Tea and Crumpets: Snowing in Brussels

One word for Brussels: cold and in cold I mean frigid! Arriving after a sunny day in Barcelona, Cortney, Katelyn, Kirby and I almost hopped the bus back to Spain when we got off into the freezing air. Thankfully we had wonderful friends who took us into their warm apartment for the few days we are staying here. I can't even express how wonderful it is to be among friends, sheltered from the cold, drinking hot chocolate and snacking on Speculoos cookies in front of a movie. Add the snow that has been drifting down all day and you get a perfect picture end to independent travel.

I will confess that we did spend one day in Brussels just chilling and watching Gilmore Girls, but then we made up for that relaxation with our Brussels day today! It began at the Belgian Chocolate Museum, where this sweet little chocolate maker gave us many many samples of chocolate, including fresh melted chocolate on a Speculoos cookie. The whole building smelled of warm chocolate; it was like a mini Willie Wonka world of magic.

The next order of the day included more delicious Belgian treats. We first ventured into the cold to marvel at the snow dusted Grand Place, which is like the center area of the city. And right in the middle of the plaza stood a towering Christmas tree covered in sparkling blue lights. Belgium's buildings are so beautifully constructed and quaint. And in the midst of these buildings stands the modern glass windows of the the European Union. But on to the rest of the day: Belgian Waffles! These delectable treats were warm, soft, sweet, and topped with a number of delicious toppings. I went for some banana on top of mine, while the other girls went for some chocolate and speculoos (which is a Belgian cookie) on top of theirs. We all savored the waffles and the warmth of being inside.

The final stretch of the day was our walk back home to the apartment through the snow and through the park. There were many almost slips on the icy walkways, but we made it home safely! Tomorrow we return to our beloved London, but Brussels has been such a treat (both with the company and the food)