Brussels - Not the Sprouts

Nov 10, 2006 18:35

So... I'm way behind on my friends page and all the postings. I'll try to catch up next Thursday or Friday, maybe. Right now, I'm in Brussels (Bruxelles), Belgium. First stamp on my passport. Here for work, but I'm already in love with the city. Hee. The food that I've had so far is excellent, even when the service comes down to forgetting about our table for 45 minutes or so (not bringing any more beers, asking if we want desserts, or bringing the check -- any of these would have been acceptable). However, this sort of thing isn't marring the experience.

I've had some nice food and some good beer. Mmmm. Leffe Brune is the one that I've preferred so far. I tried a Leffe Triple, but didn't really find it as appealing. I'm just always going to be more fond of dark beers, I suppose. I've liked the few bits of food that I've had here and there. Creme Brulee, here, is absolutely to die for, for instance. I had venison Wednesday night, scallops last night, catfish at lunch (in a cafeteria no less), and beef tonight, and they were all wonderful. I've been attempting to make sure that while there are things in the item that I know I will like, I try to get them in ways that I haven't had before. I want to explore a bit and not be the American tourist that eats McDonald's in a foreign country.

To that end, I've also felt the little bit of education that I had in French and German, years ago, being of use. I've been slowly picking up things in the other languages, while trying to be polite about being in their country. I can't speak everything in French, but I can at least say "Bon jour" and "Merci" for instance. If needed, I can go, "Pardon. Parlez-vous Anglais, sil vous plait?" and at least get it across that I'm a silly American git that is at least attempting to learn enough phrases to ask for those that can speak English for me. Hee!

I'm not sure what I'm going to do tomorrow. I suppose I might look around locally, even though most things will be closed for Armistice Day, but who knows. I'm sure I'll find something. My coworkers have discussed maybe taking trains elsewhere, but ... I dunno. I may go further outside the city or just explore here. I'm not sure, but I do know one thing -- My architecture books really did not do these buildings justice. The older buildings are just sooooo gorgeous and awe-inspiring. Even the newer architecture has a lovely art to it that I just adore; nothing so far matches that soul-sucking experience of looking at American suburbs. (Hopefully, I can't find it, either!)

food, status, travel, europe

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