Guests in Brussels

June swept in with a wave of visitors from the US and the Congo.  First to arrive were the lovely Cockers during the first two weekends.  We explored Brussels by the double decker CitySiteseeing bus, finally made it to the Chalet Robinson in the Bois and went out for drinks in the Chatelain.  Highlights also included finding and tasting the "best beer in the world" - Westleveteren and a day by the Sea in Knokke Heist.

Mid-month brought Chandi & Rachel and their lovely girls from the Congo en route to their home leave in the US.  We took them out for pizza, to the kids' school festival, out for Thai in the neighborhood and stopped by the local boulangerie a few times.  Seems they've really missed the normal stuff we are usually accustomed to finding here and at home.

Last to visit we're the Steeles from CT.  With just one daughter in tow we managed to visit the antique district in the Marolles, went to a backyard BBQ, out for crepes and on a visit to Ghent before they moved on to Paris.  

It was lovely hosting and showing our friends our new city.  Made it feel even more like home.

Lauren's 4th Birthday

Lauren turned 4 on May 6 and to celebrate we planned a ballerina birthday party at the Club with her fellow classmates.  Unfortunately, due to road closures for a ridiculously scheduled afternoon 10K and the terrible customer service by David Lloyd Uccle, we could not reach the club and had to redirect the party to our home.  Luckily, all her friends still made it and our ballerina danced away the afternoon with her friends.

Day Trips

Since my mom's been here for a while, we've been taking day trips with Caroline every now and then around the region.  

First up was a visit to the Greenhouses of the Royal Palace at Laeken.  They are only open to the public for three weeks every year so although horticulture doesn't necessarily enthrall me, the actual houses themselves were a sight to see.  Plus it was raining and it was mainly indoors.

Next up was Gasbeek Castle just outside Brussels.  Although the building was pretty cool on its own, it was a special visit due to a theater company acting the roles of its former inhabitants in a mysterious treasure map setting.  We went with Kate Annis and her kids, who along with our kids had a spooky time exploring and then a blast on the outdated playground at the pub across the street.

When the weekend rolled around Jesse joined us and we drove down to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.  While the countryside and city itself were beautiful, the country has a very sterile feel.  It's clearly wealthy and the playgrounds were fantastic, but one visit will be enough for us.

At Abbaye de Villers in Villers-la-Ville we walked around the empty ruins of an ancient Cistercian abbey.  Founded in 1146, the abbey was abandoned in 1796.  The place was spooky and magnificent - one of the most interesting things I've done in a while.

We drove out to Leuven one morning but I forgot my camera so I have no photos.  We walked around the serene Grand Beguinage.  It is a well preserved and completely restored historical quarter owned by the University of Leuven now used for student housing and academic guests.  It has the appearance of a small town in the city with a succession of streets, squares, gardens and parks, with tens of houses and convents in traditional brick and sandstone.  Originating in the early 13th century, the community was built for unmarried, semi-religious women and lasted until the invasion of the anti-religious French Revolutionists.

We left Belgium again to visit Lille, France for the day.  A mini-Paris without he Seine and a million other things that Paris has but Lille doesn't, it was a beautiful city with a pedestrian shopping district, lanterns hung between the buildings and delicious French food.  We toured the Musee de l'Hospice Comptesse, created in 1237 as a hospital where patients were cared for by religious women.  After 1789, it became a retirement house and then afterwards an orphanage in 1939.  Then we had crepes and rose for lunch and shopped the boutiques before heading back home.