The reason for my visit to Belgium?

The chocolate and waffles (and indeed pizzas!) were lovely but there was another reason...

This...

is Formula 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I was there for the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Circuit Spa-Francochamps!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regular readers may have spotted that I am a big Formula 1 fan, along with my kids and more recently my husband.  I have loved the sport since I was a teenager, and used to go to Grand Prix with my brother.  Then came marriage, kids, mortgage etc, etc, and it is a long loooooong time since I could go to a race.  Each race weekend we would sit glued to the TV to watch the practice, qualifying and the big race itself.  And this year, we were finally able to go back to see the real thing.  And it was AMAZING!!!!!

Lots of beautiful cars to look at, here is our favourite, the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen (more of him in a moment):

 

A few hairy moments for some of the drivers, but thankfully everyone emerged safe and sound, but perhaps with slightly bruised egos:

The track itself is beautiful and very dramatic, very hilly in places:

We were able to walk the track after the race (7km!) and took a picture of the Ferrari teddy leaning in a casual manner against the barrier:

We were also allowed into the pit lane on the Thursday, and met some of the drivers - first off, from the Red Bull team, Sebastian Vettel, the current 4 times World Champion:

He was very modest, took a lot of time to talk to the fans, a very nice chap!

Then, Daniel Ricciardo, the eventual winner of the Grand Prix, who was very bubbly and entertaining (I might just have to adopt him as a nephew)

Then to the driver we have been supporting as a family for over 10 years, the 2007 World Champion, Kimi Raikkonen:

A much quieter chap than the Red Bull lads (he is often nicknamed the Iceman for his cool and calm manner) but he stayed out the longest of all the drivers, making sure that he could sign as many autographs as possible, a very patient guy as there were so many people there!

We had the most fantastic time imaginable, if you are not into cars or motorsport I can understand that you might find this all a bit strange!

Of course we are back to watching the races on TV again now (Singapore this weekend) but the memories we have of this fantastic sport in a fabulous country will always remain.  Would love to go again next year!

Have a lovely evening, Helenxx