On Saturday, Troy and I attended the 3rd Annual Bruges Beer Festival.  We spent all day sampling delicious Belgian beers from tons of great breweries. There were 67 breweries and 278 different beers there!

We were fortunate to be able to sample Westvleteren 8 and 12.  Made by at the St. Sixtus monastery, some have deemed this the “best beer in the world.”  In order to buy the beer, you need to call ahead to try to get an appointment and then go directly to the monastery at your scheduled time.  You can never buy more than a case at a time.

I’m not sure I would label any beer the best in the world, but in any event, it was good.  And we were pretty excited to get two glasses of it each!

We enjoyed the second glass with Brandon and his girlfriend Molly.  We met Brandon in our Dutch class last week.  He’s the only other person from the U.S. in the class and he just happens to be from Minnesota!  It’s a small world.

Troy, Molly and Brandon

The downside to plentiful beer in Belgium? There was no water available and it cost 30 cents each time we needed to use the bathroom! All that drinking and dehydrating left me with a nasty headache by the end of the day.

Aujourd’hui (allez savoir pourquoi, rien pour l’instant ne m’invite à ce genre d’humeur, bien au contraire ) Je suis d’humeur romantique (eh oui ce genre de choses malheureusement arrive)

Alors pour l’occasion je vous livre une photo que j’ai prise en 2007 à Bruges, la magnifique ville d’eau flamande qui, il est vrai, tout en étant très différente de la célèbre ville d’eau du sud, mérite son surnom de “venise du nord”. Canaux enchanteurs, ambiance figée dans le temps, surranée de mystère et d’un charme fou.

Allez je vous laisse voyager…

Et comme je suis d’humeur romantique Je tiens à préciser que sont les bienvenues : les invitations à dîner, les fleurs (avec ou sans bouquet), les messages gentils et les petites cartes (tiens j’ai rêvé que j’en recevais une virtuelle!) Même si je sais qu’ici…. (enfin! Disons aucun risque!) Mais comme l’illusion fait vivre (oui pour certain c’est l’espoir et pour d’autres l’illusion!) Berçons nous un peu de bonne heure de tendres illusions…

Et sur ce… Bonne journées les gens!

Agenda pro-Belge powered by Le Journal du Petit Belge !

Ma. Di. 17 nov. 2009 à 12h/12u. : Conferentie met Rudy Aernoudt / Déjeuner-conférence “La Belgique, quel potentiel!” par Rudy Aernoudt au Cercle Royal Artistique et Littéraire de Gand.

Ma. Di. 17 nov. 2009 : Débats organisés par l’asbl BPlus à l’auditoire Montesquieu O4 de l’UCL (Louvain-la-Neuve) / Debat van vzw Bplus in “l’auditoire Montesquieu” O4 (Louvain-la-neuve)

• 19h/19u. Débat autour du livre “Un plan de paix pour la Belgique” de Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb et Christian Laporte.20h. Débat autour de la circonscription électorale nationale avec Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb (CDH), Philippe Van Parijs (UCL), Matthias Storme (KUL), Stefaan Van Hecke (Groen) et Anne-Sylvie Mouzon (PS).
• Je. Do. 19 nov. 2009 : Réunion de tous les membres de BPlus en province de Liège à 20h au Celtic (143-145, boulevard de la Sauvenière à Liège). Programme de la réunion : actualité de BPlus, organisation du comité de BPlus Liège, idées pour les activités en 2009-2010 et préparation de la fête nationale belge 2010 à Liège.

Di. Zo.22 nov. 2009 à 16h/16u. : Dans le cadre de la Foire du Livre Belge à Uccle, discussion sur la Belgique entre Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb, Christian Laporte et Herman De Croo. http://www.ccu.be/divers.cfm?r1=37

Du 23 au 27 nov. 2009 : Week van de franse film in Brugge en Oostende / Semaine du Film Francophone à Bruges et Ostende. http://www.weekvandefransefilm.org/

Du 25 nov. 2009 au 28 fév. feb. 2010 : Exposition sur le roi Albert Ier au Musée Bellevue.Albert I, Koning in een nieuw België http://www.belvue.be/

Ma. Di. 22 décembre 2009 à 20h/20u. : Réunions de la section – vergadering Flandre Orientale de Belgische Alliantie/Alliance Belge à l’Hôtel Erasmus (Gand) en van de/et de la section Brabant de Belgische Alliantie/Alliance Belge au restaurant “La Fattoria” (Watermael-Boistfort).

