and learned that it was "Queen's Day" and much too crowded to get into the city. So we drove back to Turnhout and got lost for awhile. Had lunch of fritters (always good in Belgium) and soda at a little roadside cafe while we figured out how to get back to Merksplas. Later we picked Jim up at Metallo, then picked up an Audi for him to drive so we could drive the other car. Drove to Antwerp and got stuck in another traffic jam next to the railroad. Walked around town, into a small mall, and outside Peter Paul Rubens' house. Went to a large supermarket in Wommelgem. Tried 2 restaurants in Turnhout but both were closed; then we went to Ke Klepel restaurant in Beerse. Randy order lasagna and Juniper beer, while I had the chicken and mushrooms. On the way home we stopped at a bread-vending machine, which works just like a soda machine - drop your coins in, push a button, and get your loaf of bread out of the vending tray. Then we went home for tea.