Skirt Project

September 10, 2009

Atomium

Besides beer, chocolate, lace, and beautiful buildings, Brussels also boasts a unique structure - the Atomium.

Constructed for the International Exhibition of Brussels in 1958, the Atomium is comprised of spherical and cylindrical elements, steel and glass. A combination of sculpture and architecture, nine spheres are positioned to form a cubic structure. Very interesting stuff.

We didn't have a chance to go in the Atomium; next time...

September 9, 2009

Belgium = Paradise For Your Sweet Tooth

Belgium is known for their waffles and chocolate, but there are other sweets to discover.

The Krieks alone are delicious, refreshing and oh so sweet. I think I'll post more about Kriek in the future, because I love it so.

For now Kriek = is a kind of Belgian beer that is fermented with krieks (cherries). Oh, how I ♥ KRIEK!

This past weekend in Brussels, I was introduced to Le Pain Quotidien. It's a sweet place to grab lunch, coffe, Kriek or dessert. I thought this was just a Belgian restaurant, but apparently it's an international chain.

Hoo-ray! More for everyone.

On the day that we stopped in, there was a special for strawberry Pavlova. I've always wanted to try Pavlova, and someday hope to make it. Pavlova = is a sweet meringue dessert that melts in your mouth. It's very, very good, and named after the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova.

This Pavlova was served parfait style with yogurt and fresh cut strawberries.

Wow!

In Europe, coffee is typically served with some kind of sweet. It could be a cracker, cookie, piece of chocolate, or

Nougat. A confectioner's dream!

And then there is the chocolate...

Shopping at Pierre Marcolini Choclatier was a religious experience.

I have never in my life tasted anything so exquisite, and there are 17 varieties in this box.

I WILL definitely have to write more about this store, it is

A M A Z I N G !

Finally, the best sweet of all:

Darling boy, I could just eat those cheeks!

Living in Leuven

At least for the past few days... Most of these photos are from Monday when all of Leuven celebrates Leuven Kermis, which always happens the weekend of the first Monday of September. It's sort of like Labor Day and Fair Day all rolled into one. It's a big celebration of the town, (every town in Belgium has a day to celebrate: schools shut down, some shops close) a fair is set up with rides, games and greasy foods, shops put discounted items out while they close the streets, and the beer and bad music flows all day. It was a happening!

Apparently the Belgians LOVE their flower carpets...

Here is the Flower Carpet on Maandag (Monday).

Here is the flower carpet Dinsdag (Tuesday).

And just for fun...

From the Leuven website, you can design your own Flower Carpet.

I can't wait to get my markers out!

On these first days we walked, and we found out:

walking sure does makes you thirsty!

And hungry!

And then, tired. Time for a cappucino!

But wait! All of that warm milk makes me sleepy again...

So, I've switched to regular coffee, which comes with the crema that I like so much.

Mr. Wonderful still drinks his espresso.

But I still miss this place.

After a fair amount of walking and viewing some disappointing places, I asked the real estate agent where we could stop and get a drink. She dropped us off at Onder Den Toren,

A great place to catch your breath and decompress with a Kriek.

Thank goodness, as a MAJOR hissy fit was avoided!

It was a good thing.

We are settling in just fine, yesterday we rented bikes.

All I can say is it's the end of the pink bike era... for now, but more on that later.

And we have a safe place to park them too... Hooray!

Welcome home!

Voilà!

September 8, 2009

Boots in Brussels Cont.

This post is about my experience with Brussels' night life.

I've already mentioned the food in a previous post, but our meal last Saturday night was magnifique! We had moule frite, which was prepared by our hosts.

Here are the moules:

And here are the frites:

Which came from Brussels' best friterie,

Maison Antoine:

Yummmm!

I can't wait to make moule frite at home. When we get one...

A shot of The Town Hall, the main attraction in the Grand' Place, at night.

When in Brussels, do as the Belgians do...

Go to another bar, of course!

If you click here, you may recognize the pink elephant from the label...

Delirium Cafe

(In Belgium, cafe = bar)

After a few beers, things start to get a little shaky...

A night shot of the opera house in Belgium, La Monnaie. In front is a rather large copper covered, papier-mâché sculpture called Three Legged Buddah, erected to celebrate the 2009-2010 season.

I hope to see an opera there this season, or at least take a guided tour... I hear it's one of the best in all of Europe.

Around the corner from La Monnaie, is my friend's pub Churchill's,

"probably the most famous English pub in Brussels."

Another Belgian beer: Kossaat.

From Belgium with love,

Bonne nuit!

September 7, 2009

Boots in Brussels

What a beautiful weekend we've had here in Belgium, and we spent ours in Brussels.
We both walked all over the city in our boots. My feet are paying for it today, but it was totally worth it. I took way too many pictures, so I plan to post our adventures in three parts, maybe four.

In Brussels, we were without a map and a guide book, but instead we had our great host(s) show us the way. Forgive me if I do not have all of the names of the places we visited, but as they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words," and we will be back.

Somewhere in the commune where we stayed: