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.
Where's the French Fact?
ReplyDeleteOh, I know...you're too busy eating real waffles and truffles and mussels to be bothered with facts :)
(I'm still jealous!)
I heart Brussels.
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