Hello again. I am back and The Project is finished.
It is 2:22am. Generally, the time of day I post influences my state of mind and therefore the tone, the amount of sarcasm I employ...the later the hour, the drier the humor...Today/tonight/this morning will be an exception, because (woohoo!!) IT is finished.
This is significant because, as I told someone the other day, I sold my soul to my project mid-November, and since then it had been an annoying, persistent companion to my thoughts, even while traveling, and a huge consumer of my time and energy.
Of course, our project presentation and exam was, like many other things of the same nature, anticlimactic. All of a sudden, it was done. If we so choose, we will never have to look at it again. Also like most other things of the same nature, it really isn't that important in the grand scheme of things or in retrospect. It was just a report and I will not mention it again.
: )
Belgium
I suppose Tom and I were close to missing Belgium. An afternoon train carried us from Copenhagen and dropped us, slightly confused on a platform in Hamburg with (less than) eight minutes to find the train that would take us to Brussels. We boarded a train that was headed to Paris. If my recollection is correct, the departure time didn't match with our tickets and the conductor wasn't extremely helpful. Lettering on the door of the wagon we boarded read "Bruxelles-midi" which we decided could mean nothing other than Brussels and that if, by chance, it did, at worst we would end up in Paris. "At worst" in Paris? No such thing.
Our seat reservations were in the close quarters of a six-person car (on a train headed to Paris via Brussels we quickly confirmed) already occupied by three other travelers. There was a slight misunderstanding/language barrier with one of our neighbors, so the glaring light in the compartment remained lit. Eventually (around 3am?) most passengers had gotten off the train leaving Tom and I with a row of seats each and finally, sweet albeit brief repose.
Jolted awake. Mostly incoherent, we arrived at 6am in Brussels, Belgium. Our hosts, a couple from Brussels - one university student and one recent graduate - met us at the station and blessedly led us to their apartment and a warm place to sleep.
Hours later our day began with breakfast and a tour of the city, including an antique market where we sampled snails, a splendid cathedral, (I have seen nothing but in Europe thus far. If I mention a cathedral it is safe to assume it is splendid, magnificent, opulent, fill in your adjective. I'll let you know when I find the opposite. This said, I have yet to tire of seeing the beauties. How much longer can I extend this interruption in the paragraph before you actually forget what I was writing about? Would one more sentence do it? Perhaps two? Okay, I'm done.), cobblestone streets leading to cobblestone alleys leading to yet another chocolate shop (mom, your Belgian chocolate is safe in my room), the Palace of Justice, the Brussels Stock Exchange, a great view of the skyline, a quaint cafe called Warm Water (Exact name is Eetcafe Het Warm Water. I remember the name because of its origin - stealing from a travel website once again: "Just above the place de Jeu de Balle in the heart of the Marolles, this café is a local institution known for its set brunches. It's a staunchly Flemish place; the staff doesn't appreciate orders in French (English is preferable). When the neighborhood had no running water, this is where residents would come to get hot water -- hence the name.")...and of course, Manneken Pis, a small statue of a little boy peeing, which is oddly enough a sort of national symbol for Belgium, or at least for Brussels. ("The statue's origins are lost in time: some say he was the son of a nobleman, others say he was a boy who once found an unusual and risky way to put out a house fire. He was first carved in stone in the mid-14th century and called 'Little Julian.' In 1619 a bronze version was sculpted by Jerôme Duquesnoy, and this is the Manneken Pis we see today.") Our visit would not have been complete without him. Finally, we made our way back to the apartment, on the way picking up a few Belgian beers to sample before and during dinner, which turned out to be a homecooked (thanks to host Sarah!) Belgian specialty - ham-wrapped endives baked in a creamy sauce and topped with cheese.
In the evening we wandered again (Tom, my memory might be failing me, but I think this is generally the order of operations for the day...), this time deeper into the Old town area, destination: the Grand Place. So impressive. Also called the Market Square, it is actually the Town Hall, King's house and a collection of guild buildings. The area was originally marshland and it dates back to the 12th century, being gradually converted over the next 200 years into the center of "commercial, political and civil life" in Belgium. Most of the buildings here are however, actually from the early 1700s because of an intense attack ordered by King Louis XIV of France in 1695. The area was complete with giant Christmas tree, manger replication and a light show coordinated with awesome, operatic music.
Next came a visit to Poechenellekelder, a bar in the Old Town district...decorated with puppets, featuring great Belgian beers...I tried the kriek - a fruity lambic. I'll let you look that one up. We were thorougly satisfied at this point. Seems like a good point to end the day, eh? End day 1 in Brussels.
Day 2 - Our hosts were out of town for the day, so we served as our own tour guides. I think we did a fine job, stopping by the Royal Palace, Royal Park and, of course, the EU Parliment. That is correct. Center of European politics. We were there. Unfortunately we missed the tour for the day. Don't worry. I asked Tom with the sad eyes...please, please can we stay longer tomorrow to take the tour? : ) The rest of our second day was spent wandering, browsing shops and revisiting a few sights that deserved more time than the first day allowed. We visited a cafe and devoured a delicious Belgian waffle - square variety, with bananas and whipped cream. In case you're planning to travel to Belgian soon I will let you in on a secret. Square = toppings. Round = no toppings. However, street vendors will try to sell tourists the already sweeter, denser and richer, round waffles. Don't do it. Don't give in. Our hosts assured we avoided sugar shock by educating us early on.
Day end included sampling a few more Belgian beers and lots of lovely sleep.
Day 3 - Thanks and goodbyes to our hosts and then, hello tour of the EU Parliment! We weren't privy to as much of the inside as I expected...but we saw the chamber for speeches/debate, which was all I really wanted to see. We sat in the chamber for approx. 15 minutes, listening via translation in all EU languages to the Portuguese rep praise Portugal for EU progress during the country's Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Waffles, chocolate, Manneken Pis, beer, Grand Place...and the EU Parliment. What more can I ask of you Brussels?
Next city please : ) but first, photos for your viewing.
Streets - Cathedral - Antique market/snail lady - approaching Manneken Pis - and Manneken Pis, modeling a casual look
