Brussels and Bruges

Here are a couple of highlights from my program's trip to Brussels and Bruges, Belgium.

• We heard speakers at NATO.




• We meant with EU lobbyists from the company Diageo, one of the largest alcohol companies. They told us about their job.




• We went to La Grande Place, saw the Manneken Pis, and found a girl version of the statue!




• I ate a delicious dinner of mussels.




• We went to the European Commission and the European Parliament and heard multiple speakers on the EU.




• We had a roudtable discussion with representatives from Coca-Cola Europe, the President of the Parliament, and the European-American Business Council in an EU Parliament cafeteria.




• On Thursday, while we were in Brussels, Belgian Prime Minister Mr. Van Rompuy was elected the President of the European Council. He is little known, but this is actually a plus. The EU wanted a person with few enemies or interests to fill the position.




• Pieces of the Berlin Wall were on display near the EU.




• We took a boat tour through Bruges, "the little Venice of the north."




• A Christmas market in Bruges had just been set up in the town square. I bought a bratwurst and watched people ice skate.




• I ate more Belgian waffles and learned to seek out places that plop the dough on the the waffle-maker and hand it to you hot. Don't give me a reheated one that tastes like Eggo.




• One chocolate shop was hand making truffles. Of course we couldn't resist and bought one to taste. That was a minute of bliss.