Ibis Aalst Centrum

Hi Everyone!

After catching up with work from school and just taking a few days to enjoy Florence, I was off to my next destination…Brussels!

We had found a great deal using Ryan Air and decided to jump on the offer.

We departed early from Florence by train in order to get to the airport in Pisa. After a quick transfer, we were there. The Pisa airport is very tiny, similar to Florence's airport. We checked in, and then waited ...

... which is constantly changed; it happened to be from Indonesia on the day I visited. That night I organized a big group of people, about 20, from the youth hostel to go back out to Delirium cafe. I sampled several more beers that night including a very unique, sour one made from a bacteria found only in the underground river which flows under Brussels. My last night in Brussels i saved a little money by not booking a bed. My flight to Greece ...

... while I'm there.  With this trend, I'll probably end up having dinner with her -- While waiting in baggage claim I saw a woman I was sure and knew.  Turns out we go to the same gym. She's in town for a few days and then it's off to Paris.  It would be too funny if I ran into her there also. -- My next door neighbors will be Paris while I'm there.  This covers the small world Brussels and Paris so far, wonder what's in store for Berlin and London?

... some of his famous works and there were many to go along with his numerous drawings and sketches - including his self portrait, Madonna on the Rocks, Marie Madeline and Vetruvian Man. Throw this incredible expo in along with the food, beer and cafe lifestyle and Brussels came out as being better than expected and a far cry from the most boring city in Europe. Or maybe it is. Which makes the prospects for future city breaks all the better.

... live. After a bombardment in 1695, where only the city hall remained standing, work started on rebuilding one of the finest squares in the world. The buildings around it each have a specific frontage, but they are all in complete harmony with each other. The City Hall, founded in the 15th century, is the finest building in the city. Above the 97 meters high tower is the recently restored image of St. Michael, the patron saint of Brussel. The Museum of the City of Brussel is ...

... sans plus trop me poser de questions. L'après-midi, nous partons vers la magnifique ville de Brugges, incontournable destination touristique en Belgique ! La grande place, l'hôtel de ville, les nombreuses églises, les anciennes maisons au bord des canaux sont splendides et créent un véritable décor médiéval. Il y a des chocolatiers sur presque chaque rue pour profiter de la manne de touristes. Je ne peux ...

... But if we have to do such a long hike down to Madrid after Amsterdam, I didn't think it'd be a whole lot of fun to do it as one long stretch of train riding. Therefore, we did cram in a bit of Belgium: about five hours in between trains in Brussels! Not perhaps the best way to see a country, but it beats sitting and watching the countryside pass by all day. As for Bruges, Antwerp, Ghent or whatever else, that'll have to be another trip. In all honesty, I ...

... Godiva still reigns supreme. Christian explained that white chocolate is really an oxymoron. It contains only milk, sugar, cream and 21% white cocoa butter. As he lectured, he continually dipped his finger in to vats to taste his latest batch, while quickly running back and forth with frenetic energy from molds to freezer. He has a true passion for his product and consumes about 250 grams or a 1/2 lb a day, yet is as thin as Calista Flockhart. I love my job, but would swap a ...

Back on the train again except this time I'm headed to Brussels. It is a lot harder than I thought it would be to keep this journal. I researched Brusels a lot more than I did Amsterdam. I know a few good museums to go to and possibly clubs. I woudl rather just drink and meet locals. So thursday night we went out to eat at a Mexican Restauarnt which ended up being a 30 EUR bill. Drinks were so expensive. it was a good time with very good music. Afterwards we ...

... and the gusts were plentiful that day, let me tell you). So, with sugared faces and sticky fingers, we eventually approached La Grand-Place, which was once described by Victor Hugo as "the most beautiful square in Europe". You, too, would agree if you witnessed what I saw that day. We arrived just as the trickling afternoon light was beginning to cast shadows against the towering spires of these intricately designed buildings ...