A Weekend in Brussels

Last week  in the New York Times: 36 Hours in Brussels.

Field Trip

A bit of a mural from Rue des Chandeliers in Brussels

Well, another weekend has come and gone, and I didn't get much of what I wanted to get done done. Actually, that's not true. I did get quite a bit accomplished. I watched the USA England game. I even started drawing again! I just did everything that has nothing to do with this blog.

Sometimes life in Leuven gets in the way... Not to worry though. I am off to Arnhem for an adventure.

Back on Friday to tell all!

Acht, Huit, Otto

I found this number acht in Brussels the other day with Gen and Marianne.

Acht is eight in Dutch.

Huit is eight in French.

Otto is eight in Italian.

These are languages I will definitely hear in the near future. We are planning the first of what I hope are many travels this summer. Tonight, after an exciting evening at the laundry mat, I looked through all of my pictures since September for some Smurf love, (a future post in the works). I realize I have not written about or shared many pics about the places we have traveled. Having seen my life flash before my eyes on iPhoto, I am amazed at my own experience thus far and disappointed that I have not been better about documenting this as I go along.

Sorry about that. I hope I can find a way to remedy this soon.

Living the Dream

All I can say is, WOW!

Six, Zes, Seis

of Juin, Juni, junio.

My out of town guests have left and all is quiet once again in our apartment. It was wonderful to have familiar friendly faces here. Their visit lifted my spirits immensely. 

We had gorgeous weather the last couple of days, but they seemed to have taken the sunshine with them. I hope that sun comes back to Belgium soon... 

The Thirtieth

This photo was taken the other day when I was out and about in Brussels. I have guests in town until next Sunday, so I am taking a little break to be with them and doing some sight seeing of my own.

Strawberry Fields Forever

Eigen teelt, Dutch for home-grown.

I have a guilty pleasure every week,

And every morning.

Well, almost every morning. 

Today, I...

Went for a walk.

The woods in Heverlee, 6 p.m.

Tuesday's Textures and Sea Side Treasures

Knokke, Knokke...

Who's there?

Belgians open their beach sheds when the weather gets nice. From what I observed, they don't particularly care to face the sea. 

My friend Kerrie and I decided to take a day trip since our significant others were nose deep in research, thesis writing, or whatever. We decided to head to the coastal town of Knokke, right on the Belgium/Netherlands border. As it turns out, I had been to this town before, I just didn't recognize it in the sunlight. (Yes, I just wrote the word sunlight!) The weather is also inching back up ever so slightly, but it was still cold enough to wear my warmest piece of clothing - my new owl sweater! HOOT!

The town of Knokke is a posh place full of shops, art galleries, high rise beach apartments. Some say it's the poshest place in Belgium, except they don't put it so nicely. It's a lovely place to stroll or cycle, dip your toes in the North Sea, and people watch.

Tomorrow's Man by Catherine François

More about this sculpture here.

Het Zwin is a nature reserve just north of Knokke and exactly on the Netherlands/Belgium border. The Zwin is a gorgeous place known for its marshes, rising tide, forest and sea lavender which is in bloom in the late summer.

 

We interrupt this post to bring you this special photo from this week's Belgium beer...

Zoeteke - a low alcohol, delicious, cherry beer. Brewed for Zoete Polder a cherry farm near Knokke. We now return to regularly scheduled photos.

We walked to the Netherlands without knowing it, which is very easy to do. In the four hours that we walked the Zwin, the tide had risen along the shore.

A view of the Catherine François' sculpture on the way back.

I'll be back tomorrow with a few more pictures.