My Thanks Giving

This year I spent Thanksgiving working most of the day. It really didn't feel like Thanksgiving nor did I have a Turkey dinner or sandwich. My colleague and I educated our colleagues on Black Wednesdays and Fridays, American football, and the Macy's day parade that is part of the American tradition. Thursday was the first day I actually looked online at the NBC5 website to catch up on Chicago happenings. It will be two months on Dec. 2nd since I've been here and I've been trying distance myself from Chicago happenings. I don't read Chicago newspapers and I delete most of the email blasts I receive about Chicago events. Not that I don't miss and love my friends and family. It just makes it difficult to start a new life in another country when your foot is still in another door.

After work, I headed to Belgium on the Eurostar. An hour and fifty minutes later, I was at the Midi-Du Nord train station headed to the bed and breakfast that I was sharing with my friend Sofia from Paris and my friend Vicky from Chicago. It was cool that we could reunite in Brussels for a weekend. I was a little shocked at first as the bed and breakfast was situated in an area known for prostitution. The owner, Carmelo assured us it was safe. And it really was....It just made for a more interesting trip.

On Friday morning, we headed to Bruge. It was a one hour train ride from Brussels. We were told we wouldn't need more than one day to see Bruge. Vicky was on a mission to go to the Frite museum. We learned how French fries were named as such when they came from Belgium. During the first World War, French speaking Belgium soliders offered an American solider some chips(fries) and the Americans assumed they were French thus the name was born....Leave it to the Americans...



At the end of the tour, we were treated to a batch of Belgium style frites with ketchup and mayonaise.

We finished off Bruge by walking around the stalls at the Christmas market and then heading back home.

In Brussels on Saturday, Sofia and I toured the city by bike. We signed up for a guided tour and braved the rain and cold. The first stop was the Manequin Pis (pronounced Piss). No one really knows the story around it but there are three tales. Here is the link to read more about the legends - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manneken_Pis They dress him up for special causes or holidays and we were even told he sometimes pees beer. This statue is really big in Brussels. They have fine Belgium chocolate molds made from this statue.



Towards the end of the ride, we got silly and started taking pictures while riding.

We had many other adventures including hanging out at the Christmas market and drinking hot beer, Jagermeister, eating Brats, the tranny prostitute making fun of Sofia's plastic raincoat in French, Delrium cafe, and the Sunday flea market.

Being in Europe for Thanksgiving wasn't so bad afterall. It makes me even more thankful for the opportunities that I have to explore the world and share my experiences. It was the perfect holiday.