We chose to travel by public transportation and took our very first train ride: Destination Brugge. I heard more people speaking English there today than I have since I left America. Definitely a tourist town.. Met a teenager from Michigan who wanted to know if I knew where the dance parties were. Not quite sure what to think about that. I'm sure it is because I am so young and hip toting around 3 kid.
Our first and only planned stop was the Chocolate Museum. Not quite what we expected. We hoped to see well, more chocolate. We learned about the pods/ tree where the beans are grown and the entire known history. Saw teacups and frothers and molds Oh my. When we thought are trip was in vain, we finally saw a demonstration on how chocolate was made and got to try a small piece. Yeah. Success.
It was a toss up between taking a horse drawn carriage or a canal boat tour. All three children agreed on the canal boat tour through town. We were first on the boat and sat near the captain. He talked to Hayden and Shea the whole time and Hayden even got to drive the boat. Captain Hayden was so excited he specifically asked me to write about it on the blog.
Since Logan hasn't posed for many shot, I keep taking random photos of him and show him his funny looks. Today was no different until I said to him, "Go stand by that door." He walked over and pretended he was knocking on it. It gave us a good laugh. Just so Random. He is taking this move the hardest I think. It was nice to see him at ease and himself for a bit.
We walked to the Church of Our Lady which houses Michelangelo's Madonna and Child. (I didn't know that until the canal boat guide told us) At the chocolate museum there was even a replica of it, made of chocolate of course. All I thought was, "Another Mary and Baby Jesus". Little did I know the significance of this masterpiece, the only work of art to leave Italy while Michelangelo was still alive. And I thought I came to Europe to offer culture to my children. Apparently the Momma needs it just as much/more. The Church was closed and there was plastic and scaffolding around the entire tower so we didn't see the statue. But we really did though: If a chocolate replica counts. MMMmmm.
I debated writing about this next story, but it is my blog, so I am. The children were all pretty tired on the way home from Brugge. Logan and Shea were in the two seats behind me, attempting to sleep and Hayden was snuggling on Brent's lap directly in front of me. Brent and Hayden were talking about tickling and how weird it was that you can't tickle yourself. Hayden then said, "Dad, that's mostly true. The only place I can tickle myself is here." as he grabs himself between the legs. The German lady next to me starts dieing of laughter. I turn to her and say, "Sorry about that, he's a boy." She struggles to say, "It's ok" between uncontrollable giggles. Hayden immediately covers his face. It was just so innocent and funny. I don't want to forget the "little" things.
©ColleenFisher
The kids miss their cousins and friends terribly. They are always asking when someone is coming to visit us. Today I was told by 2/3 of the children that they have decided to move back home because they want to be with their dog Sadie again. I told them that we don't have a house home, but that our home is wherever we are all together. I also tried to explain AGAIN that their Uncle Marc was very nice in taking Sadie to live with him and his dog Joey. That hasn't helped much. I feel a coup is on the rise.
I liked the chocolate museum. I ate some chocolate there. It was good. I liked the pizza restaurant we went to. I like "Robin Hood" park (We call it that because it has so many trees around it and we don't know how to say the real name) and the water park (swimming pool) and the beach. I also like the Bloody Nose park. (Named because Hayden hit his nose HARD on part of the playground and it bled like crazy) I like the ice cream shop we go to downtown and waffles with a stream of sugar in them. but mostly the sugar part. I like the Belgium chocolate ALOT. The one we ate on the train. My favorite things that we have done is drive the boat on the canal.
Our friend Ron came to visit and we went to the park and rented paddle boats. The paddle boats were dark greenish-brown. One person got to steer, two had to paddle and three could sit in the front. I got stuck with my Mom and Shea. Hayden got to go with Ron and Dad. We almost crashed into wood poles, but I steered us away. Ron and Dad crashed. Mom and I paddled over to the island and we saw little cute baby ducks. They had a red head, orangeish/yellow beak with a black body and feet. My mom took a video of the baby ducks. I did commentary, but we couldn't hear it very well. Our time was almost up and we had to pedal back to the dock. Shea wanted to pedal, so I let her sit on my lap. I still got to steer.
It was a toss up between taking a horse drawn carriage or a canal boat tour. All three children agreed on the canal boat tour through town. We were first on the boat and sat near the captain. He talked to Hayden and Shea the whole time and Hayden even got to drive the boat. Captain Hayden was so excited he specifically asked me to write about it on the blog.
The kids and I walked downtown to find umbrellas today. We found some cool ground paintings that we had to jump into like Mary Poppins. The were right outside of Saint Peters Church. This one on the left is Shea and Hayden climbing the Stairway (ladder) to Heaven. The one one the right is of Shea and Hayden drinking out of the Holy Grail. Logan is refusing to be in photos at present.
Today was a Belgium National Holiday and Brent had work off. A nice surprise, so we went for a hike near a small village called Sint Agatha Rode. It stated to sprinkle as we set off and continued throughout our walk. We walk near fields of wheat and pastures of cows with short legs and huge muscle bodies.
Shea was so excited to see any kind of animals. Shea: "Mom, Did you see that old cow?" Me: "How do you know its old?" Shea: "Didn't you see it's face? It's grumpy."
Are little legs got tired, so we cut the hike short. We took a path less traveled in the forest, next to a wheat field, and on to the main road through town. Thank goodness for snacks. (The last picture is of Hayden taking "pictures" with his new rock camera that he found on the ground.)
Today we went on a walk about town. We walked by Sint-Geertruikerk (Saint Gertrude). (right) We also toured Sint-Pieterskerek (St. Peters Church) (left) where Dirk Bouts masterpieces,The Last Supper and the Martyrdom of St.Erasmus are. We saw a few other paintings, mostly of saints being martyred. Head being chopped off spewing blood, knives cutting throats, St. Erasmus getting his intestines pulled out. Logan looked up at me and asked, "Why did you take us here?". I thought for some culture, but apparently just to scar them.
The recycling in Belgium is Ubber complex. First, you have to purchase specific bags at the grocery store that have a picture of Leuven on it. If your trash is not in these bags it does NOT get picked up. Second, different garbage/recycling come on different days of the week every other week, so if you forget to put your bag out you're stuck with it another 2 weeks. Blue is for plastic bottles, cans and milk type cartons. Green is for yard items, fruits and vegetables. Brown is for unrecyclable trash, the real trash. Third, once a month young children come by and collect paper products for their different organizations (these are not to be thrown in any other trash bag). Lastly, you take your glass bottles to specific glass recycling containers placed around town. This is a new system to me and a bit time consuming, but one I think is a worth while effort and am glad to do.
On to the bank so we can get Brent's check deposited later this month and not pay anymore currency exchange charges. Maybe we will have better luck there. No can do. You can't create a bank account without your letter stating you are a resident of the city and the police coming to your door to verify that you live there. Craziness. I think I need a piece of Belgium chocolate for my headache (or maybe the whole box).
