I managed to get down to the Grand Place last night, where one of the few easily accessible GB Express stores is. That allowed for decent last-minute shopping for snacks and gifts.

Checking in this morning, I almost got nailed by the often unenforced carry-on weight limit of 40 lbs (18kg). The counter agent weighed both my rollaboard *and* my personal item. Though that’s not policy, and she wouldn’t take no for an answer. So I stepped away to shuffle my luggage, and go through security and check-in a second time.

The other person weighed only my roll-aboard (thank you!), and I avoided having to flush some Rochefort 10 down the sink to make weight.

Bon voyage from Brussels!

After a somewhat disappointing beer hunt in Zurich, I knew Brussels wouldn’t let me down.

I’m at the Ibis hotel at BRU airport, and need a quick beer while waiting for the next shuttle to the airport train station. The hotel bar’s beer list includes standouts like Orval, Westmalle Tripel, Rodenbach, Chimay Blue and my choice, Rochefort 8.

I may not need to make that shuttle after all.

You’ve gotta love free hotel shuttle busses. This one is wrapped in advertising, and has a limited view through the windows.

I can’t decide if this photo is artsy, or makes the bus look like a prison.

I am enjoying a weissbier here at my lunch spot for the day, the Johanniter Bierkeller just off the Bahnhofstrasse.

It is a typical restaurant for this region — unassuming but cozy (and plenty smoky). Since it is a beer hall, it has some requisite breweriana around. Copper mash paddles, hop sacks and the copper wort chiller behind me all give a quaint feel to this place which has a dance hall upstairs that’s open until 4am.

Prices are not high for Zurich, and are reasonable by American standards too ($4.25 for a pint and $11 for the roesti). I’d stop by again if I come back.

I’ve settled in for some lunch and my first local beer.

This is the local dunklesbier, Feldschlosschen Dunkel Perle. Being a dark lager, it is quite malty. It is not at all hoppy or bitter. The most I can say about it: tasty, but nothing entirely Swiss about it.

Prost von die Schweiz!