Sa. Za. 20 fév. feb. 2010 : Commémoration devant la statue du roi Albert Ier à Tournai, suivie du banquet annuel de la section Ath-Tournai-Mouscron du Mouvement Dynastique.

Here we have an exciting poll for you to take part in. In our previous post we highlighted the growing popularity of Festive Breaks to the continent, as opposed to staying put here in the UK. What we would like to find out is where your ideal festive break would take you?

We’ve included destinations throughout the continent so most of you should have been to at least one of these places over Christmas and New Year. The winner will be crowned with the coveted Cheap UK Ferries ‘Best Festive Breaks Destination’ champion  -a title that they are all desperate to get their hands on, so make sure you vote for your favourite!

Thanks for taking part.

“I think that the best title for a picture is a poetic title.”

René Magritte

Magritte is quickly becoming an artist that the brownbookproject is keen to know more about.   Last weekend the bbp attended the Magritte exhibition in Brussels that chronicles the different stages of his life and work.

The most I am able to say is that his work is extraordinary.  His surrealist paintings, which we preferred over the impressionist phase, have very calming qualities; of which one I found was the there was no pressure to interpret his paintings! How relaxing.

Alina, Queen Bee (QB),  and I,  Hawk Eye (HE), agreed that it also looked like he had a lot of fun with his friends. We came away with our favourites and much to consider.

The exhibition was rounded off with a kebab.

Alina then showed us around Brussels a bit more and took us to some very nice bars, and it can be said of the Belgians (for I make no distinction between the Flemish and the Wallons) that they are very friendly. Brussels: nice and friendly. Unless you are an immigrant that is.

On the cold but sunny November Sunday we took the train to Bruges. The trip was part inspired by the film In Bruge and part inspired by Claire Wrathall’s visit which she wrote about in the FT back in October (click http://bit.ly/133nP9 for full article).  On the way I read Sigrid Rausing’s Lunch with FT, which wasn’t really that revealing, but it did remind me of my work experience at Sigrid’s imprint Portobello Books.  So much so that we are running the first brownbookproject competition this week with a prize of a Portobello title published in 2008.  All you need to do to be in with a chance is answer the following question:

Portobello’s plush offices in Holland Park occupy what used to be a pub where my dad used to drink (late 1960s). What was the name of that pub?

Please email your answer to robertjsullivan.esq[at]gmail.com and we will pick the winner at random.

But back to Bruges: The overall purpose though was to just see Bruges rather than to engage with Bruges. Its reputation as a tourist destination did not disappoint and although it is a cosy and inoffensive place, I couldn’t imagine going there in the summer or operating a life within the boundaries of its canals.

And one final word of warning before I wish you Happy Sunday. If in Brussels I would advise that you avoid a place called Ciabatta Mania.

Happy Sunday!

We made my mom and Tim watch “In Bruges” before our trip to the charming, medieval city. Thankfully, they enjoy sarcasm and dark humor as much as we do. They enjoyed the movie–so much so that they both were quoting it for the rest of their stay!

We had fun just walking around the city and taking in the sites. It was a beautiful fall day.

Fall colors in Bruges

We visited the Church of Our Lady, which contains the “Virgin and Child” Michelangelo statue. This is one of few pieces by Michelangelo that resides outside of Italy.  We also went to the Chapel of the Holy Blood–so-called because it contains a precious relic, a bottle that is said to contain Jesus Christ’s blood.

After all the church-going, we relaxed outside with beers and took in the scenery of Burg square.  My mom ordered a “medium” beer and was surprised to see what she got.  Good thing she liked it!

Mom's big beer!

Here are some more pics from the trip.

]]> http://pythonscope.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/bon-baiser-de-bruges/ Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:46:34 +0000 pythoon http://pythonscope.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/bon-baiser-de-bruges/

October 15

What a beautiful city. Bruges is walkable and tiny. It attracts a lot of tourists however. I mean, with the picturesque canal and architecture, history, good food, and friendly people, what more can you ask for?

