To Brussels and Beyond!

I would like to start by saying WOOO HOOOOO! I am so proud that Barack Obama is our president! I always had faith in him, but I was scared that the general population didn't- so glad I was wrong! This is definitely my top reason for wanting to come home; I want to celebrate our great decision with all y'all Americans back in the US! I was in Brussels on election night and everyone was so in to it. One bar we went to was having an "American Party" for the election and gave us free cheeseburgers when they heard w were from the US- too cute!

Anyway, I realized I forgot to tell a really important story the other day. When we were coming home from Delft, all stuffed with Mexican food and margaritas, something HORRIBLE happened. I get on the train with the fam, and as I'm going through the little door to the second level, this old lady starts to come out. I back up and smoosh against the wall so she can come through and after she does the door swings back and WHAM!!! Totally hits me in the head!! I felt like I was back in Milan!! I swear I have a target tattooed on my forehead!

It hurt so bad I instantly got tears in my eyes, and I yelled out "JESUS!!!" and everyone was staring and the old lady felt so bad but didn't speak English and had to run off of the train anyway and I just took a minute to calm myself down and MAN, why have I gotten bitch slapped in the head 3 times in as many weeks? Seriously...?

But yeah, I am over it. I just thought it was funny that I got hit AGAIN! In other news I made my way to Belgium a couple days ago to visit Alex, a friend from college. I LOVED IT! I feel so stupid for not putting Belgium at the top of my list of places to see! It's obvious that I would love it. I mean, they make the world's best beer, chocolate, crisp warm waffles, mussels, and they invented french fries! YUM!

I went to Leuven, where Alex is living, and he showed me around a bit. We wanted to go to this fairy tale bridge in the woods that is through a pretty little gate. As we were walking back, and we were almost to the bridge, we hear "clink clink clink!!" and we realize- we were being locked in! AHHH! We ran and yelled and, no joke, we barely made it out! So funny...

The next day I ventured out alone and enjoyed Brussels. As I was in Belgium, I decided that another brewery tour was in order! The coolest one I found was Cantillon Brewery, where they make lambic using the traditional method. I.E. they do not add yeast to the beer, they simply rely on the natural yeast in the Belgian ari to spontaneously ferment it. This is not cost effective, reliable, or easy, but it is SO cool! They are the only brewery still using this traditional system in Belgium and I had to see it! Make sure you check out the pics from there- all of their equipment is 100+ years old! I tried their geuze, which is a blend of 1, 2, and 3 year old lambics. I also tried their kriek lambic, which is made with fresh cherries. Both were tart and flavorful and SO different than the fake-o lambics I've tried. I was shocked and I even felt stupid for THINKING I knew lambic!

After the tour I wandered. I giggled as I did it. For whatever reason, I was VERY excited by Brussels! I bought hand made chocolate from a charming old lady in her shop and ate it as I walked. I stopped for a paper cone of real Belgian frites and a fab beer. I found the Grand Plaza with its shiny gold facades and strings of Christmas lights.

Later, Alex and I went to the Delirium Cafe and drank amazing beer. The place has over 2000 to choose from! After the "American Party" I mentioned earlier we went to Leuven and partied with the locals. We made new friends and danced and went home EXHAUSTED! It was crazy- I pretty much drank beer ALL day, but when in Rome... Or Belgium...

I got up the next morning and made sure Obama really did win, and when I saw that he did I was able to get out of bed! A NEW DAY!!! I celebrated with a Belgian waffle on my way to the train. SO dee-lish! On the way back to Leiden (where my sister lives) I stopped in Antwerp, Belgium. The day was gray, but the city was beautiful. It seemed ritzy. I grabbed an over-priced, gross sandwich and headed back to Holland to celebrate the victory with the fam before heading on to London. FABULOUS! Now I'm on a train to city center! I'll tell you all about it later!

-H*

Pics from Brussels: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2148922&l=84508&id=22001348
Pics from Leuven: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2148931&l=4717f&id=22001348