Brussels Photos

Godiva is Belgian



Conrad Hotel Brussels - awesome!



La Grande Place at Night



St. Michael's Cathedral - spectacular! One of the most amazing cathedrals either of us have been to

Almost Home

Took the Metro to the Airport Express train, which looked like the Hogwarts Express. Were able to experience the Brussels Monday morning commute, much like Chicago and other big cities. We are now in the airport in DC, flight from Brussels was good, watched The Hangover again, that movie is so great. Can't wait to get home and pick up Jasper...our friends Christine & Brian have been watching him and he's had a great time playing with their pom Ronny! Then back to work tomorrow and puppy training class on Tuesday night. Great trip, we are starting to think of ideas for a similar one next fall!

Brussels

Today we are in Brussels. Arrived at about 1pm and started sight-seeing right away. Went to the Museum of Fine Art where they have a huge collection of paintings and sculptures. Then walked around a ton of other sites until we made our way to the Grand Place (main square) and all the surrounding little streets of shops and restaurants. This is really a great area and we just walked around a lot, bought some chocolate, then had dinner at a cool little restaurant with traditional Belgian food and then a Belgian waffle. This time we had a waffle with strawberries, bananas, whipped cream and chocolate...it was delicious but really messy to eat while we were walking home! Light rain off and on today but nothing much, only brought out the umbrella tonight on the walk home to our hotel - the Conrad Hilton on Avenue Louise, which is sort of like Michigan Avenue (same stores as South Coast Plaza). Tomorrw we head out after breakfast for a Noon flight home. It's been a great trip!

Languages

Here in Brussels, they speak French. In Bruges, Flemish is the number one language. In Amsterdam, it is Dutch. Everywhere people tend to speak English, so it's pretty easy. I think the Dutch are way more accomodating for us English speakers though! All the signs were in Dutch and English...so that was a plus for Amsterdam! Plus it was pretty amazing in Amsterdam when we spoke to people on the street or at a bar or restaurant because they were very fluent in English, and they spoke it with a British accent!

Bruges Photos

Amsterdam Photos

Canals and Bikes everywhere!

Rikjsmuseum Under Construction

One of Many Houses Built in the 1400's

Flower Market

In Bruges Part 2

Walked around town to a big park area. Really nice walk along the canal with lots of trees, but it started to get dark so we had to cut that short and stick to the streets. Just had some beers at Cafe Craenenburg on Market Square. Great view of the rest of the square, great people watching. Kevin tried a couple new Belgian beers but I stuck with Stella. Then we had a Belgian waffle with whipped cream and it was to die for. Will definitely have more of those tomorrow. Our hotel is a very old house with about 9 rooms. We are on the third floor, so we have to go up this very creaky old spiral staircase. It's very old and "European" but it works for one night! Tomorrow we are off to Brussels...These are pictures of the big Belfry that we climbed. 336 steps to the top and the view was worth it!

In Bruges

Took the train from Amsterdam and then a bus into town. Got off at Market Square, and it literally feels like you were dropped off in another time. There are squares with cafes and tea rooms and all the buildings date to 1600's to 1800's. . We walked around for a few hours and checked out two famous Catholic churches. Ate a big lunch of mussels, shrimp croquettes and French fries (really they are Belgian!) and beer of course. Heading out now for some shopping. Need to get some Belgian waffles and chocolate next!

Amsterdam to Bruges

Today is european style continental breakfast here at the Marriott, then we hop on a train and head to Bruges, Belgium.

Amsterdam Part 2

Day in Amsterdam is coming to an end...really nice day, cool and sunny. It is raining now, but didn't start until after we were already back at our hotel. We got a late start but were able to see the Anne Frank Museum, The Van Gogh Museum and stop for an Amstel Light at a neighborhood bar where you sit outside on these benches looking out at the street/canal. Dinner at a tapas restaurant was great too. We walked a ton so we got to see a lot of the city. The architecture is great. Most of the 4-story houses/apartments along the canals date back to the 1600's and are really cool.

Amsterdam

We made it, flight was awesome. Played Tetris, Bejeweled, and watched I Love You Man and The Hangover. Got to our hotel at about 8 am and were able to checkin. Took a nap but accidentally slept through the alarm, so we are just getting going at about 3pm. Oops! Luckily all the museums are open til 9pm on Fridays, so we are fine. Sitting at a coffee shop now, but it's not the kind where you smoke pot!

Flight

Just took our first flight from LAX to Washington DC. Business Class is superb, best flight of my life I think. I slept almost the whole way and watched a lame movie The Proposal. Kevin worked the whole time of course! Here's a picture of our breakfast:

Tomorrow, we leave for a very quick trip to Europe. Kevin is especially looking forward to checking out the new United business class seats! The itinerary is: Friday in Amsterdam, Saturday in Bruges, Sunday in Brussels, Monday back home!