One day is enough to see Bruges in my opinion since it’s so small in size. I recommend dropping by the Chapel of the Holy Blood and checking out the cylinder – believed to contain Jesus Christ’s blood. The blood crystal is neat, whether you are religious or not. I stood there staring at it for a while before I realized that I was holding up the line. It was really beautiful.

Restaurant recommendation (see meal pictures from the Belgian Cuisine):

Pas Partout
Jeruzalemstraat, 1
Bruges, Belgium

Nice atmosphere with really nice staffs. When I finished my soup, the lady came by and asked me something in Dutch. Naturally I nodded my head because I assumed she was asking if I had finished. Then she came back with the pot and refilled my plate! It was an unexpected but generous surprise. I spent 10 euros in total for the practically unlimited soup, a huge plate of Boeuf Bourguignon (dish of the day), and really good Belgian Hoegaarden beer! Very delicious with a good price (impossible in Paris with the same portions and quality). The city guide says, “A few years ago, you could spend 100 euros here for a meal in one of the only Belgian restaurants with three Michelin stars. Then Pas Partout replaced it. Some of the interior remained, but the prices tumbled down. Tastes twice as good! The restaurant now serves real Belgian kitchen (like ‘witloof en hesperolletjes’ and ‘worst met puree’), instead of the fake ‘local specialties’ you see in all tourist restaurants…. ” It may seem a bit out of the way on the map, but it really isn’t, especially since the city is so tiny anyway!

Panoramic Bruges at night, originally uploaded by Jaap Willem.

Panoramic Landscape Bruges

Bruges is one the eldest cities in Europe, and it’s straight stunning that they have been able to keep the spirit of the old city for such a long time.
This panoramic landscape picture of Bruges is taken at night with the beautiful city light in the central market.
It is in the centre of Bruges with plenty of bars and restaurants..

I hope that you guys like this night panoramic landscape from Bruges and let me know in the comments what you think..

Cheers

Jaap Willem

http://www.jaapwillem.com
Twitter: jaapwillem

Whether stunningly sited or blending extraordinary architecture with magnificent scenery, these are THE 10 MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES IN THE WORLD

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You get the feeling that Bruges has become a caricature of tourist perfection. Its harmonious Gothic architecture, willow-lined walkways, colourful market squares, meandering canals and chocolate-filled shops are almost impossibly quaint. The only litter is the manure from the horses as they draw carriages along the cobble-stone roads and over crenelated bridges. Vehicle traffic is minimal, meaning the most noise you’ll hear in and around the moated historic centre are the camera shutters of the 3.2 million annual visitors spellbound by the medieval majesty of the diorama.

“It’s a fuckin’ fairy tale, dats what it is, ain’t it?” affirms Ralph Fiennes in the movie In Bruges. And he’s right. But for those more accustomed to the grunginess and seediness of your typical urban environment, Bruges comes across as almost too perfect, too surreal, that you wonder if there might be an admission fee to this open-air museum, that at some point you’ll be herded to the exits at closing time.

The 13th century Belfort, on Bruges' Markt Square.

This is to say that Bruges can take a few hours to get used to. After that, you just relax and lap it up. And eat. How can a town of only 117,000 residents support so many chocolate shops? Anita did her best to keep a few in business for another day or two. We ate rabbit stew and buckets of mussels; I drank cherry beer and German Rieslings.

And we stayed in the most extraordinary guest house: Nuit Blanche. It’s owner, David De Graef, is a renowned artist and the most gracious host this side of the Atlantic. Breakfast was six courses, and was served in his studio, surrounded by easels and brushes and canvases and other arty stuff. It was finished off with pocket pancakes – shaped like ravioli parcels – flambed in Grand Marnier. He cooked and served the lot. He can because there are only 2 exquisitely themed double rooms in his ‘house’ (no children allowed).

To be sure, the theme park feel soon peels away to reveal the city’s authentic soul.  Then you pass another chocolate shop and even though it’s been many hours since breakfast, you struggle to justify popping inside and sampling another champagne truffle, but the struggle lasts only a short while and you walk out (of the shop and eventually the city) a little bit fuller and a little bit heavier than when you arrived. But that’s OK; it’s the Bruges way.

