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The past 3 ½ months living in Brussels have flown by. We are almost completely settled into our place. A few unexpected problems along the way delayed the process. When we arrived in winter, some of our heaters did not work. Once the repairman finally fixed them, the weather warmed, and we couldn’t turn the heaters off. Talk about a "heat wave"! Leaks have produced numerous headaches. Since it rains here 15 days a month on average, a roof and window leak are not ideal problems to have. Our biggest leak was the result of our washing machine installation, and sadly, Ken’s bathroom received quite a bit of water damage as a result of that. The first time I tried to use our dishwasher, I discovered that it didn’t work. Rather than fixing it, our landlady just bought a new one…I can’t complain about that. She also had a new terrace fence put up and a new staircase leading from our sunroom up to the terrace. To top all of this off, some of our furniture was damaged during our move. The last of the workmen should finish sometime next week…at least that is what I hope. In the mean time, I have to remind myself not to kill all of these guys.
We absolutely love our neighborhood and our tree lined street. Our apartment is just off a charming square with a church, cafes and shops. One of the cafes is called Le Balmoral Milk Bar. Walking in the door takes you back to America about 50 years ago with its jukebox, barstools, and 1950’s memorabilia. They serve hamburgers, french fries, tex-mex, and of course, milkshakes. Although the food isn't as good as a true American diner, the atmosphere is well worth the visit. Just walking past it puts a smile on my face as it reminds me of home. After living in Lausanne with all of its "buns of steel" hills, walking around Brussels seems a breeze. Our gym, grocery store, Ken’s office, and the French school where I will eventually take classes are all within 15 minutes walk. The only time we drive is for trips and “outings”, church, or when Ken has to travel for work.
Because we live in such a central location, we try to travel around the area as much as we can. Castles, churches, and colorful landscapes fill the countryside throughout Belgium and the surrounding countries. Since we can reach The Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and Germany all within 2 hours or less, we won’t have trouble keeping ourselves busy during our freetime. My favorite trips so far include a visit to see The Netherland tulips blooming in April and a weekend of castles, WWII history, & visiting friends in Luxembourg. Our year in Switzerland last year provided us with friends from around the world who have also lived all over the world. When it came time to visit The Netherlands, I got the scoop of what to see, eat and enjoy from friends who lived there for several years. They informed us that we had to try poffertjes, a treat that we instantly loved. Similar to tiny pancakes, they are light, fluffy, and served with lots of butter and powdered sugar…YUM! We also learned the best time to go in order to see the tulips at their finest. Our trip to Luxembourg allowed us to catch up with friends who live and travel between Athens and Luxembourg City. They were amazing tour guides and helped to make our trip truly memorable. While we were there, we visited a WWII U.S. military cemetery on Memorial Day. It was exceptionally moving and reminded me why I am proud to be an American.
We absolutely love our neighborhood and our tree lined street. Our apartment is just off a charming square with a church, cafes and shops. One of the cafes is called Le Balmoral Milk Bar. Walking in the door takes you back to America about 50 years ago with its jukebox, barstools, and 1950’s memorabilia. They serve hamburgers, french fries, tex-mex, and of course, milkshakes. Although the food isn't as good as a true American diner, the atmosphere is well worth the visit. Just walking past it puts a smile on my face as it reminds me of home. After living in Lausanne with all of its "buns of steel" hills, walking around Brussels seems a breeze. Our gym, grocery store, Ken’s office, and the French school where I will eventually take classes are all within 15 minutes walk. The only time we drive is for trips and “outings”, church, or when Ken has to travel for work.
Because we live in such a central location, we try to travel around the area as much as we can. Castles, churches, and colorful landscapes fill the countryside throughout Belgium and the surrounding countries. Since we can reach The Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and Germany all within 2 hours or less, we won’t have trouble keeping ourselves busy during our freetime. My favorite trips so far include a visit to see The Netherland tulips blooming in April and a weekend of castles, WWII history, & visiting friends in Luxembourg. Our year in Switzerland last year provided us with friends from around the world who have also lived all over the world. When it came time to visit The Netherlands, I got the scoop of what to see, eat and enjoy from friends who lived there for several years. They informed us that we had to try poffertjes, a treat that we instantly loved. Similar to tiny pancakes, they are light, fluffy, and served with lots of butter and powdered sugar…YUM! We also learned the best time to go in order to see the tulips at their finest. Our trip to Luxembourg allowed us to catch up with friends who live and travel between Athens and Luxembourg City. They were amazing tour guides and helped to make our trip truly memorable. While we were there, we visited a WWII U.S. military cemetery on Memorial Day. It was exceptionally moving and reminded me why I am proud to be an American.