Sunday, August 26, 2007
Pictures...
Oh yea... pictures! I have them, I promise! But I need the cable to connect the camera to the laptop. I'll get them loaded this week, I promise.
Home again, home again
I arrived home safe and sound yesterday afternoon. The jetlag has hit me harder coming home from Europe than it did coming home from Asia... not sure why. I've been in lazy mode all day... which isn't a bad place to be on a rainy Sunday.
The end of the story in Brussels consisted of a trip to the Royal Palace, business home of the King of Belgium, who opens the palace to the public from Belgium Independence Day (July 21) through the first part of September. The royal family's impressive art collection was on display, including some very interesting modern art pieces. I agree with my tourguide (and co-worker) Gert, who stated, as we walked through the hall with the modern art displayed, "Any one of these would look good in my house." The palace is amazing, but what completely enthralled me was the short side trip we took to the archeological dig currently occurring immediately next to the Royal Palace, under the current BELvue Museum... the old palace at Coudenberg. I literally got to walk on the same cobblestones as the Emperor, Charles V! Very cool!
After a short drive around the Woluwe / Kraainem area looking for a grocery store where I could buy beer (found it - Delhaize, known as Food Lion in the States), I headed back to the hotel to pack and get ready to head home.
Brussels was my first foray into Europe, but I'll be back. :)
The end of the story in Brussels consisted of a trip to the Royal Palace, business home of the King of Belgium, who opens the palace to the public from Belgium Independence Day (July 21) through the first part of September. The royal family's impressive art collection was on display, including some very interesting modern art pieces. I agree with my tourguide (and co-worker) Gert, who stated, as we walked through the hall with the modern art displayed, "Any one of these would look good in my house." The palace is amazing, but what completely enthralled me was the short side trip we took to the archeological dig currently occurring immediately next to the Royal Palace, under the current BELvue Museum... the old palace at Coudenberg. I literally got to walk on the same cobblestones as the Emperor, Charles V! Very cool!
After a short drive around the Woluwe / Kraainem area looking for a grocery store where I could buy beer (found it - Delhaize, known as Food Lion in the States), I headed back to the hotel to pack and get ready to head home.
Brussels was my first foray into Europe, but I'll be back. :)
Friday, August 24, 2007
Going home
I'll have to update the blog with my noon-time adventures in the Royal Palace after I get home. I'm off now to the grocery (apparently they actually have them!) to buy beer and my laptop battery will only last an hour or so after I leave the office.
My flight is at 1030a tomorrow (Saturday) morning, and I will continue to update and upload pictures after I arrive home!
My flight is at 1030a tomorrow (Saturday) morning, and I will continue to update and upload pictures after I arrive home!
Mussels in Brussels
We had dinner last night in Brussels city center, so I could get mussels. Before we got to the restaurant, we stopped at one of the oldest pubs in Brussels (established in 1686!) called Mort Subite (pronounced more sooBEET), which literally means Sudden Death, for Kriek (pronounced creek), which is beer made from CHERRIES! Who makes beer from CHERRIES?! Oh, right... the Belgians. (They also make beer from raspberries.) Kriek is delicious, and Mort Subite is an amazing place. It is a bright and airy pub with 2-story ceilings and long wooden tables down the length of it. Smaller bistro-style tables are outside (very Belgians for the pub to spill over into the street - very European, I think) where we sat to watch the passers-by. Upstairs the perimeter has tables and chairs which overlook the main goings-on at the bar below. The walls are adorned with ornate sculptures and mouldings, one entire wall (opposite the bar) is mirrored, making the place look even bigger, although it is quite large and probably seats 100 or more. The bar itself has been modernized, I think, because it is mostly glass and chrome. I don't imagine it looked quite like that in 1686.
After a short walk, we found mussels served wonderfully at a bright, casual little restaurant called Le Pre-Sale. I ordered mine with white wine, but I was completely out-ordered by Walter, who ordered his with garlic & cream. Mine were very tasty, but the ones in garlic & cream were fantastic! All varieties, regardless of what you order, are served in a large ceramic black pot with chopped onions and celery with a side of frites (Belgian fries, not to be confused with the more widely know French variety). Delicious! And now I can say I've had mussels in Brussels. And chocolate, and waffles, and frites, and beer. I'm done. Time to go home.