Here’s the link to the Flickr photo set: In Bruges

In 2007 after spending a week in spain with Neil and Lori Kathy and I moved on to Bruges, Belgium for a week. We picked Bruges after seeing pictures that Neil and Lori posted of their visit there. It is a marvelous old world city that dates back to around 900 AD. The city center is the old part of town and is laced with narrow streets and canals.

Bridge over canal

Canal in early morning fog

View from our flat in Bruges

Sunset view from our flat - mary Poppins anyone

Bikes

Belgium chocolates (it takes all kinds)

Bruges street

Canal boats in early light

Bruges canal boats

Bruges street

Bruges taxi

Convent in Bruges

Sign on convent grounds

 Bruges has market days several days of the week. The markets rotate beween the large squares in the old part of the city and you can buy almost anything at these markets. Items for sale included clothes, prepared foods, flowers, spices, produce and even live chickens. We visited these markets several times and found it a great place to pick up dinner to take back to our flat.

Market Day vegtable stand

Market Day flower stand

And of course there was no shortage of outdoor cafes for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a cup of coffee. The cafes have no problem with people sitting over coffee/tea and people watching for extended periods of time.

Bruges cafe time

Bruges plaza sculpture

Chegou, definitivamente, o Outono!

Se para si já está frio é porque ainda não sentiu de perto a temperatura em Bruges, na Bélgica.
Vista uma roupa bem quente e prepare-se para visitar o Festival de Esculturas e de Neve.
Este é um dos inúmeros atractivos de Bruges, que pode ver até 10 de Janeiro de 2010, na Praça em frente à Gare Central da cidade.
Os 40 autores do festival de esculturas e de neve usaram, nesta forma de arte efémera 300 toneladas de gelos e 400 mil quilos de neve para talhar figuras surpreendentes.

Bruges, cidade gelada, À Volta do Mundo.

Switzerland to Netherlands

Somehow we wandered too far north and ended up in Lucerne Switzerland.  The European leg of our journey was left loose so we could add or subtract sights as we saw fit.  It is a great feeling to pick a spot on the map and just go there.  Everything in Europe is an hour or two away.  On my master list of things to see, I have about 30 to 40 countries that got passed up on our final selection of where to go and what to see.  Switzerland was one of those on the list.  We used a few days of our Italy time to catch a few other interesting sights.  Lucerne in particular was highly recommended by our friend Leigh who places this little lakefront village on the top of his list of world travel.  As we headed north thru Italy, the Alps began to dominate the horizon.  Originally we were going to spend a few days in the lake Como area, which has similar appeal to that of Lucerne but we wanted to have the Swiss experience as well.  It was a great call.  Switzerland is now the most picturesque country we have experienced to date, passing up New Zealand. 

From Switzerland we headed east to Liechtenstein, a small little country sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria.  Speaking of sandwiches we stopped in for lunch and a few hours of shopping.  It was a neat little country but we decided to keep going and headed east to Innsbruck, Austria.  Innsbruck is famous for the winter Olympics; especially it’s downhill skiing.  Unfortunately the season wasn’t in full swing yet, but the quaint little shops and restaurants managed to keep us quite busy and entertained.  The setting of this town is at the base of the Alps and has this Marry Poppins kind of charm.  At this point we were tempted to keep going east and visit Vienna and then up to Munich for October fest, but I thought that this would add a lot of extra driving and, well you know, driving and October fest are not a good combination.  But seriously we had such a tight schedule that we needed to keep somewhat on track.  We headed back to Liechtenstein for lunch, and continued west to Zermatt, Switzerland, home to the Matterhorn, another target on the Cohen family bucket list.

