Beloved Brussels

Part of the charm of Brussels is in the layers of grey clouds that coat the city, the drizzle that makes the streets sparkle, the constant sight of your breath, and the quietness of the streets of such a large city. Brussels itself has never been on the top of our travel lists and it's main draw was seeing our friend; however, there is something very special about Brussels that begs the traveler to explore. Maybe it's the architecture of the early 13th century, or maybe it's the smell of freshly baked waffles wafting down the streets, or quite possibly, it's the dozens of chocolate shops that line the streets. Whatever it is, we love Brussels and the people here and already know this is only the first of many trips to come.

We have felt so spoiled and so welcomed here. Anne, her family, and friends have treated us like they've known us a life time. Anne's friends joined us and took us on a historical walk through the city center of Brussels. They were so knowledgeable about the history of the buildings and city blocks.

Anne's mom, Marie Francios, hosted a special dinner at her house for us along with Anne's brother and girlfriend. We ate delicious appetizers, a traditional Belgium meal, and a delicious sugar pie desert. It was so special and thoughtful.

Last night, all of Anne's friends meet up with us last night at a cafe (bar) and spent the night hosting us in their country. Between the 4 or 5 different languages spoken (!), everyone was able to communicate. The four of us, only speaking English, are amazed by the ease of speaking so many languages.... it is true, that French may be the most beautiful language in the world. Being surrounded by it, is inspiring by itself.

Brugges is considered a mini Venice, with it's foggy canal lined streets, large churches, cobblestone streets, and square filled markets. It is small and quaint and filled with dozens of chocolate shops which we attempted to try each one. We spent the day walking, chatting, eating, drinking.

Speaking of eating and drinking, we have tasted over 25 beers since our arrival just 3 short days ago. Oh, the beer. It's cheap, fresh, delicious, refreshing. The chocolate... it's nothing like we've ever tasted before. Rich, decadent, melty, amazing. The cheese... sticky, rich, and irresistible (and we hear it will only get better once in France). Bread... fluffy, flavorful, crispy. Now, smother your bread in cheese, taste a sip of beer, and follow with chocolate. Repeat.

We crack ourselves up, and those around us, by trying to speak french, anything French. It is definitely an art, and one that we don't have.On the metro, in the market, at the cafes, those around us find us hilarious because of our terrible pronunciation. It is fun to try a new language, and it's the thought that counts as people are so friendly. Just yesterday on the metro, we started chatting with a couple of Flemish guys about the differences of America and Belgium. They opened their backpack and gave us a couple beers. Nope, not illegal, you can drink in public, on the metro. The only problem we have is that not everyone understands the things that Heather says. The happier and the more excited she becomes, the faster and higher she talks. The issue is that she's really happy and excited her all the time. Yes, she has been told that her English is different from everyone else. The thing is, not even Adam understands everything she says. :)

Other differences, we stay up until 2 am and sleep until late in the morning. The day here starts a bit later and goes a lot later. Dinner at 9 or 10 pm, followed by drinks, and more cheese at 1:30 am when we arrive back at Anne's flat.

Belgium is also more advanced when it comes to environmental protection. Energy and water are conserved on many levels. There are two different flush settings on all the toilets for going number 1 or 2, motion sensor escalators and lights, mandatory recycling programs, and incredible effective transportation... and this is just the start. It makes us realize how easy it is to be wasteful in our lives back home. Speaking of toilets, another funny site is Belgium's answer to lack of public toilets. They have outdoor stalls but we still don't know what the women do.

Tomorrow we leave for Paris and the adventure continues. We'll be switching from beer to wine and continue our quest to find the most delicious pastries in the world. We have a feeling it won't be too difficult.