Waterloo: Napoleon vs. Wellington

On June 18th, 1815 Napoleon did surrender. On Monday, December 29th, we stood on the land that marked the battle of Waterloo where the conquerer of Europe was finally conquered himself by the Duke of Wellington.

This lion on a mound, was created to mark the place where William II of the Netherlands, the Prince of Orange, was injured in the battle. It is one of the only markers for the battle.

To get to the lion you do have to climb 226 stairs





it's certainly more stairs from the top (atleast it seems like it)

There is also a statue of Napoleon across the street from the mound

Down the street we visited Calliou Farm, the farm where Napoleon planned the battle the night before.

this is Napoleon's death mask

The funniest part of the museum was this balcony. This is a balcony taken from a hotel in Paris, where Victor Hugo once spent some time and wrote some of Les Miserables. The museum saved this balcony.

In Waterloo we also had our first taste of Quick, the Belgian version of McDonalds.

The Big Bacon is delicious!!

We then found our way to the Wellington Museum, which is in the inn he stayed in before the battle. It acted as the headquarters of the British forces.

Wellington hard at work

and in marble.

One discovery about Belgium:

there are few signs, and the ones that do exist are small....and usually come just as you have to turn...or just after. Either way, you're basically on your own.

We've seen alot of the country so far, and it's beautiful!!!