I walked over to a gym that is very close to us. It’s located on the second floor in the Stockel Square Shopping Center. I was given a tour to see all the facilities. The gym was not very busy. It had an Italian man (guessing 70’s, who was in slacks and a jacket) flirting with a woman (guessing 70’s in gym clothes), one man walking on a treadmill and a yoga class that had about six people in it. In the sauna and Jacuzzi room, I was told, “room for both men and women. Bathing suits or no bathing suites, it’s ok.” The gym was very nice and offered many fitness classes. It’s 80 euro for the application fee and then 84 euro monthly. If two people join the application fee is waived. There is no contract and no fees to cancel. If away for a week or two and notify gym they will take those days off your next month’s bill. I think that’s how it was explained.
I waited 20 minutes in line at a Carrefour Planet (Carrefour is grocery store and more) to pay for 4 items. Why did I wait for 20 minutes? Because I walked to the store and was determined to get what I came for. Well, I’m glad I waited. The store had a special going on, if you spend 100 euro, you get a free bottle of wine. Now, that’s my kind of store. I’m sure there was a sign in French and Dutch about a free bottle of wine, but it was a nice surprise for me.
Begging. A younger guy with braces, nice jeans, nice shoes, was begging on the streets. A woman on the metro clean clothes, hair done, was begging. People cleaning car windows, in nice clothes, begging. People who are younger (teenagers) and older stop to give those who are begging money or food. I don’t’ understand how someone can have braces and nice clothes needs to beg. I saw a woman having a long conversation with this younger guy who was begging. I wonder if she was telling him to get a job, or go to school. Not sure. I should learn French.
I tried foie gras and it was delicious! Foie gras is made from liver of a goose or duck. I had it at the Christmas market in Stockel. It was listed on the menu as Foie Gras poele, pain d’epices, pommes caramelisees. This translates to, stove foie gras bread spices, caramelized apples. The way it was prepared made it taste like French toast. It melted in my mouth and was so rich with sweet flavor. I’m looking forward to trying foie gras again.
The other night Adam and I went to the Christmas parade in Brussels. The floats were really beautiful. Would I go again? Nope. That was a check in the box. Being freezing and then trying to puzzle your way through thousands of people, not worth it. We also found out afterwards that a lot of the metro stops had already shut down for next day’s strike. So we had to walk more than we wanted to find a metro that was open.
Strikes, strikes and more strikes. In two weeks there has already been three strikes. These strikes have completely shut down airlines, railways, buses, pretty much all public transportation. A lot of business shut down during the days of the strikes too. Today the police are going on strike. The strike has already effected people at the airport. I read thousands of people were stuck at the border control and all the luggage in baggage claim was completely backed up. The police are going on strike over pension reform.
I added some photos below. Some I discussed in my Interesting Happenings post and others I just wanted to share. The video is of a street performer in Antwerp. The other video is a carousel at Brussels Christmas Market. I talked about in a previous post. Enjoy!
I waited 20 minutes in line at a Carrefour Planet (Carrefour is grocery store and more) to pay for 4 items. Why did I wait for 20 minutes? Because I walked to the store and was determined to get what I came for. Well, I’m glad I waited. The store had a special going on, if you spend 100 euro, you get a free bottle of wine. Now, that’s my kind of store. I’m sure there was a sign in French and Dutch about a free bottle of wine, but it was a nice surprise for me.
Begging. A younger guy with braces, nice jeans, nice shoes, was begging on the streets. A woman on the metro clean clothes, hair done, was begging. People cleaning car windows, in nice clothes, begging. People who are younger (teenagers) and older stop to give those who are begging money or food. I don’t’ understand how someone can have braces and nice clothes needs to beg. I saw a woman having a long conversation with this younger guy who was begging. I wonder if she was telling him to get a job, or go to school. Not sure. I should learn French.
I tried foie gras and it was delicious! Foie gras is made from liver of a goose or duck. I had it at the Christmas market in Stockel. It was listed on the menu as Foie Gras poele, pain d’epices, pommes caramelisees. This translates to, stove foie gras bread spices, caramelized apples. The way it was prepared made it taste like French toast. It melted in my mouth and was so rich with sweet flavor. I’m looking forward to trying foie gras again.
The other night Adam and I went to the Christmas parade in Brussels. The floats were really beautiful. Would I go again? Nope. That was a check in the box. Being freezing and then trying to puzzle your way through thousands of people, not worth it. We also found out afterwards that a lot of the metro stops had already shut down for next day’s strike. So we had to walk more than we wanted to find a metro that was open.
Strikes, strikes and more strikes. In two weeks there has already been three strikes. These strikes have completely shut down airlines, railways, buses, pretty much all public transportation. A lot of business shut down during the days of the strikes too. Today the police are going on strike. The strike has already effected people at the airport. I read thousands of people were stuck at the border control and all the luggage in baggage claim was completely backed up. The police are going on strike over pension reform.
I added some photos below. Some I discussed in my Interesting Happenings post and others I just wanted to share. The video is of a street performer in Antwerp. The other video is a carousel at Brussels Christmas Market. I talked about in a previous post. Enjoy!
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