Dec 28: chilling in the hood

Dec 29 Friday

Brussels

Chilling at the flat 

After three packed days each in London and Amsterdam, we settled in for a down day today following yesterday’s tour of downtown Brussels.   More on that later.    

This morning we both slept in.  We made breakfast in our kitchen and then I got the itch to wander.  So I headed off to the Miroir Square in our neighborhood to check it out in detail and bring back lunch while Cate stayed here.  

I couldn’t go two blocks in any direction without seeing a pharmacy.  Always small and mainly prescription medicines

As opposed to bath or household items.   Still they are everywhere.   

And again, this is Jette.  Not downtown Brussels.  But still a very complete neighborhood with lots of shops and services.   I saw three opticians in three blocks.   

I love shopping for groceries.   Enjoy the cultural nuances that come through.   No real surprise, nacho chips are not big here.   Finally found a small bag.   Not hard finding vegan or gluten free food.  Maybe not more than US but not less.   

While most people (80%) of people in Brussels speak French as their first language, most that I’ve talked with are

Multilingual with Dutch as the official language of Belgium.  Road signs are in both languages.   So every street has two names.  

Most of the food products are in French so it took some effort to make sure I found what I wanted.    

When I got to the checkout I asked the clerk if his English was better than my French.  He said yes.  He spent three

Months in California - Oxnard and Oakland.   

Back at the flat we fixed up our lunch and relaxed.   

It can be fast paced traveling.  Most days my fitness tracker clocked 8-10

Miles walking and 9-11 hours standing.   

So a down day is fine with both of us.   

We have one more full day in Belgium before we get on a train to Paris and settle in for New Years Eve.   Just about a week left for me on this trip before I head back to pdx and Cate heads back to Barcelona where she will spend another week before coming back to Oregon.      

Travel has come naturally to

me on this trip. Cate will tell you I did get upset when our electronic train tickets didn’t work.     So the good news I still have things to work on.   

But there is always so much to see and learn.   It invigorates me, especially when I engage with locals.   That’s the best.  

I’m guessing I’ll do something like this again in the coming year.   Maybe back to South America.