Happy Birthday, Rachel!!

So for Rachel's 19th birthday, we took the train from Brussels to Liege (Belgium).  Michele gave us great directions again, and it was a mom and daughter day.  It has been a great 19 years having Rachel for a daughter, and hopefully the memories we have made on this trip will be remembered on many of her future birthdays as well.  Here are some from Liege:

Happy 19th Birthday, Rachel!!

The train station in Liege is a a must-see architectural wonder--of course it was easy to do so since we took the train there!

St. Paul's Cathedral

The Castle of the Counts

Another way cool church, which unfortunately was closed  (All were but St. Pauls)

Rachel and I at the bottom of the 375 stairs up to The Castillion

And at the top!!

Look closely--bet Anny, Michele and Alison didn't know they also came along on this birthday trip!!  (Taken from the top of the Castillion)

Such a sophisticated 19 year old!

Kaoma had a specially prepared dinner for us with food from the Congo--complete with the delicacy of caterpillars!  It was a great day/birthday.

Gent/Gand

Today we went to Gent, we meaning Rachel, Michele and I.  Gent is beautiful also, like Brugge, however, has many older buildings and cathedrals.  For example, there is the Castle of the Counts, was first constructed in 1180.  So old!!  Here are some pictures of our day!

Saint Nicholas Cathedral

Jump!  Gent

No, I don't know the guy behind me.  Great architecture (the building, that is)

Michele and Rachel

This is the castle, completed in 1180

View from the castle, taken by Rachel.  She is the only one who went in, because it is free for those under 19, and until tomorrow, she is under 19!

The Castle of the Counts

I liked this picture--an overview of the Saint Nicholas Cathedral (front, left), the Belfry of Gent (center), and on the right, with the scaffolding, the Saint Bavo tower.

Great day in a beautiful city!

Brugge/Bruges Belgium

Today Rachel and I went to Bruges (Brugge in Flemish) by train.  Michele had to work, but gave us AWESOME directions, and we made it with no problems.  BRUGES IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!  I love the houses, the canals, the windmills, the cathedrals.  Since pictures say a thousand words, here they are!!

One of our first views.  Rachel was in love with the city immediately

No way to come to Belgium without eating a waffle!!  REAL Bruges waffles!

Rachel in the main square.  They had trucks set up selling fruits and vegetables.  We bought cherries, since we missed out getting some in the US

There are canals throughout Bruges.  I imagine it is like Holland, but I guess we'll find out soon!

Bruges in in Flanders, the more northern part of Belgium (and nearer to Holland).  All of the street signs were in Flemish

Another view of the cool houses--and the bikes!!  So many people here ride bikes.

Rachel in front of one of the cathedrals.  

Back in Brussels

I have a conference I am speaking at in Amsterdam, and decided to take Rachel along for her "senior trip".  Since Amsterdam is only three hours by train from Brussels, we just HAD to see Michele first!!  She picked us up at the airport, and took us home--she even had a table of Belgian chocolate (and "milk" or sweetened condensed milk) for us.  She offered to let us sleep (and two pretty much sleepless nights getting here made us pretty tired), but we don't have many days here, so we went into the city.  What a beautiful place Belgium is.  I have not been good about posting, but will try and do better when I am here.  We are staying with Michele and her mother here in Brussels, so hopefully the pictures will come while we are here.

Michele had a table full of Belgian Chocolate laid out for us when we arrived

Annie and Michele posed with this same cat
three years ago

Rachel and I in the main square--Brussels

Rachel and I with Gudule Cathedral in the background

Weird sculpture of Buffalo in the park by the cathedral--more graffiti on it than three years ago

Manneken Pis  (Little Boy peeing)
This is a famous sculpture that everyone comes to see.  He is dressed in the
Belgian Red Devils uniform.  Everyone here is crazy about World Cup
soccer.  We got to see the game today; Belgium vs Algeria--
BELGIUM 2, ALGERIA 1 --Woo Hoo!!

The three of us-me, Rachel, and Michele

Michele and Rachel

Au Revoir: "Senses" of Belgium"

Today we are leaving Belgium, "Au Revoir". Here are some of our experiences here, through the "senses"
Taste: CHOCOLATE! Panini, Michele's mom's wonderful cooking, Belgian Waffles, "French" fries (which Michele says were really invented in Belgium,crepes:

This particular dessert is a cheesecake with red and black currents, Ligonberries, and blackberries.

Dinner with Kaoma. A few of the tasty things we got to eat included tomato salad with basil and vinagrette dressing, whipped carrots with potatoes, fish cooked in cream sauce, and chocolate mousse.

Sounds: French (of course), cars, bells ringing, the beeping of the crosswalk.

Smells: Cigarettes, chocolate, body odor (what is it about people that use public transportation, keep their arms up to hang on, and never shower?), lotions in The Body Shop, flowers.

Touch: The hand grip on the tram, the feel of lips on the cheek during a Belgian "Hello", rain on our cheeks, grass underneath Annie's and Michele's handstands, plus their non-stop friendly bantering/squabbling/wrestling

Sight: Amazing architecture everywhere! Crazy Michele hairdos, the Belgian public transportation melancholy, beautiful greenery and flowers, blue skies with billowing white clouds, stained-glass windows, windmills, bicycles, cathedrals...

Merci beaucoup, Michele and her mom! Au Revoir, Belgium!