We also checked out various schools and took care of other necessary business related to our upcoming move. The International Schools in Belgium are excellent and we feel the girls will benefit greatly from this international experience.
It was a great time to visit Belgium for the first time (for me) during the Christmas holiday season. The Christmas markets and Christmas decorations really enhanced the beauty and splendor of Belgium. We were lucky that we did not experience any rain during this week and contrary to what I've been hearing, there indeed is a sun in Belgium. The weather is very different from sunny Southern California -- the seasons actually change, so that will be a big adjustment for all of us. We were told by the locals that the weather we experienced was about the coldest it will ever get, so I can handle that. And what better excuse to get a new wardrobe, right?!
During our free evenings, we walked and explored downtown Brussels. The Grand Place, which is the "heart" of downtown Brussels, was truly spectacular with its Christmas lighting display of the town hall which danced to the music of French Opera pulsing through the square. We also enjoyed the Christmas Market where we rode a large ferris wheel giving us a beautiful view of the city at night. In addition, we visited the city of Bruges (1 hour drive located in northern Belgium). Bruges is a beautiful historic city where we walked winding cobblestone alleys and viewed many lovely canals. Like Brussels, there was an abundance of shops, restaurants, and museums where you can browse at your leisure. And they, too, had a Christmas market which was fun cruising through.
Belgium is noted for its many varieties of beer (over 450 of them), gauffres aka waffles (2 types - Belgium and Liege), frites, mussels, and chocolate. 1) Waffles - We found a little stand near the Mannequin Pis. We tried the Liege waffle which I chose for its burned sugar coating on the outside making it sweeter than the Belgium - topped off with powdered sugar. Pure heaven when we sank our teeth into it. In fact, we went back two more nights for more! 2)Frites - okay so what's the big fuss about these fries? Well, if you find the right vendor, these twice fried fries are light, crispy and delicious. And yes, they do eat it with mayonaise. 3)Mussels - Since Ray doesn't like mussels, only I had the opportunity to try this one. For lunch in Bruges, I had Mussels cooked in a light white wine and cream sauce. Not bad, but a pot of mussels was a bit overload for me. What I mean is I would prefer it as an appetizer opposed to a main dish. And well, I'll have to leave the chocolate to a future post.
Although we missed the girls dearly during the trip, I must say that it was quite nice to travel just the two of us...
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