Brussels

What a world wind! These past few days have been EXHAUSTING! We got in Brussels on Thursday around 5pm (10am in LA) and boy was trying to get to Buckley’s exhausting! First we had to get our bags, then we had to get on a bus which was supposed to take us right outside of where Buckley works, but Thursday just happened to be the day of the summit where all the European heads of state met to discuss European Union-esque things and man of the streets were blocked. So we were dropped off on a corner 20 minutes (walking distance) away and we had to wait patiently for Buckley to come find us. From that point we dragged 4 bags all over, on two metros and one tram. Finally we arrived at Buckley’s. Then 4 bags up the stairs to her place. Finally we could enjoy Bruxelles!

Thursday night was pretty chill. We just helped her make eggplant parmesan (super delicious!). Friday we woke up and ventured out into the unknown. We walked down the street to Place Flagey and ended up finding food and Internet at an Irish pub. We had a very nice waiter named Adrian who was from Romania. Unbeknownst to us, we witnessed a purse snatching. There was a window to the building and a woman was sitting at that table inside. The window, which spanned the entire height of the building, was open and her bag was right on the ledge next to a table in the courtyard. That table was directly next to us. A man came and sat down for a moment and then got up not even a minute later. We didn’t realize until 20 minutes later what had happened when a waitress asked if we had seen the bag go missing. We waited an hour for the police to give a statement but they never arrived so we left. We then went and purchased our tickets for Sunday to Valenciennes. Success! Then we got a phone call from David, a fellow teaching assistant and scholarship recipient who will also be living in Valenciennes. We went to meet up with him and just chatted for a while about things to come. That night we ended up going out and having real Belgian food. I had mussels and Hayley and Buckley had a dish known as la carbonade flamande which is a beef stew made with beer. The mussels were cooked with onions and celery and I found the taste to be a bit…overpowering. And everything was served with frites or fried. We walked then to the city center and saw so many churches and museums and the royal palace. Then we saw the Grand Place. It was so surreal. Very epic and strange to be standing in the middle of an area that’s so old. Next was Delirium, a very famous (and touristy) bar with 2003 beers! We tried maybe 5 while we were there so only 1998 left to try! Then we went across the way and tried absinthe. You dip a sugar cube in the absinthe, set it on a little flat metal piece that has holes in it. Then you light it on fire, wait a few seconds, drop the sugar in, stir/break up the sugar, and shoot. It was very strange and burned, but a fun experience nonetheless. Then while waiting for the bus, Clem, Buckley’s boyfriend, bought some frites covered in sauce, and we all ate them while waiting. They were REAL good. Frites are apparently a huge thing in Belgium and are sold everywhere in Brussels.

Saturday we slept in but then we ended up walking the entire city again. What a great work out for our little bodies! We saw the Grand Place again during the daylight and there was a bit of a festival going on. Buckley says that although Brussels isn’t the most beautiful city, she loves it because people are always doing something. Saturday night was crazy. A lot of Clem and Buckley’s friend came over for a party and we were surrounded by many French, an Albanian/Italian, and an Austrian. At first the night was less comfortable for Hayley and I because we didn’t know anyone and obviously the language is a barrier, but as the night went on everyone drank more and more and it got more and more fun. French house parties are somewhat of an event. Everyone brings something. There was a lot of wine and a few other liquors and the boys were all drinking beers. Throughout the night the hosts have to put out food periodically. First there was pate and foie gras. Then there were these meat roll-up things that someone brought, sandwiches, pizza, chips, cookies. Every time the table was cleared of food there would be more food in about 10 or so minutes. And you never put out more than one thing at a time.

I ended up getting in a heated debate with one guy named Tristan about his perception of Americans and how they perceive Muslims. He seems to think that 95% of Americans think that Muslims are terrorists. I informed him his numbers are severely off, but no hard feelings were had. Then there was dancing. OMG they were doing Cajun dance steps (which I remember from 8th grade!). First Hayley danced with Tristan and I watched but then Tim asked me to dance. Let me tell you, I didn’t stop turning and twirling for an entire song. Then Hayley danced with Tristan again and I watched Tim dance with his fiancée Marie Claire. It was beautiful and very affectionate to watch those two dance. They would sneak in kisses here and there and it was very sweet. Then Buckley played this one song which was a classic end of the night song, and we all ended up dancing in a circle going round and round, one direction then the next. I think that was the most fun we had yet! Now we are on the train to Tournai. Then we will transfer and go to Lille and then transfer again and go to Valenciennes. I cannot wait to leave at least one bag in Valenciennes. I guess that’s enough for now.