Brussels trip update
So I have been in Brussels for almost a full week.
I started out on Saturday, 4/24 and landed on Sunday, 4/25. It was morning when I landed, so I went out with coworkers who I traveled with to make sure I adjusted to the time change.
We went to the Grand Place, which is a couple of mile walk from the hotel I am staying in. After wandering around a bit, we stopped and everyone had something to drink. I opted out of having a beer and learned that water is not free here. Also, I have to remember to orders still water, otherwise it will come sparkling. After sitting in the sun too long, I started to get sunburned and thankfully, we moved on. After some more wandering, my coworkers wanted to stop for another beer. Again, I opted out. After that, we returned to the hotel for a while. I decided not to lay down or I would have been out. I got online and tried to stay awake. Once I started dozing, I went out for another walk.
When I got back to the hotel, I had dinner in the lobby. It was actually kind of comical. I ordered my food and water (thankfully, they offered me an English menu). After I was done eating, I sat and waited for the bill. The waiter was off to the side talking to someone. They kept glancing at me. I kept waiting and started to doze off...several times. After about 5 to 10 minutes of sitting, I asked about the bill and was able to charge my room. I then proceeded to get some serious rest since I had to get to work in the morning.
I learned from a coworker, the custom is to ask for bill, otherwise, they won't bring it. I also learned tipping is not expected here. It is already part of the price as are taxes.
Monday to Friday was a long grind in the office. Lots of conference rooms, lots of meetings, and lots of confusion on where we are supposed to be.
Meals have been a bit hard to manage. It is hard if the people serving don't speak English and I don't speak their language either. Also, finding vegetarian friendly restaurants or meals can be an interesting challenge. Thankfully, I went back to eating poultry, so I have that option, but trying to avoid red meat, lamb and pork can be a lot of work when I don't remember what the word is. I think lardon may be bacon, but even now, I am not sure I have it straight. Poulet is chicken and poisson is fish. I think Pates is pasta. Pasta dishes have been a good thing for me this week.
The beer has been pretty good. I am more fond of what we make in Oregon, but it is just my bias and what I am used to. I really do like the Abbey style. So far I have tried the following.
Watou Kapitel Prior
Rodenbach
Piraat
Leffe Blonde
Orval
Kwak
Westmalle Trippel
Leffe 9
Delirium Tremens
I really like the Leffe so far. The Orval was good, but probably be one that I would not get again. Not quite what I was looking for, but still good.
Today, I walked back to the Grand Place on my own. I took my time and took a bunch of pictures. Around that area I found some fun shops. I had a good sandwich and followed it up with a Liege waffle. Sadly, the waffled seemed under done, but I still ate it. So far, nothing has beat Off the Waffle for me. I will keep trying though. :)
I had the Delirium Tremens today after finding their cafe. The streets are all over here, so finding my way is interesting, especially if I don't know where I am going. I haven't got lost yet, and my sense of direction is still keeping me on the right track, but my orientation of north, south, east and west is not helped by the street layouts at all. Sadly, it did not help me find Manneken Pis. Even after asking another tourist, who tried to direct me, I still could not find it.
This girl cracked me up as I had just overheard her complain about racism that she had experienced in Amsterdam, and then she proceeded to tell me to go back where I had come from and go down gay street. I thought, hmmm, what does she mean, then I saw all the flags strung from building to building. I thought it a great site. I even took a photo of a mural on the side of a building of two men walking and holding hands. I think the irony was lost on this girl that she didn't want to have some stranger yelling at her and calling her Chinese (I don't know if she was, I just know she was Asian American), but she didn't bat an eye at calling it gay street.
After much wandering, my feet were down and I ambled back to the hotel. And here I am, relaxing with my laptop.
I miss my wife and kitties and I can't wait to be home.
I started out on Saturday, 4/24 and landed on Sunday, 4/25. It was morning when I landed, so I went out with coworkers who I traveled with to make sure I adjusted to the time change.
We went to the Grand Place, which is a couple of mile walk from the hotel I am staying in. After wandering around a bit, we stopped and everyone had something to drink. I opted out of having a beer and learned that water is not free here. Also, I have to remember to orders still water, otherwise it will come sparkling. After sitting in the sun too long, I started to get sunburned and thankfully, we moved on. After some more wandering, my coworkers wanted to stop for another beer. Again, I opted out. After that, we returned to the hotel for a while. I decided not to lay down or I would have been out. I got online and tried to stay awake. Once I started dozing, I went out for another walk.
When I got back to the hotel, I had dinner in the lobby. It was actually kind of comical. I ordered my food and water (thankfully, they offered me an English menu). After I was done eating, I sat and waited for the bill. The waiter was off to the side talking to someone. They kept glancing at me. I kept waiting and started to doze off...several times. After about 5 to 10 minutes of sitting, I asked about the bill and was able to charge my room. I then proceeded to get some serious rest since I had to get to work in the morning.
I learned from a coworker, the custom is to ask for bill, otherwise, they won't bring it. I also learned tipping is not expected here. It is already part of the price as are taxes.
Monday to Friday was a long grind in the office. Lots of conference rooms, lots of meetings, and lots of confusion on where we are supposed to be.
Meals have been a bit hard to manage. It is hard if the people serving don't speak English and I don't speak their language either. Also, finding vegetarian friendly restaurants or meals can be an interesting challenge. Thankfully, I went back to eating poultry, so I have that option, but trying to avoid red meat, lamb and pork can be a lot of work when I don't remember what the word is. I think lardon may be bacon, but even now, I am not sure I have it straight. Poulet is chicken and poisson is fish. I think Pates is pasta. Pasta dishes have been a good thing for me this week.
The beer has been pretty good. I am more fond of what we make in Oregon, but it is just my bias and what I am used to. I really do like the Abbey style. So far I have tried the following.
Watou Kapitel Prior
Rodenbach
Piraat
Leffe Blonde
Orval
Kwak
Westmalle Trippel
Leffe 9
Delirium Tremens
I really like the Leffe so far. The Orval was good, but probably be one that I would not get again. Not quite what I was looking for, but still good.
Today, I walked back to the Grand Place on my own. I took my time and took a bunch of pictures. Around that area I found some fun shops. I had a good sandwich and followed it up with a Liege waffle. Sadly, the waffled seemed under done, but I still ate it. So far, nothing has beat Off the Waffle for me. I will keep trying though. :)
I had the Delirium Tremens today after finding their cafe. The streets are all over here, so finding my way is interesting, especially if I don't know where I am going. I haven't got lost yet, and my sense of direction is still keeping me on the right track, but my orientation of north, south, east and west is not helped by the street layouts at all. Sadly, it did not help me find Manneken Pis. Even after asking another tourist, who tried to direct me, I still could not find it.
This girl cracked me up as I had just overheard her complain about racism that she had experienced in Amsterdam, and then she proceeded to tell me to go back where I had come from and go down gay street. I thought, hmmm, what does she mean, then I saw all the flags strung from building to building. I thought it a great site. I even took a photo of a mural on the side of a building of two men walking and holding hands. I think the irony was lost on this girl that she didn't want to have some stranger yelling at her and calling her Chinese (I don't know if she was, I just know she was Asian American), but she didn't bat an eye at calling it gay street.
After much wandering, my feet were down and I ambled back to the hotel. And here I am, relaxing with my laptop.
I miss my wife and kitties and I can't wait to be home.