As we were following the often misguided advice of our Garmin GPS device, She delivered us to the base of the Matterhorn only to be met by the Swiss Army.  Well they were more like Police or Zermatt special enforcement officers.  We were stopped and given the fifth degree about entering a restricted zone with our car.  We apparently drove past a sign, posted in four languages, advising us not to travel by car any further up the mountain.  That little oops cost us one hundred thirty Euros ($200USD) in cash on the spot.  I insisted that we go to the station to pay the fine but these guys were adamant and agitated that the fine is to be paid on the spot.  In America and most other countries we call this a payoff or extortion, but here we just chalked up to experience and headed back down the hill.  In most places the ranger would have looked at the tourist and simply advised the person to turn around and find parking down the hill, no harm no foul.  But not the Swiss.  Now we did get to see the Matterhorn while we were up there but this was a very expensive peek.  We were extremely put off by this corrupt activity, and even though we never saw the sign indicating no further travel up the mountain, it did seem more obvious, once we came back down, that most of the people were walking or taking the train up the mountain.  Yes there were cars up the mountain, and yes there were many hikers but somehow we should have known better.  In any case, we parked and rode the train to the uppermost lookout area for a wonderful view of the Matterhorn and a beautiful panorama of the Swiss Alps.  While up top we saw several glaciers and it even began snowing while we were there.  This majestic view and serine snowfall was almost enough to get our overheated distain for the local law enforcement, a chance to cool down.  We really had a great time up there and might even return someday.  The town of Zermatt was a cool little tourist trap in spite of its’ apparent flaws.  After getting a chance to experience Switzerland and its’ beautiful Alps, one can get a feel for its magic.  The hills are alive…

There was only one place we had not covered in Switzerland yet, and that was Lake Geneva.  Geneva is famous for conventions (well at least one very important one) and the United Nations.  The old part of town is very charming as are the parks and small lakefront B&B’s.  We stayed on the lake just a short stroll from the historic center. Most of our time was spent walking the town and lounging on park benches looking out at all the sailboats, and wind surfers as they tacked the windy waters.  The backdrop for the lake is a beautiful mountain range, and clusters of old estates dotting the distant hillsides.  The historic center, and marina are one as they meet the shore near the westerly edge of the lake.  Geneva has grown into such a large city that some of its charm has been cleared for progress.  However there are still many spots where you can absorb yourself in its timeless beauty, with just a little effort.  Overall, the Swiss experience was somewhere between spectacular and amazing, and this is without even getting to try the skiing, but as always something new is calling, something just a few meters to the west, oui oui… it is France.

As we pulled out of Switzerland and heading northwest towards Dijon, France, the beautiful countryside splashed us with her splendor of rolling grassy hills, mature hardwood trees, and sprinkles of shimmering sunlight, as the golden leaves of autumn fell from the sky.  The majestic stone farm cottages and the occasional grand Chalet broke the splendid code of nature, by adding the element of harmonious human development in a seemingly perfect countryside setting.  As we approached Dijon the balance of stone houses to trees tilted towards that of city, by then we were mesmerized with the medieval heart of the Mustard capital of the world.  Dijon’s Crest proudly displays an Owl as its shielded symbol.  As was so fitting, my mom has a great collection of Owls, and so shopping here was a breeze.  Dijon also has a great trail of Owl symbols leading visitors from one sight to the next on an exciting old city tour.  We visited about half of the buildings on the tour and wandered the shops for the balance of our time.  We all really enjoyed the town, especially experiencing our first French pastries and croissants.  They were so good that we ate to excess and those jelly filled, chocolate drizzled, powered sugared little gems made up the entirety of our lunch feast.  We could have stayed a week in Dijon, as the people were very warm and friendly, far from the snobby image that is so vividly portrayed about the French.  Now this was only our first town and the big city of Paris would be the true test to see if the French live up to their snobbish reputations.

We had another wonderful ride thru the countryside on our way to Paris.  We were filled with anticipation as the Eiffel Tower and the Louver are tops on our list.  We arrived in what felt like the evening, mostly because the skies were full of dark menacing clouds and the streets were dressed in an eerie misty fog.  It was powerfully exciting as we were able to catch a glimpse of the Tower as we headed to our accommodations.  Now, while we are traveling thru Europe we have tried several campsites and Hostels where the average double room exceeds one hundred Euros or one hundred fifty USD.  We always need two rooms minimum, so three hundred USD for a run down shanty is out of the question.  The hostels usually have private rooms for six persons, with ensuite facilities and breakfast included usually to the tune of one hundred twenty to one hundred fifty per night.  Some hostels we have had to share bathrooms and showers (yes private stalls) with other guests on the same floor, not too bad, but sometimes not as clean as we would have hoped.  This is not to say that the hotels are any better.  We have paid as much as three hundred for similar quality hotels at times.  Many hotels and hostels in Europe are in centuries old buildings and come with that unique old building smell.  On the bright side, we belong to Accor Hotels group and Holiday Inn group and get great rates as a travel agent, when they are in the town we are in and when not fully booked.  The accommodations are of small consequence to us as we spend most of our time exploring the towns and cities we are in.

