The ride in the cars to Dover was very interesting, and the view of Canterbury Cathedral was quite fine.
Quite a large boat was waiting for the train, and the water looked so smooth Alice said,—
"I guess the people who are sick crossing this Channel do not know much of ocean discomfort."
Like a good many travellers who see the Channel for the first time, she thought it must always be quiet.
It proved to be a very smooth trip, and only a little over an hour was spent in crossing.
The train left Calais fifteen minutes after the arrival of the boat, and the gentlemen bought nice luncheons which were put up in baskets,—chicken, bread and butter, and a bottle of wine.
They found a good compartment, and away they went, eating their lunch and enjoying the views from the windows at the same time.
Belgium is called the garden of Europe, as vegetables are raised there for all the principal cities.
The country is flat and rather uninteresting to look at, but when one realizes that the willows which surround the farms are used by the women and children to make baskets which are sent all over the world it becomes very interesting.
The land is divided by water wide enough for flat-bottomed boats to be rowed about, that the farmers may till their land and bring home the products in them.