Spa June & July 1863 - Happy Birthday to Willie!

Spa Monday June 29.
We left Brussels on the 27 to hasten my convalescence by a thorough change of air and scene. We soon determined to leave the Hotel de Flandre, where the extravagant prices, the scornful look of the waiters and many other anoyances(sic) which are common to all hotels, proved too much for my weak nerves. Our apartment is a charming one. Today we visited the different springs which are five in number. The Ponchon where we walk every day before breakfast and drink a glass of its water. The 4 others which are the, Tonnelet, Lauveniere, Geronster, and Barisar, vie with each other in the exquisite situation. We returned to enjoy a very nice dinner for which we give 3 frs and there is more than enough with what remains, for Therese. This is the only cheap thing we have yet seen in Spa. The language amoungst the peasants is a strange gibberish. I would call it a mixture of dog latin and french; even the Brussels Flemish is better; this is graft from the Wallone.
I forgot to mention the garden land through which we passed on our way here. At Louvain I only caught a glimpse of the celebrated cathedral. Liege is so delightfully situated and the country around is so picturesque, that I think a residence there would be preferable to one in Brussels. But all homes claim sweet souvenirs from me, for my darling Willie makes me happy everywhere.

Wednesday July 1st 1863.We took a long drive to the cascade of Coo, which has been artificially made by blasting a rock. We have seen other waterfalls, that excelled this one. Of Course we were imposed upon, and made to pay 8 frs for a dinner, which would have cost us 2 in Spa. The beggars were intolerable, annoying you by their whines, and willful idleness. We passed through Stavelot a scrupulously neat village, almost every house having the windows ornamented with flowers, and a bird hanging over the door of the Rez de Chaussee. We returned by Francorchamps, a lovely drive over hill & dale. Happy Birthday for my Willie.