The Grand Place in Brussels; we were lucky enough to see it just after its temporary installation was completed - the lights between the buildings are a project called "Convergence." Pretty, huh? Pictures don't do the effect justice.
The big tower in the main square in Bruges, as seen from the vicinity of the windmills, and part of the residential city's "skyline."
Flanders = Windmills! Here I am with beautiful new friend Megan.
Bruges again; one of its beautiful canal streets.
Brussels' military history museum and "Gates to the City," erected to celebrate 50 years of Belgian independence, early in the 20th century.
Belgian waffles! And photographic evidence of the versatility of French braids - two days, two hairstyles, one shower. :)
Our trip to Belgium was beautiful, relaxing, and passed without our seeing so much as a spot of rain - virtually unheard of in infamously overcast Brussels, especially. I achieved all of my goals for this trip: buy/eat chocolate, eat waffles, stroll through Bruges, order beer from a menu. I was also put at ease about the language barrier in European cities, which is really less like a barrier and more like a momentary and very small obstacle. Basically, someone greets you in French or Dutch; you express your lack of understanding in English; they patiently repeat themselves in English which is usually as good or better than yours. In Belgium most people speak not only English, but also their country's official languages of French and Dutch, with many speaking German as well. They make my struggle with a little bit of a second language seem laughable.
I love Belgians. There were dogs everywhere - especially in Bruges, where very contemporary department stores permitted dogs (on a leash) in any store. In Brussels we saw packs of off leash dogs following men who seemed homeless, carrying nothing but their heavy coats over their arms and a sack of dog food. Dogs swam in the public fountain at the park and trotted unattended up and down the sidewalks.
Bruges was particularly beautiful, quiet and sleepy, and our hostel experience there was excellent. Our rooms were very clean but also charming, the building was old but nicely maintained, with a bar on the first floor selling beer at a fraction of its cost in Ireland. There was a pretty good breakfast by the hostel standard, and we met some friendly Australians and even a Canadian. We tuckered ourselves out walking the city during the day and stayed in at night, none of us being the night life seekers of some of the girls in our larger group.
Brussels was a little more intense, and after a failed attempt to tour the city entirely on foot we opted for a hop-on / hop-off bus tour, which basically allowed us transportation from one sight toe the next with the flexibility to stay at one stop for as many half hour increments as we wished. It was sunny, but not especially warm, while we walked past thousand year old buildings and the perfect reflection of the sky in shallow park fountains. We lived entirely off of waffles, chocolate, and the occasional sandwich from a stand. The flight home was long, and we came in too late for any of the buses, so we had hired a taxi in advance. Split four ways the cost wasn't too enormous, but it was still outside of our budgets. With that in mind, I was glad that the entire trip was perfectly luxurious - taxi driver waiting with a sign by our terminal, car parked as close to the door as possible with two tires on the curb, a quick and direct journey back to Cork, deposited at our doorstep in Leeside.
It's always good to hear news from home, and everything I have been told has been pleasant. Amanda and I spent a few minutes on the phone trying to hear one another, she at a field trial in rural Kansas, me in my apartment in southern Ireland. Even though we only managed to exchange a few words, I still marveled at the capabilities of modern technology.
Yesterday was approximately my two month mark; only 60 days of European exploration remaining. In a week and a half I will see Kim, Rich, and Aunt Terry and Lee in Germany. I am so excited. I'm sure I'm going to get emotional when we see one another and embarass myself. In an effort to fit into the fashion world of Ireland, I've also purchased some brown suede boots that hit just below the knee and intend to wear them with opaque panty hose and dresses. I experimented with this in Belgium and liked the results.
I love Belgians. There were dogs everywhere - especially in Bruges, where very contemporary department stores permitted dogs (on a leash) in any store. In Brussels we saw packs of off leash dogs following men who seemed homeless, carrying nothing but their heavy coats over their arms and a sack of dog food. Dogs swam in the public fountain at the park and trotted unattended up and down the sidewalks.
Bruges was particularly beautiful, quiet and sleepy, and our hostel experience there was excellent. Our rooms were very clean but also charming, the building was old but nicely maintained, with a bar on the first floor selling beer at a fraction of its cost in Ireland. There was a pretty good breakfast by the hostel standard, and we met some friendly Australians and even a Canadian. We tuckered ourselves out walking the city during the day and stayed in at night, none of us being the night life seekers of some of the girls in our larger group.
Brussels was a little more intense, and after a failed attempt to tour the city entirely on foot we opted for a hop-on / hop-off bus tour, which basically allowed us transportation from one sight toe the next with the flexibility to stay at one stop for as many half hour increments as we wished. It was sunny, but not especially warm, while we walked past thousand year old buildings and the perfect reflection of the sky in shallow park fountains. We lived entirely off of waffles, chocolate, and the occasional sandwich from a stand. The flight home was long, and we came in too late for any of the buses, so we had hired a taxi in advance. Split four ways the cost wasn't too enormous, but it was still outside of our budgets. With that in mind, I was glad that the entire trip was perfectly luxurious - taxi driver waiting with a sign by our terminal, car parked as close to the door as possible with two tires on the curb, a quick and direct journey back to Cork, deposited at our doorstep in Leeside.
It's always good to hear news from home, and everything I have been told has been pleasant. Amanda and I spent a few minutes on the phone trying to hear one another, she at a field trial in rural Kansas, me in my apartment in southern Ireland. Even though we only managed to exchange a few words, I still marveled at the capabilities of modern technology.
Yesterday was approximately my two month mark; only 60 days of European exploration remaining. In a week and a half I will see Kim, Rich, and Aunt Terry and Lee in Germany. I am so excited. I'm sure I'm going to get emotional when we see one another and embarass myself. In an effort to fit into the fashion world of Ireland, I've also purchased some brown suede boots that hit just below the knee and intend to wear them with opaque panty hose and dresses. I experimented with this in Belgium and liked the results.
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1 comment:
It is so beautiful. And sunny. And thanks again for keeping us posted. Joey says he's glad it's only 60 more days 'til you're home again. We agree.
love,
mom
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