Back to Paris.  We checked in to our hostel, and four of us immediately headed out to grab a metro train into the heart of Paris.  Sara stayed behind and was diligently working on her assignments.  She is taking online classes at BYU and also Prima Vera HS.  She has been very busy now that the heat is on to finish her classes.  She has been pulling mostly A’s in her online studies.  Go Sara!  As we hopped off the metro and came up the tunnel, and around the corner, there she was.  The Eiffel Tower.  It was well lit and totally mesmerizing.  We grabbed some Crepes with chocolate, bananas, and whipped cream and greedily snacked on these culinary delights as we took in the full Paris experience.  We did a little shopping that night before retiring to our hostel.  The following morning we arranged for tickets to the Louver, and paid a visit to the famed Notre Dame Cathedral.  After visiting many of Italy’s Basilicas, Notre Dame was not as powerfully inspiring as I had anticipated but spectacular nonetheless.  The interior is well done and the Gargoyles are most spectacular.  There are over three thousand three hundred carved pieces of art on this building and it is really something to see.  We were at the right time and the right place to catch evensong service at the cathedral.  The musical ensemble dominated by the massive organ, was perfectly balanced among the heavenly French quire voices that reverberated from the masterful groin vaulted ceilings sending me back a thousand years in time.

The following day started early with a visit to the Louver.  This place is loaded with gems from around the world.  From Venus De Milo to Mona Lisa and Michelangelo, renaissance art abounds.  Within its majestic walls, are magnificent displays of ancient Greek and Roman pieces, to Egyptian treasures including the Rosetta stone.  So much to see so little time, we spent four hours admiring the art and the balance of the day was consumed with shopping the streets of Paris.  The following morning was devoted to seeing Versailles.  This Palace and its grounds were magnificent.  It is full of statuary and art works, ceiling frescos and tapestries, period furnishings and stunning chandeliers.  The sculpted gardens and fountains were particularly striking and demanded equal time from us.  I really liked the drive from Paris to Versailles, especially the majestic tree lined village on the approach to the Palace.  This rounded out our time in Paris and began our drive to Luxembourg.  Like the other little L country, Luxembourg was a perfect place for lunch and a stroll.  We did a little shopping and found a quaint little B&B to call home for the night.  There was a misty little rain that made the cobbled streets glisten as reflections from the old brick and stone buildings and their soft lighting, sent inverted images of life’s’ canvas upward, tantalizing my optic sensors.  As I take in the unfocused view of the village lying upon the cobbled streets, I imagine what life in this small village was like in years past.  Sometimes it is in a small village on the way to nowhere, that makes me realize how special the world is and how unique every little nook and cranny can be.

From Luxembourg we drove east into Germany and on into Bonn.  Bonn, Germany is the birthplace of Beethoven.   We decided to visit Bonn for a more modern person, someone who is held in higher esteem to our family.  One of Sara’s good friends from high school, Cameron, moved here from North Scottsdale, as her dad took on a project with his company, that took them to this part of the world.  We spent an evening out, at a wonderful local German restaurant, which boasts of a world famous chef.  The meal was fantastic, as was the local beer, but the company of friends made the evening special.  The following day we visited sights around the city and the girls did the same, yet we only crossed paths once.  We met up in the evening and said our goodbyes as it is off to Cologne.  We made quick work of Cologne, picking up a wonderful Gothic cathedral, and some shopping before retiring to our place for the night.  We enjoyed our quick diversion to Germany, but missed out on its ever-famous castles and the full-blown beer party called October fest.  

