Belgium

[cosmolinguist]

So yesterday we went to Brussels.

I was kind of weirded out by having my passport scanned a couple of times by people who hardly looked up at me, even though my ability to do this as an EU citizen was part if why we tacked this extra bit onto our London trip. I'm the same person but I'm treated so differently now; it can't help but remind me how arbitrary borders and citizenship are.

Richard was pleased it was a kind if Eurostar he hadn't been on before, while it was just by miles the nicest train I've been on (it's the only non-British one).

The weather in Brussels has been lovely, almost too nice for the clothes I brought with me, so we got to drink beer outside and eat dinner outside like proper Europeans.

We found an Italian restaurant and when I had to know the street name to tell Adam so he and Lisa-Maria could join us, I was delighted to learn it was Kaasmarkt, cheese market street, since I was eating gnocchi aux 4 fromage. It really was a lot of cheese, I love cheese but by the end of the meal I had the rare experience of thinking I had actually eaten enough cheese.

An old man played the accordion at the tables of diners outside while we were eating, and I thought "ha, he sounds like Jacques Brel" before I remembered where I was. Indeed, I saw "Editions Jacques Brel" (a little museum) on the map when I was looking for the way back to our hotel last night.

Oh and we saw a dog wearing sunglasses drinking out of a fountain behind our table.


I am bemoaning my lack of French but the Flemish on signs makes things easier because even the pitiful amount of German I know makes that decipherable. People talk to you in French, though, of course, although it amuses me that their English is more American than British sometimes: I've heard "check" instead of "bill" and "track" instead of "platform."

Today: more mooching around, I want some waffles and frites, Eurostar back this afternoon, train home from London this evening.

Comments

[norfolkian]

Oooh, how lovely! We went to Brussels in January and I fell in love with the place. And, yes, Eurostar trains are wonderful. :D

If you're having a waffle today our Belgian tour guide told us to get one from a waffle van (yellow vans you see parked up places) as they cook them freshly to order or at least they're constantly cooking new ones, whereas ones from shops are often reheated. And apparently the best way to eat them is plain with no toppings, because they are that good on their own. :)

And I recommend Aux Pavés de Bruxelles on Kaasmarkt for amazing steak and frites. :)

You've inspired me to finish writing up my notes for my blog about my weekend in Brussels - maybe I'll do that this weekend.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!

[cosmolinguist]

Thanks for the tips! I'm so glad to be home but I miss Brussels already.

[jesse_the_k]

That dog!

[cosmolinguist]

I know! We saw ton of Good Dogs, lots of people outside in the nice weather with them, but this was definitely the best.

[momentsmusicaux]

> I had the rare experience of thinking I had actually eaten enough cheese.

I refuse to believe that feeling exists.

[cosmolinguist]

I would normally say the same! This was a very unusual feeling.

[po8crg]

It was a great trip, wasn't it?

Also, just to update your memory:

You have been on a non-Eurostar non-British train. The IC3 we went on from Midi to Centraal.

Admittedly, only for about two minutes in total, but you have been on one.

[cosmolinguist]

I sorta meant "at the time I'd taken the Eurostar" but this wasn't clear from what I wrote so that's fair. And remember me saying I was amazed at how quiet that train was? So even two minutes on it was enough to be impressed. ;)

[po8crg]

It was lovely. I think it's the same (type of) train as the one that goes in the ferry between Denmark and Germany.

[skibbley]

Yay travels and cool dog pic

[miss_s_b]

"I had the rare experience of thinking I had actually eaten enough cheese."

I don;t think I have ever had this experience. I think I would like to try.

[cosmolinguist]

The waiter left me this much parmesan that I could put over the top of the already-four-cheese dish. There was still some left when I was finished, but rather less... :D

[miss_s_b]

I think I might need to go and get myself a little snackette...