From A to B

From A to B - Antwerp to Brussels.

The A side

I scaled bureaucratic mountains for conference approval  in Antwerp, Belgium.  The conference was great but the best bonus was getting to visit my friend Anton in Antwerp.

Keeping me awake from my jet lag,
Anton had me walking and cycling through Antwerp.
With mandatory breaks...

Anton's retirement gig is as an official city tour guide.
That means he knows the best places to have beer!

  Arriving jet lagged and out of sync, Anton had us touring the city on bikes and walking to keep me from falling asleep. Three years ago, E and I got a personalized tour from Anton as seen in this post. Mussels from Brussels



This is the coolest sculpture based on the book "A Dog of Flanders" and the  Nello and Patrasche characters.  A rather sad story of a poor orphan boy and an abandoned cart dog but one of unconditional friendship and love.

Only as the Europeans can - biking in style

Ah, the cafe culture!  

Good thing squares and meeting places

 were built  before strip malls and the depersonalization of communities.

The conference was held at a former medieval hospital run by nuns.  The rooms had lots of charm in their Spartan quality, meaning there was no A/C or Frette linens.

The serene courtyard of Elzenveld

Please some air conditioning!

No, these weren't the shower facilities.
Elzenveld had indoor plumbing!

Our conference organized Antwerp city tour guides take us through Antwerp in the evening.  Guess who was our tour guide? Anton!

Antwerp is a beautiful city
full of rich shipping history and architecture

Cool fact,
the whole city of Antwerp
has public wifi!

Anton took us through Antwerp's Red Light district, a pedestrian street lined with shop windows, where clients "shop" for their ladies of the night.  It was certainly weird, and in my mind, sad, to see how some women earn their living. On the bright side, it is a highly regulated business in where prostitutes have a lot of social services, security measures in the brothels and police protection.  The only 2 places in Antwerp with 24hr police surveillance are the Red Light and Diamond districts.  Pictures of the shop windows and ladies are frowned upon, however, these few pictures give you an idea of the flavour.

And what else do they serve?

Not quite sure what this kink is about

I don't think this was meant 
as a phallic symbol 
but ...

 ...not sure 
it is the best marketing 
for that district

A subway stop in Brussels,
maybe it should be
in the red light district of Antwerp?

Even restaurants take a riff off of the area.  
Look closely at the name

Whole new meaning to meat market

Done with distractions, 
we got to the awards venue 

Dr. Patricia
won best paper!

The B Side

Moving on to the "B" side in Brussels and visiting my dear friends, Kirk & Michele and Bev & Jeff.  I went from Anton in Antwerp to the Blands and Bev in Brussels.  I was on a roll!

A visit with Michele
starts off with the best hostessing,
you guessed it - Champagne!
So much for that beer budget!

Not to say that beer wasn't involved,
as it flows through the pipes in Belgium.
Here's look at beer coloured glasses.
Bottoms up.

Kirk and Michele took me to the Grand Place for the crazy crowded Beer Weekend

Beer fest at the Grand Place

Kirky is happy because he matches Michele

Hmm, let me think about that, 
looks like she has 2 beers

So, we're trying to get to the Bordeaux tasting.
"Anything more confusing than 3 officers 
and a map?", 
asks Michele.

Thanks for getting us here Michele

And how do I get home?

Sorry, can't help you.
I don't have a leg to stand on

You'll get us back, right?

Don't worry, we're officers and we have a map!

Majestic European architecture

A trip to Belgium is not complete without chocolate.  

Nothing beats a real factory shopping trip!  

The Neuhaus factory, can't wait to get in!
Eat your heart out Charlie!
 I've got the golden ticket.

Big kid in a candy store!

You can taste as much as you want at the factory!
So I did...
that wasn't a good idea...

  
Michelle didn't have a tummy ache, 
she had much better self control.

Now this is a loot bag!

Next day, Bev and I head out for some shopping!  

If anyone knows how to shop, it is Bev!  

Is that a a racing stripe on the back of your Visa card?   

Too busy burning up the Visa card to take more pictures.

Your arms aren't long enough for selfies, Pam

I can't reach!

My eyes are bigger than my belly

Oh, I miss European streets

 The pedestrian cobblestone roads
of Europe and the cafes, bakeries, and food... 

Local house flair

Wouldn't you like to receive your mail here?

I am grateful to keep returning to my "second" home.  I've asked if you can be homesick for a place that you're not from, and every time I go to Europe, I really do feel like I belong.  What a wonderful thing to be able to feel so at home in more than one place.

The BB side

After this great trip, I was hoping to transition to  C - like maybe Copenhagen, I got an extra B thrown in for Boston to visit best bud Karen-Anne. 

We celebrated her birthday in style starting with,
you guessed it,
Champagne.

The Birthday Girl!

Partner in crime and enabler

We headed out for a fab dinner at Ostra with melt in your mouth seafood. 

Salad appetizer

I'm glad they took the head off

Ah, better.
A great Chardonnay too!
The Champagne in the hotel room
led to  a disinhibited expensive wine choice at the restaurant.
But it was soooo good. 

They must have known just how much I eat 
to give me the cooking pot!

Karen-Anne says
you never go wrong with a lemon dessert.
To this day, that advice rings true.

Wait, the  autumn  travelling isn't over...  I did get to go to "C"!  I went to Cornwall (the less exotic Ontario and not UK) with Christine.  Ok, so there was no fabulous food or shopping and it was for work, but it was still a trip!  Maybe I can put Chicago on the next "C" or move on to "D" like Dusseldorf, Dallas, Denver, Darwin, Delhi.... the list goes on..  Who will be my "D" travel partner?

As I haven't gotten the summer vacation blog written, stay tuned for it in the year's wrap up for Christmas.