I left my belt at Newark security gate...

I didn’t realize it until I got up off the plane and then bent down to pick something up… woops! But it’s probably better off. I didn’t feel restricted or inclined to unbutton the top button after my delicious dinner… Indian cuisine. Yummers!

Inspired by my neighbors and the lovely video shown on the plane, I realized that I should take advantage of being in Brussels. My layover is a whopping 7 hours and after asking the man next to me how long the train ride into the city central is, I had to carpe the diem! 20 minutes and 3,80 euros later, I was roaming the streets of Brussels. (culture lesson #1: the period to represent the cents is a comma. When used in euro currency, it represents thousands. i.e. 2.000,38 would be 2 thousand euros and 38 cents. Got it? Good!)

Brussells. I got a quick briefing from KGill via celly while still in Newark airport. I made her wikipedia it for me so I wasn’t completely ignorant. Did you know that Brussels is home to NATO? It’s the capital of Belgium. It’s also the capital of the European Union. And they speak a lot of languages around here… French, German, Flemish?

As I stepped outside of the train station, the sweet aroma of chocolate croissants permeated the streets! Mmmmm. I like it already! Though the scent of city quickly replaced the delishousness, again, another scent was smelled. I felt like a dog. My nose was going crazy! Waffles! Pee! Belgian beer! French Fries!

So I walked the streets, following signs to what seemed like a good place to go and lo and behold I found some food vendors. Surprised? Didn’t think so. Well, before I sat down to a gaufre de liège (pronounced lee-AYze) and un café, I took in some sights. Cathedral. Check. City Hall. Check. Beer festival. Check.

Decided after I ate some food that I could go try one beer. Seriously, what were the chances that a beer festival was happening that weekend? OK, maybe tis the season, but whateves. There were so many choices. Something like over 350 beers to try in this small square plaza. And at 11AM, it was already hoppin ;) So I had a cranberry flavored beer. Made small talk with some Canadian. Then headed back to the airport.

cathedral.

gaufre de liège

Mystic Kriekbier

And here I sit, lounging on a chair, snacking on some Belgian chocolates, and blogging in the airport. (It was part of the original plan of what to do during the 7 hours—good idea Nance—now I just have a bit more things of interest to say… just a bit!) Waiting for my flight to be posted and thanking my momma in my heart for the “emergency cash” she slipped me… got me a pretty successful morning in Brussels: waffles, beer, and chocolate. What more could a trip to Brussels ask for? Next entry… from zee motherland!

(technically posted this from the motherland but couldn't get internet in the airport...)