The Chateau looked like a palace on the outside. At least that was something since we couldn't get a reservation any closer to Waterloo than Genval. It was June, and it was the 200th anniversary of the battle. While my husband tried to check in I took a movie of the fountain in the middle of the lake. The front desk said the room wouldn’t be available until 3:30PM or 4:00PM. My son and husband were trying to get to Waterloo in a rush. I said plan the route and wait until tomorrow morning. We’ll have tea in the restaurant right now. Americans who were serving as re-enactors at the Battle of Waterloo for the 200th anniversary celebration were sitting at the table beside us looking at photos on their cameras. The lady said, “Excusez moi!” thinking we were French before she sat down. She mustn’t have been paying any attention. That wasted a lot of time as it usually does when you park yourself at a restaurant in Belgium. Everything moves at a snail’s pace.
After afternoon tea in the hotel restaurant accompanied by Belgian chocolates —- all they serve in Belgium are cakes, chocolates, and cheese —- we checked into room 132 on the ground level. It was up only 6 steps. But it was at the end of a long, long hallway. It turned out it didn’t matter. There was another door to the outside. Also this resort has not only A/C but a room service menu for both breakfast and dinner. We don’t have to trudge up to the front of the hotel once again just to eat. It’s bad enough that during tea I had to use the men’s room to go to the bathroom. We’d probably get lost trying to get back to the restaurant with the view of the lake anyway.
We moved the car to the closer door and unpacked. I discovered the valet laundry bag and sheet and started getting that ready. In addition we ordered room service dinner. My son ordered the Italian sandwich with pomfrit and soup. My husband and I ordered two ribeye steaks done medium that come with salads and pomfrit. The Belgians serve pomfrit with every meal except breakfast. They are french fries.Apparently they invented them. The accuracy of the room service order wasn't that great, but then we don't speak French and had a great deal of difficulty communicating with the staff at the hotel. Tip: Stay on the ground floor or you'll be coming down stairways fronted by glass walls.