Disclaimer: I just arrived back to Germany this morning from The States. I haven't slept in over 24, so there will be typos. I'm writing this to force myself to stay awake today to avoid jet lag tomorrow. Don't worry, I'm not entering this in some perfect paper writing contest. Sheesh.
At the end of September, Greg and I hosted our very first guests here in Germany...Greg's parents, Bonnie and Scott. While they were here, we took a mini trip to Brussels and Brugge, Belgium.
Our first stop was Brussels. On day one, we traveled a bit outside of the city to Fort Breendonk. This was a WWI fort, turned WWII concentration camp. Here are a few photos of the grounds:
Upon opening Fort Breendonk as a concentration camp during WWII, prisoners where made to dig out the fort, which had parts underground from WWI.
...memorial
What was interesting about Fort Breendonk was that there were many accounts of individual prisoners, and soldiers who ran the camp. It felt like we were able to get to know some of them. There were videos (probably at least 10 years old) of survivors telling their stories. We didn't have a live guide, but we had headsets which told us all of the stories just fine. Fort Breendonk has been the 3rd concentration/death camp that I have visited. Therefore, I am not going to go into detail of information which I learned...its all same sad, disturbing, and depressing stories. I explained enough in my posts about Dachau, and Auschwitz. Enough is enough.
On to something more uplifting: Chocolate.
On day 2 in Brussels, the four of us went on a Chocolate tour!
I'm not joking, our tour guide looked like he could be Willy Wonka's cousin. Seriously. I didn't sneak a picture of him however, I did not feel like being creepy on this day. Just take my work.
The tour consisted of our guide leading us around to top notch Belgian chocolate shops. At each shop, we were able to try a piece. I wish I remembered what the guy said was in/not in this chocolate....but anyway, he said if you ate it, it would make you beautiful. This is a fact...so go buy top notch Belgian chocolate and you'll look young and beautiful forever.
...chocolate sculpture...
...pictures of the guys collecting coco beans someone in South America or Africa, I can't remember.
Here is Pierre Marcolini's....he is the Louis Vuitton of chocolate I am told. Naturally, Greg and I had to buy a box of these suckers. My favorite chocolate from this shop was an "Earl Grey" dark chocolate bite.
This chocolate place is called "Mary's", and they had the most delicious strawberry champagne flavored chocolate balls
In the middle of the tour, we had a workshop where we able to "decorate" our own chocolate. I made enough little chocolate circles (covered in coconut and salt) for my students to try. They told me "this is the best chocolate I've ever had!" I'm either the next Wonka and should change professions to "chocolatier", or they were just acting excited about the chocolate because I was acting excited about the chocolate. I can never tell.
Here are the remaining pictures of Brussels:
The statue behind us is called Manneken Pis. He has taken over this part of Brussels. I mean he is everywhere in shops...including chocolate ones:
Here is the Grand Place (main square)
...a nice looking cathedral in the sunset...
On our way out of Brussels, we stopped and gawked at The Atomium...which I'm still pretty sure none of us can pronounce yet.
This restaurant had a menu with 500 different types of beer. I can't remember what Greg and Bonnie ordered, but I went for the strawberry beer. It was the best decision made all day. Can't remember the name of this restaurant, but we were very lucky to get a table. It is always packed with reservations.
Here are some photos of the Town Square:
That's all for our trip to Belgium! Next we are going to Salzburg, Austria, and Trier, Germany with my mom and dad. Stay tuned!
-Gina
At the end of September, Greg and I hosted our very first guests here in Germany...Greg's parents, Bonnie and Scott. While they were here, we took a mini trip to Brussels and Brugge, Belgium.
Our first stop was Brussels. On day one, we traveled a bit outside of the city to Fort Breendonk. This was a WWI fort, turned WWII concentration camp. Here are a few photos of the grounds:
entrance...
Upon opening Fort Breendonk as a concentration camp during WWII, prisoners where made to dig out the fort, which had parts underground from WWI.
What was interesting about Fort Breendonk was that there were many accounts of individual prisoners, and soldiers who ran the camp. It felt like we were able to get to know some of them. There were videos (probably at least 10 years old) of survivors telling their stories. We didn't have a live guide, but we had headsets which told us all of the stories just fine. Fort Breendonk has been the 3rd concentration/death camp that I have visited. Therefore, I am not going to go into detail of information which I learned...its all same sad, disturbing, and depressing stories. I explained enough in my posts about Dachau, and Auschwitz. Enough is enough.
On to something more uplifting: Chocolate.
On day 2 in Brussels, the four of us went on a Chocolate tour!
I'm not joking, our tour guide looked like he could be Willy Wonka's cousin. Seriously. I didn't sneak a picture of him however, I did not feel like being creepy on this day. Just take my work.
The tour consisted of our guide leading us around to top notch Belgian chocolate shops. At each shop, we were able to try a piece. I wish I remembered what the guy said was in/not in this chocolate....but anyway, he said if you ate it, it would make you beautiful. This is a fact...so go buy top notch Belgian chocolate and you'll look young and beautiful forever.
Here is Pierre Marcolini's....he is the Louis Vuitton of chocolate I am told. Naturally, Greg and I had to buy a box of these suckers. My favorite chocolate from this shop was an "Earl Grey" dark chocolate bite.
This chocolate place is called "Mary's", and they had the most delicious strawberry champagne flavored chocolate balls
In the middle of the tour, we had a workshop where we able to "decorate" our own chocolate. I made enough little chocolate circles (covered in coconut and salt) for my students to try. They told me "this is the best chocolate I've ever had!" I'm either the next Wonka and should change professions to "chocolatier", or they were just acting excited about the chocolate because I was acting excited about the chocolate. I can never tell.
Here are the remaining pictures of Brussels:
The statue behind us is called Manneken Pis. He has taken over this part of Brussels. I mean he is everywhere in shops...including chocolate ones:
Here is the Grand Place (main square)
...a nice looking cathedral in the sunset...
On our way out of Brussels, we stopped and gawked at The Atomium...which I'm still pretty sure none of us can pronounce yet.
So in Brussels they speak French, so I had to brush up on the 3 French words I remember from 3 years of high school French (America really needs to stress languages MUCH earlier than middle/ high school...I mean everywhere too, not just certain areas/schools.)
After a couple days in Brussels, we made our way to Brugge...where all that French recollection ran out the window. In Brugge, they mostly speak Flemish.
In Brugge, we had some of the best food and drink on the trip.
This restaurant had a menu with 500 different types of beer. I can't remember what Greg and Bonnie ordered, but I went for the strawberry beer. It was the best decision made all day. Can't remember the name of this restaurant, but we were very lucky to get a table. It is always packed with reservations.
Here are some photos of the Town Square:
One afternoon, we went on a canal ride. Brugge is known as the Venice of the North.
I found my favorite store in the whole world in Brugge. It is called "Twee Meisjes" (this means "Two Girls"). I've never found clothes to fit me so perfectly. The store worker told me the clothes are all made in Spain. Guess I build like a Spanish girl. Now Greg has a go-to website when it comes to occasions where a present must be present. I bought two of the cutest dresses.
On our way out of Brugge, before we headed home to Stuttgart, we stopped at a Canadian War Cemetery. Here we located Bonnie's uncle (Greg's great uncle), who served in WWII over here.
Here he is.
That's all for our trip to Belgium! Next we are going to Salzburg, Austria, and Trier, Germany with my mom and dad. Stay tuned!
-Gina