After a short walk, we found mussels served wonderfully at a bright, casual little restaurant called Le Pre-Sale. I ordered mine with white wine, but I was completely out-ordered by Walter, who ordered his with garlic & cream. Mine were very tasty, but the ones in garlic & cream were fantastic! All varieties, regardless of what you order, are served in a large ceramic black pot with chopped onions and celery with a side of frites (Belgian fries, not to be confused with the more widely know French variety). Delicious! And now I can say I've had mussels in Brussels. And chocolate, and waffles, and frites, and beer. I'm done. Time to go home.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
BELGIUM BEATS SERBIA!!
The Headlines:
Rode Duivels leven nog: 3-2 winst tegen Servië
Belgium edges Serbia in Euro 2008 qualifier
Belgium beats Serbia 3-2 in Group A qualifier for Euro 2008
Dembélé double downs Serbia
It's all over the Belgian papers this morning. The Belgian National Team (the underdog) beat Serbia, 3-2 last evening in Brussles. It was a fantastic game, and it just might be enough to put Belgium back in the running towards the European Championships in Spring 2008... maybe. I'm so lucky that I was able to attend; Belgium only plays at home about once every 2 months. The Belgian team dominated the first half, and the score was 2-1 at the half. However, they slowed down dramatically as the end of the 2nd half came around, and I thought they might give the game back to the Serbians in the final minutes, but thankfully the ref blew the whistle and ended it. The stadium was only about half-full, which seems to stem from the fact that they haven't won a game in nearly 9 months and they were (and probably still are) out of the running for the Championships. But last night's match was a big boost for the Belgian morale. What fun!!
With the number of police, security and armormed trucks surrounding the stadium, it was apparent that European football has a clear reputation for getting rowdy. There was only one point during the evening that I thought might turn into something interesting. Belgium was attacking the Serbian goal, and the goalkeeper took out the Belgian forward. He was on the ground for many minutes, and the members of both teams were circling him, cursing and jabbing at each other while the paramedics attended to the injured player. The spectators were on fire!! Whistles, calls, jeers, shouts coming mainly from the Belgian side but retaliated from the Serbian side as well. Finally the police came onto the field and broke up the mob, sending them to opposite sections of the field, and that seemed to quiet down the stands too. The player (#18 - Dembélé) recovered to score Belgium's third goal!
FUN, FUN, FUN!
Rode Duivels leven nog: 3-2 winst tegen Servië
Belgium edges Serbia in Euro 2008 qualifier
Belgium beats Serbia 3-2 in Group A qualifier for Euro 2008
Dembélé double downs Serbia
It's all over the Belgian papers this morning. The Belgian National Team (the underdog) beat Serbia, 3-2 last evening in Brussles. It was a fantastic game, and it just might be enough to put Belgium back in the running towards the European Championships in Spring 2008... maybe. I'm so lucky that I was able to attend; Belgium only plays at home about once every 2 months. The Belgian team dominated the first half, and the score was 2-1 at the half. However, they slowed down dramatically as the end of the 2nd half came around, and I thought they might give the game back to the Serbians in the final minutes, but thankfully the ref blew the whistle and ended it. The stadium was only about half-full, which seems to stem from the fact that they haven't won a game in nearly 9 months and they were (and probably still are) out of the running for the Championships. But last night's match was a big boost for the Belgian morale. What fun!!
With the number of police, security and armormed trucks surrounding the stadium, it was apparent that European football has a clear reputation for getting rowdy. There was only one point during the evening that I thought might turn into something interesting. Belgium was attacking the Serbian goal, and the goalkeeper took out the Belgian forward. He was on the ground for many minutes, and the members of both teams were circling him, cursing and jabbing at each other while the paramedics attended to the injured player. The spectators were on fire!! Whistles, calls, jeers, shouts coming mainly from the Belgian side but retaliated from the Serbian side as well. Finally the police came onto the field and broke up the mob, sending them to opposite sections of the field, and that seemed to quiet down the stands too. The player (#18 - Dembélé) recovered to score Belgium's third goal!
FUN, FUN, FUN!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
People's gardens
There's a word in Dutch that means "people's gardens." It's a great concept especially for folks who live in apartment buildings in cities and don't have access to areas for gardening. In Brussels, there are tracts of land (maybe as large as a soccer field, or larger) sub-divided into small (10'x10', or so) parcels with narrow paths in between. People pay a small fee to use the small parcels as their personal gardens. They plant what they want and bring all their own tools, and they've got an opportunity to garden in the midst of the city. I like it... you know, for all those gardeners out there. Not that I would ever dirty my hands in such a way, but it's a great concept.
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