Brussels!

So the plan was to keep friends and family at home updated through social media during our trip. While this worked to some extent, having WiFi proved to be a challenge on the trip and big posts, such as this blog, were difficult to execute with the sketchy availability to WiFi. However, there was so much activity that posting late is better than not posting at all! So, with that in mind I now share our adventures in Brussels, Antwerp, Delft, and Amsterdam!

After our visit to the Louvre we boarded the bus and headed to Belgium. It was a very quiet trip as most students used the ride to catch up on some much needed sleep!

We arrived in Brussels at dinner time. Our first walk from the bus led us to a yummy dinner of a salad with a dressing that tasted very much of mayonnaise. It is safe to say that our students were missing the magic white sauce found in the USA: Ranch Dressing! We learned that Europeans have a strange fascination with mayonnaise and French fries...we are not amused! We also had Chicken, French fries and ice cream for dessert. Some of our older travelers tried a cherry Belgian beer and found it delightful! 

After dinner we strolled the plaza of Brussels. It was a chilly, damp night, but the town square is charming! 

The architecture was beautiful! We strolled the streets and found many charming shops.

The window displays were so colorful. 

We found Tintin street art.

There were incredible displays of Belgian lace.

And chocolate...and more chocolate!

It was simply charming!

We pushed hard and fast that night in Brussels. We were quite tired as we headed back to the hotel. On drive to the hotel Joel, our tour director and Patrick, our bus driver, made a suggestion. If we were willing, for 3€ each they suggested we deviate our plans. We had essentially seen most of Brussels that night so they suggested heading out in the morning and making two non-scheduled stops in Antwerp and Delft before heading into Amsterdam. By vote the group said yes! So, to bed we went with high expectations of of the unscheduled adventure.

After our early morning rise and shine, breakfast and luggage transfer back to the bus we headed out towards Holland!

Our first stop was a photo stop at the Atomium. 

What a cool structure! 

As you can see, part of today's fun was dealing with the weather! It was a cold blustery day! 

The fashion called for layers upon layers!

Once back on the bus we headed for Antwerp! It was still rather early Sunday morning and at first it looked as though it might be a disappointing stop as it was still waking up when we arrived.

But then, something magical happened. As we began to wander around the main square we stumbled upon a marathon race! 

Next, we heard music that ended up being a parade through the town. The parade ended in front of the church. The participants were dressed in costumes that were reminiscent of days gone by. There were people who played music, a group of children who danced and a group of adults who danced. 

Besides seeing this glimpse of everyday life in Antwerp we also checked out the window displays as we wandered the streets. We took in the archetecture and you could t help but notice the most common form of transportation! 

Chocolate, chocolate, and more chicolate!

Belgians take their beer seriously!

Isn't this christening dress to die for?!

JP was admiring the goods in the window. How do you make a decision when it is all so appealing?

Wonderful!

As I mentioned it was a cold, blustery, damp day so before boarding the bus and saying goodbye to Belgium a group of kids were lucky enough to find some yummy hot chocolate! 

Next we went to Delft! Delft is located in the Netherlands (aka Holland). Our amazing bus driver Patrick, who is from the region, expertly brought us to the town square. Once again we were treated to the delights of a small city going about their regular lives. There is something quite charming about these areas that are not bustling with tourists like us! 

Usually the squares are built around a church.

This is the church parking lot! Bikes are EVERYWHERE in the Netherlands!

This is the pub lunch of one if the chaperones. It was a salmon sandwich that had eggs on it and check out those chips! So much smaller than an American serving would be.

This square had a cheese shop that many of us fell in love with! It was so yummy! 

Delft is also known for its pottery and I know at least one lucky mom got a souvenir of a new tea set!

Again we were able to spend time in a beautiful gem of a city!

I should also mention that in this day we stopped at the Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp. Unfortunately I do not have any pictures from the museum as I was busy trying to take it all in! The museum highlighted the immigration process to America...essentially what happened before they arrived at Ellis Island. Personally I found it rather fascinating for two reasons; the first was learning what they had to go through, who went, why they went, and the financial and family struggles they endured. It was fascinating. The second thing I found to be very poignant about the museum is that they made a very clear satement that while the museum documented the past; the idea of immigration, the struggle to escape to a new, safer, more prosperous life is still alive and well today! It was a bit humbling to make that connection.