From Germany we headed west to Brussels, Belgium.  This quirky little city is full of great architecture, splashed about in haphazard eclectic form.  On the surface, one would think this confused city is nothing more than a rebellious party city for the forgotten youth and endless supplies of tourists.  Underneath its rough skin is a smoother layer of aged culture best experienced in the old Grote Markt. This has all of the old world charm, exuded from many of Europe’s fine cities, yet adds a modern vibe within the businesses that call these fantastic old buildings home.  It was here that we experienced our first real Belgium waffles.   Oh so good, with whipped cream and strawberries, Belgium chocolate and a fine sprinkling of powdered sugar, we found ourselves in heaven.  There are two types of waffles, traditional, as we know it, or the local’s favorite caramel glazed.  We tried both, several times in our travels around Belgium.  One of the other local specialties are chips, or French fries (really potato wedges) smothered in a choice of over 16 different deliciously flavored sauces.  So why do we call them French-fries if they originated in Belgium?  I’ll leave that for you to Google, but one thing is for sure, this simple little treat leaves you craving for more! 

It is off to Bruges to sample one of Europe’s finest medieval towns, Belgium style.  One of the oddest features of this picturesque little town is that many of the true medieval buildings had been destroyed during the second world war, and yet these people chose to rebuild their home “as it was” to it’s original Grandeur.  Well not entirely, but wandering these streets, not knowing it’s history, the place feels as if it were still half a millennium old.  A closer look reveals more modern brick and stone work techniques, but perhaps only slightly noticeable to those in the trade.  Between Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp, Bruges is by far my favorite.  Perhaps it was the people and the atmosphere, or the layout of the town, or the beer and the chocolates, but there is something about this place that renders an outstanding, well-rounded European experience.  We enjoyed our stay in Belgium, walking the streets, meeting the people, sampling the local culinary delights, and spending quality time with each other.

From Antwerp, we headed north into Holland, or is that Netherlands?  Our first point of interest was to see the windmills, and the best place to experience them is in a small town called Kinderdijk.  This is also a great place to get a true sense of Dutch life in the countryside (not to be confused with the Dutch party animals of Amsterdam).  Speaking of confused, why are they called Dutch?  And why is Holland called Netherlands?  Perhaps it is all of the cannabis sativa that is being consumed?  The history is quite intriguing; it’s worth a read, or at least a Google or two.   There is however no confusion on this country’s unique beauty, and what better a way to experience this than by walking its canals and riding old fashion bicycles down country lanes.  But lets face it, everyone comes to see the crazy party life that is uniquely Amsterdam.  Drugs and prostitution, gay marriage and assisted suicide (all legal), and a party atmosphere that thrives in this city of sins.  Like most follies and spectacles, even the moral right stops in to look at life on the wild side.  We found our way to the red light district as well, finding a tamer than expected atmosphere.  Yes there were sex shops and peep shows, and scantily dresses girls shaking their stuff in storefront windows, but for having a world-renowned reputation for fun, one would expect something more.  The biggest attraction is in how the behaviors are treated legally.  I suppose if I were in the market for some fun with a complete stranger, or felt like smoking some grass at a coffee shop, then all of this would make more sense to me.  One of our strangest encounters while in Amsterdam, was when we walked into a store that was selling pot and hash seeds.  The girl in the store was stoned out of her mind, yet was able to hold a conversation about the different products she had on offer.  Tristi and I had never experienced a store clerk clearly impaired during work hours, and wondered if this was the norm for the Netherlands.  Of course it is not, the vast majority of people are normal, and I might add, friendly and fun, but this girl made us question the principal of legalizing drugs, especially how this might play out in America.  I am a big advocate of less Government, but there are times when proper application of law is paramount.

 SORRY GUYS NO PICTURES HERE!

We spent some time in Kinderdijk, checking out windmills and farms, time in Den Haag, a neat little coastal town, and finished up (without a bang) in Amsterdam.  The Netherlands were worth a few days of our attention, and as always we enjoyed the aimless strolls down the cobbled streets, and the feel of old works of architecture filling the city centers, but what was most treasured, was the time we spend together.  I really cherish spending all of this time with Tristi and the kids, we have learned so much about each other, personalities, likes, dislikes, how each responds to different stresses and excitements, how each takes in the different experiences we have had thus far, and what this journey means to each of us.  Each of my children are amazing human beings, with beautiful hearts and well-equipped brains ready to take on the world.

Meet the travelling hero that is Doowon…