Biere, chocolat, waffles and latinos!

Last day in Brussels for this workshop. Day started at 5 a.m. with barely 5 hours of sleep (too much work!), and the final day of the workshop ended at 1:00 p.m. with a lunch complete with champagne, wine, and beer! My new friends Beatriz (colombiana) and Juan Eugenio (Mexican) and Ivan (Ghanaian) went immediately out to shop shop shop! The poor gents- Beatriz and I definitely got our fill of buying funky stockings, shoes (beatriz- she bought them and walked out of the store with them on), two dresses (me) and loads of chocolate! A packed 3 hours. Back to the hotel to drop off packages, and then turned around to go out to the Grand Place (pronounced Plas). So cool- a huge square with the royal residence a church and two other large old buildings from the 1400's lining each side of the square. Christmas tree lit up in the middle with a electronic bells and lights putting on a great show (think Rockefeller Center in NYC but better!). Juan, Beatriz, and I (minus Ivan) were FREEZING! We bought some cookies at Dandody to take home for gifts.

And then in search of the mannequin pis (the infamous peeing boy fountain/statue in Brussels) we decided to stop for dinner at a very local and very quaint Restaurant 'T Kelderke. An open kitchen at the back and curved brick ceiling and set of tables set right close together made for a very home-y atmosphere. Home-brewed amber beer and rabbit stew (local treat) were on the menu (among other yummy things- mussels, meat, etc.). Speaking entirely in Spanish, the new three amigos had a lovely chat and finished off our meal with two waffles (one con crema and one sin crema). Our waiter spoke English, French, Dutch, and Spanish! Very euro. With full stomachs and happy hearts we made our way back to the hotel to pack up for our departure tomorrow. I think we are all anxious to get back to Brussels and more of Belgium some day- but maybe when it's warmer!

More photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ehasselberg1/Brussels#