One month. I actually cannot believe I have been in Brussels for one month. Insanity. Still it is true and I've got lots of stories and pictures to prove it! Highlights from last week included the weekend travel to Bruges (of course) and celebrating my 21st birthday! Special thanks to Allie for making me a birthday cake and planning a birthday celebration for me! We had appetizers and sweets down at the 105 apartment before heading off to Cafe Belga to celebrate... such a fun and fabulous night! Even the day of work made for a good birthday - it was a quiet week because all of the MEPs and many assistants were in Strasbourg, France (they are there for one week every month), so it was just Stefan and I in the office but the other assistant, Diane called and sang Happy Birthday to me over speaker phone! So between that, the party with furman friends, lots of skype sessions, and bday letters/care package from my family, I felt very loved and very blessed! Plus how can you complain about celebrating your bday in EUROPE?? (even if it did mean not getting carded on my 21st, anti-climactic, maybe? But worth it)!
Celebrating my 21st with Allie.
On to Bruges, oh how I loved it! Such a charming and quant city. Beautiful weather on Friday provided for an extra special experience! We took a canal ride, climbed the belfry to see a sweeping view of the city, walked along the canals, toured the Cathedral of Our Lady, and ate a delicious dinner of mussels (so so many mussels) overlooking the canal!
Day two of Bruges included wandering through early morning markets, touring the Groeninge Museum as well as the Halve Maan (half moon) Brewery, and visiting the Cathedral of the Holy Blood. Sidebar: Viewing cathedrals is definitely my favorite. When we were in Aachen our guide talked about the difference of people viewing relics today and in the past. She explained how people today are so critical and want proof of how the relic could be (for example) an actual part of Jesus' cross, but in the past people simply saw the relics and were reminded of the incredible sacrifice Christ made on the cross. Lord, give me a simple faith!
I want my mom to visit and I want to take her here!
Delish cafe owned by a chocolatier!
Beautiful Canals of Bruges.
Enjoying the world's best beer (literally won the world beer cup in 2009)!
City view from the top of the Belfry.
We love Bruges!
Goodbye to Bruges, but hello to more adventures in Brussels. It may not have the glamour of Paris or the charm of Bruges... but it is home! Finally feel like I have a routine down. I love the independence of walking the city streets whether it be in a hustle to get to class or simply a slow wander browsing through street markets or searching for quiet cafes to study in. Life here is a joy, a struggle, a comedy, and a wonderful thing!
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