Waterloo 2003

Waterloo was amazing in many ways and a bit of a let down in others. The whole historical setting is fantastic, some of the buildings are still there, monuments are and the views from the Butte du Lion are wonderful. The museum next to the site is very low brow, my only gripe.

The Inn next to the battlefield is a godsend for the weary traveller. The Bivouac de l'empereur Inn does fine beers, good coffee, has a hearty warming firem (the owner did say to us that Napoleon himself stood in that fireplace, but the NMBS wasn't too sure!) and the French Onion Soup was "Tres Bon et Merveilleux !" but the fact that we were so cold may have made the soup tatse better !

The Butte du Lion (Hill of the Lion) is the main feature at the battlefield today and is a huge artificial mound that is 43 metres high (141ft) and the 226 that lead to the top are steep. We would recommend that anyone with a heart condition, COPD or bad Asthma should consider sitting it out or doing the steps slowly. Yes the NMBS are hardly Tri-athalon competitors, but we have a bit of fitness and the steps killed us. Obviously none of us would admit this. It was funny, as we were trudging up the steps, I am sure we all wanted to stop half way and take a breather. But none of us dared, as it showed weakness to the others, and within the NMBS its the survival of the fittest or Kill or be Killed. So when some Japanese tourist came past us coming down the steps, we stopped all at once, obviously to let them past and nothing what so ever with being unfit and our legs burning.

There is a charge of several Euros to get to the top, but as mentioned the views are worth it. The who monument is dedicated to William II of the Netherlands (the Prince of Orange) - and the site that the Butte is located is the site where he fell from his horse having been hit by a musket round. It is ironic that he got such a memorial, as he committed three massive strategic blunders during the Battle of Waterloo (being the Kings son has perks!)