Monday, April 30, 2012

Finishing up Brussels

After the photo shoot we put our coats on and decided to head for a spot a little bit warmer. 
Ok so we stopped for a couple waffles. Georgia with the awkward face/pose and I enjoying white chocolate and strawberries!  Breakfast!  
One for the boys and Daddy.
  Next we headed for the Brussels City Museum, right there in Grand Place.  We wanted to check out the Manneken Pis (tee tee boy, as I like to call him) costumes we had heard all about.  The official sight for the manneken pis was photographed later that weekend but we went ahead and enjoyed the museum.  The costumes are sent from countries all over the world and they're stored and displayed in this museum.  Then on most days the Manneken is changed into a new outfit.  He's either wearing something new or nothing at all. OH... And all costumes are custom made for the tee tee.  Yep, that's right!
Poor pics from inside the museum...you get the idea.
 
The Manneken who was way smaller than you would expect.  We went early on Sunday morning when few were there and he wasn't wearing a costume! Bummer! 
 
On to some other sights around Brussels
 awkward photo much?
Look at those tiny bikes.
Moving in! They use these exterior lifts to take everything up. The couch is next. 
  
Next up...Lunch of course
Comics Cafe
Cute little area of town...loaded with chocolate shops!
On to a little side trip we took to the little city called Antwerp.  To be honest we went because we heard there was a zoo at the train station.  Yes there was...and it cost an insane amount of money for how cold it was outside.  So we didn't go...instead I treated myself to a starbucks coffee and Nick treated the boys to a little carnival action. 
We ended our Antwerp experience with an small run-in with an American-hater.  No really she hated us and our American-ness!  We were a little bitter...still are but lets just say its really obvious some Europeans don't like Americans and we should do our best to correct their misconception that Americans are self righteous, arrogant people.  We have a long way to go with a few and unfortunately this was the first of a few inscidents on our trip that presented how some Europeans truly feel about Americans.  Pretty sad. 

Lets end with another glorious delightful food that Belgium originated!  The french fry, which is always served with mayo in Belgium and the Netherlands.  Don't knock it til ya try it! YUM!


3 comments:

Jennie said...

Great photos! Don't you just love Belgium! I am pretty sure those moving things were used to get a few larger boxes out of our Paris apartment; too funny!

Just Me said...

Love the pics. Forget the chocolate, those "french" fries look awesome!

Sabina said...

Georgia's coat!!! Love it!!! And all of the vacation posts. You all look gorgeous!