Happy Christmas from London!!

The Shinozaki's with Father Christmas at Santa's Grotto in Covent Garden


We will soon update our blog with our latest travel adventures, but for now... "Happy Christmas" from London!!

PS & DS with presents from Hamley's -- London's version of FAO Schwarz

May all your Christmas dreams come true...

Cheers!

Au Revoir, Belgium!

Although it was sad to leave, we were still able to enjoy our last few days in Belgium. It was a blessing to experience the several snowfalls that blanketed the city (which by the way, is not common in Belgium!)...

In between taking care of last minute details in preparation for our move, here are a few of the things we did during our last week in Brussels.

A snow stop to Parc du Cinquanteniere...

Hanging out at the Grand Place (pre-snow)

And post-snow...

Meals at old favorites like Chez Leon...

And new ones such as La Kahbaz, where we enjoyed an excellent Moroccan meal...

Browsing the Brussels Christmas Markets...

PS & DS riding the Le Manege Magique and La Manege d'Andrea Carousels...

The Shinozaki Girls enjoying another round of ice skating (even after it started snowing)...

Posing in front of the Bourse (directly across the street from the Marriott)...

Enjoying yummy Liege Waffles at Elisabeth and LaFunambule...

And one last visit to "Santa" Manneken Pis (until we visit again, that is!)

We even managed to squeeze in a visit to Musée de la Ville. Here the girls got a kick out of seeing all of Manneken Pis' outfits which have been donated by several different countries. Amazingly, he is said to have more than 800!

Au Revoir, Belgium! We are definitely going to miss you!!

Now onwards to London for the holidays!!

Ice Skating at Brussels Christmas Market!

As most of you know, the movers started packing up our home this past Wednesday. As such, the Brussels Marriott has been our temporary home here in Belgium until our departure on the 22nd. Located just opposite the Bourse and a few steps from the Grand Place, we are right in the center of all of the Christmas festivities.

The Daenen's joined us this past Saturday where we had a great time ice skating at the Brussels Christmas Market. It was a beautiful, sunny and COLD day. But the -8C weather didn't take away from all of the fun. All of us enjoyed skating the rink and PS did quite well for her very first time on the ice!!

After we finished ice-skating, we enjoyed some yummy hot frites and ate them while enjoying the view on the market's ferris wheel.

Then we took a stroll thru the Christmas Market in search of lunch and ended up at Sole d'Italia, a charming little Italian restaurant we happened across close to the Grand Place.

Although our little PS was extraordinarily tired, we were able to enjoy our meal. And, as this was our last outing with the Daenen's before our departure from Belgium, it was really hard to say "good-bye"...

A "Going-Away-Do" in Brussels...

On Wednesday night, some of my girlie friends got together for a night out on the town! It was not only a chance to spend time with a great bunch of gals, but also a chance to experience some of the local hang-outs here in Brussels...

First stop was at L'Archiduc, a trendy watering hole where we enjoyed a cocktail and lots of fun chat...

Rasika, Jane, Jo, Amy, Tracy & Tori at L'Archiduc

Then, after a brief stroll through the Grand Place, we stopped at the Delirium Cafe Bar, which boasts a beer menu over an inch thick and holds the Guiness Book of World Records as the most beers sold at an establishment -- the count: 2004!

Tor, Jo, Jane, Rasika, Amy & Tracy at Delirium Cafe...

Exterior of Delirium Cafe -- Brussels, Belgium

The impressive and lengthly beer menu...

Our yummy fruit beers...

Later, we stopped at a local frites shop for some yummy frites before saying good-bye to most of the group. But, since Tor and I were staying at the Brussels Marriott for the evening, we made one more stop to Le Corbeau before calling it a night.

Tori insisted that I try a Belgium Kwak before I left. What is this, you ask?! The Kwak is a beer of a deep bright amber color, a fruity and malty aroma, a slightly spicy character with hints of caramelized bananas, and a pleasant bitterness to it. (I didn't come up with that on my own, of course!). Interestingly, during Napoleon's time, Belgium brewer Paul Kwak owned the De Hoorn Inn in Dendermonde. Mail coaches stopped there every day but were not allowed to leave their coaches while the passengers enjoyed some brew. As such, Mr. Kwak invented a glass which could be easily hung on the coach! In fact, you can see actual footage on the link above!

Jo & Tor enjoying a nice chat and Belgium Kwak's at Le Corbeau...

The historic glass invented by Pauwel Kwak


It was a fun, FAB evening with good friends and loads of laughs. And a little history lesson, to boot!