A very stressful 48 hours preceded our 6-hour bus ride to Liege, Belgium. Finding out about the train strike in Belgium was only the beginning of our problems. Caroline and I had a
ctually been given tickets for the wrong month. We thought we had lost a chunk of money, but my host dad came to the rescue and worked some magic. Even he was surprised they cooperated with us. We got our money back and bought bus tickets. We had to leave a day later, but we were just thankful it worked out! This was my most stressful experience yet. In the end, God answered out prayers!
We went to Liege, and Caroline's friend Audrey picked us up. Caroline met her when she was an exchange student in Florida during high school. We stayed with her family in the small rural town of Melen. They had an adorable, cozy house, although it's still heated with a wood stove.
On Friday night we went to a fair in Liege. It was like an American county fair. I ate Belgian fries with mayonnaise and a chocolate, coconut covered apple. We tasted hot wine with cinnamon. Audrey's boyfriend Entienne went with us, along with a group of their Belgian friends.
In the morning Audrey's mom drove us to an aunt and uncle's house. The uncle then drove us to Aachen, Germany. Cousin Rachelle stayed with us and showed us around the shops and ornate church. Her German was helpful. We ate pretzels, hot chocolate, gingerbread, and bratwurst (on a circular bun that was too short).
We said au revoir to Rachelle and took a train to Maastricht in The Netherlands. Our first impression was questionable, as we smelled marijuana as we left the train station! They are known for their "coffee shops," where people smoke weed. It's legal there.
We found a map and followed a walking tour of the old Maastricht. It was so enjoyable we only got through half of it. Christmas garland decorated the cobblestone streets lined with old traditional houses turned into classy shops. We wandered along the ancient city wall and into a church devoted to the Virgin Mary.
When the sun set we treated ourselves to "La Bonne Femme." The year 1696 was etched in the building. They gave us a tiny celery soup on the house. Caroline had goulosh, and I had a pea soup with vegetables and sausage. She ate tender duck. I ordered some "wild" meat that we never identified. Our Dutch waiter didn't know the name in English. All I know is that it was the best, succuelent meat in a delicious sauce. My plate came with sauerkraut, potatoes, and a tasty, marinated apple-half. They gave us free fries as well.
We took the train back and tasted some treats with Audrey's family. Everyone woke up early the next morning and bundled up in layers to brave the 3-degree Celsius air. They furnished boots. We got in their truck and took their two horses to a trail. The horse Elsa stepped on Caroline's poor toe. Audrey's dad took us on a carriage ride through the green hills with splashes of autumn trees and into charming, old, Belgian towns. Our destination was a farm, where a group was meeting to baptize their horses for good luck. We left before witnessing this tradition, but we ate a homemade Belgian waffle with coffee. It was the best waffle I've eaten, and it didn't even have anything on it!
Audrey brought us back to her old farm house for a lunch of various cheeses and meats and even squash soup. On the way we had stopped to buy some chocolate too. After lunch we
headed to the train station and took the first one to Brussels.
I was thrilled to be in the city of my birth! I had dreamed of going there since I was little. Unfortuantely we didn't have much time, but we made it to La Grande Place and Le Manneken Pis. Old Brussels' architecture is elaborate. We saw a few churches and the Opera. I ate a Belgian waffle with Chantilly cream and chocolate. Mmm.
And then we were off, on a 4-hour bus ride back home to Paris. I slept for most of it.
French Fact: President Nicolas Sarkozy is largely unpopular among the French. Even the middle schoolers I tutor in English don't like him! My host dad once joked that there would be another revolution. The general consensus is he is "not French" enough.
ctually been given tickets for the wrong month. We thought we had lost a chunk of money, but my host dad came to the rescue and worked some magic. Even he was surprised they cooperated with us. We got our money back and bought bus tickets. We had to leave a day later, but we were just thankful it worked out! This was my most stressful experience yet. In the end, God answered out prayers!We went to Liege, and Caroline's friend Audrey picked us up. Caroline met her when she was an exchange student in Florida during high school. We stayed with her family in the small rural town of Melen. They had an adorable, cozy house, although it's still heated with a wood stove.
On Friday night we went to a fair in Liege. It was like an American county fair. I ate Belgian fries with mayonnaise and a chocolate, coconut covered apple. We tasted hot wine with cinnamon. Audrey's boyfriend Entienne went with us, along with a group of their Belgian friends.
In the morning Audrey's mom drove us to an aunt and uncle's house. The uncle then drove us to Aachen, Germany. Cousin Rachelle stayed with us and showed us around the shops and ornate church. Her German was helpful. We ate pretzels, hot chocolate, gingerbread, and bratwurst (on a circular bun that was too short).
We said au revoir to Rachelle and took a train to Maastricht in The Netherlands. Our first impression was questionable, as we smelled marijuana as we left the train station! They are known for their "coffee shops," where people smoke weed. It's legal there.
We found a map and followed a walking tour of the old Maastricht. It was so enjoyable we only got through half of it. Christmas garland decorated the cobblestone streets lined with old traditional houses turned into classy shops. We wandered along the ancient city wall and into a church devoted to the Virgin Mary.
When the sun set we treated ourselves to "La Bonne Femme." The year 1696 was etched in the building. They gave us a tiny celery soup on the house. Caroline had goulosh, and I had a pea soup with vegetables and sausage. She ate tender duck. I ordered some "wild" meat that we never identified. Our Dutch waiter didn't know the name in English. All I know is that it was the best, succuelent meat in a delicious sauce. My plate came with sauerkraut, potatoes, and a tasty, marinated apple-half. They gave us free fries as well.
We took the train back and tasted some treats with Audrey's family. Everyone woke up early the next morning and bundled up in layers to brave the 3-degree Celsius air. They furnished boots. We got in their truck and took their two horses to a trail. The horse Elsa stepped on Caroline's poor toe. Audrey's dad took us on a carriage ride through the green hills with splashes of autumn trees and into charming, old, Belgian towns. Our destination was a farm, where a group was meeting to baptize their horses for good luck. We left before witnessing this tradition, but we ate a homemade Belgian waffle with coffee. It was the best waffle I've eaten, and it didn't even have anything on it!
Audrey brought us back to her old farm house for a lunch of various cheeses and meats and even squash soup. On the way we had stopped to buy some chocolate too. After lunch we
headed to the train station and took the first one to Brussels.I was thrilled to be in the city of my birth! I had dreamed of going there since I was little. Unfortuantely we didn't have much time, but we made it to La Grande Place and Le Manneken Pis. Old Brussels' architecture is elaborate. We saw a few churches and the Opera. I ate a Belgian waffle with Chantilly cream and chocolate. Mmm.
And then we were off, on a 4-hour bus ride back home to Paris. I slept for most of it.
French Fact: President Nicolas Sarkozy is largely unpopular among the French. Even the middle schoolers I tutor in English don't like him! My host dad once joked that there would be another revolution. The general consensus is he is "not French" enough.
Yep. Jealous. That's me. :)
ReplyDeleteMake that two jealous people. You're making me wish that I was back in college and had free time (and money) to do a study abroad in Europe.
ReplyDeleteI would like to point out that the French President is half-Hungarian. Represent!
ReplyDeleteAlso, there was a little bit of rioting in Paris when I was there in May 2007 at his election. I didn't see any of these riots because they were all at night.