Belgium!!

Last weekend I went to Belgium-- specifically to Antwerp and Brussels. Belgium is famous for chocolate, fries, beer, mussels and waffles (French fries actually originated in Belgium).I tried all of the above (except for the mussels) and have to say that there is definitely a reason why Belgium is famous for making them!

On Friday we (Olga, Kristina, Anitha and me) left very early in the morning to take a train to Antwerp, where we would meet Ryan. Unfortunately, we got on the wrong train during part of the journey, but fortunately, our fine was reduced from the original 60 euros to 18 euros because the ticket man felt bad for us. We arrived in Antwerp with beautiful weather and spent the rest of the day walking around the city, eating fries and drinking beer. The city seemed kind of small, but very beautiful.

*Beautiful architecture!*


*Anitha, Ryan, me and Olga with the cathedral of Antwerp behind us*

*in the grote markt*

*the castle in Antwerp*


*detail of the city hall*


*in the city park*


*a real belgian waffle!*

Friday night we met Liesbeth, who most of us had met in Milan, and went back to her house for a traditional Belgian meal, which was stampot (I think...) a beef in thick gravy sort of dish, salad and french fries. We stayed up late talking with Liesbeth and her father. It was strange to see Liesbeth outside of Milan at first, but after a little while it was great to see a familiar face and catch up with everyone.

*Liesbeth's house*

*Anitha and me on our bed-- I was given the American blanket*

Saturday we woke up and took the train to Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Brussels is bilingual in French and Dutch, with French being a bit more common, so I was even more tongue tied than usual. I did say the very very few French phrases I know, but luckily everyone speaks excellent English. Belgium is also the headquarters of the EU, so it has a very international feel.

We spent the day walking through the city, but it definitely wasn't enough time to see it all. That night Liesbeth's parents cooked a traditional Dutch dinner for us (soup, chicken, potatoes, and leeks in a hollandaise sauce), which was delicious. It was nice to be in a family home, complete with a dog, instead of a hostel. Her family were wonderful hosts, cooking dinner, setting out breakfast, giving us comfortable beds to sleep in, and even giving each of us a key chain from Brussels.

*beautiful buildings in the grote markt of brussels, which is rumored to be the most beautiful main square in Europe. Unfortunately, they were filming something in the middle, so most of our views were blocked*

*detail on one of the buildings in the grote markt*

*mannekin piss, the famous fountain of a little boy peeing. they dress him up every few weeks. i heard he has a "sister" statue, of a little girl peeing but we didn't have time to see it.*

*mmm chocolates..... there were fancy homemade chocolate stores every block. they should rename belgium heaven.

*delicious Easter eggs*

*de beurs, the stock exchange of belgium*


*a beautiful square*


*The Atomuim, a replica of the atom of iron. You can go to the top and view the city from a distance.*


*the atomium*


*queen's palace*


*one of the cathedrals*

Then Sunday, we traveled back to the Netherlands, said goodbye to blue skies and hello to rain. We stopped in Rotterdam on our way back to Groningen for a few hours, but it wasn't my favorite city. It was very modern and rainy.... but the harbor was nice so I'm glad I went.

*easter decorations*


*City hall of Rotterdam*

*at the harbor*

*the rainy harbor*

*Anitha by one of the famous bridges*