I can't remember if I've posted about out some of the interesting things in Belgium house design or not, but I'm going to do it again if I have.
The first interesting thing about Belgian houses is that, from what we've been told, is that it is against the law to refuse people a restroom. So, if someone comes to the door needing the toilet, you let them in. Because of that, every Belgian house we've been in has a small, airplane-like, bathroom on the main floor, and usually in the foyer. They usually have just a sink with cold water only and a toilet. I find this unusual, but, hey, if I'm out jogging and nature calls, I don't have to rely on using nature if I'm close to a house.
The Belgians must not be a big people, because the second interesting thing about Belgian houses is that they all have crazy stairs. We have stairs all over our place and they're all different sizes. They might just be a single step from kitchen to living room, or 2 stairs down to the garage. They may be 2 marble steps with vicious edges leading up to 12 narrow, steep, curved stairs going to the second floor. The stairs leading up are also short, my husband has to duck when using them, and if not paying attention, will bonk our son's head when carrying him. The steps themselves are very narrow, my size 6 foot is all that will fit on one. We have all slipped or missed a stair or two in the house, but this past week, the dangerous design took it's first victim.
Our buddy, Travis, came from his part of the world to visit us for a week or two. There were some European things that he was hoping to see and was going to use our place as his launching pad. The big event of the vacation was going to be a huge trance music festival in Holland that he was particularly excited about. After dinner and having a great Belgian beverage, our son took him upstairs to see his room. On the way back down, the combination of socks, a beverage after being in a dry country for months and our darn Belgian stairs took him unaware and pulled him down.
At first, it just was sore, so he had another beverage and we chatted around the table. The next morning it wasn't really swollen or discolored, but he was hoping to get some medicine to help with the pain. We headed to the closest hospital and found the "Urgencies Room." After getting to practice his French on the receptionist and the doctor practicing his English on Travis, it was determined that he had broken a small bone off in his foot. "It is not broken, but it is fractured, " is exactly what the doctor told me. They have him some of the half arm crutches and sent him away with some prescriptions and an appointment for the following week.
Now, he's been hanging around our place, alternately, working his way through the DVD library and enjoying the rare Belgian weather. He has a plaster cast and the orthopedist told him No Weight Bearing Activities for another month. This has put the kibosh on his awesome music festival and has greatly changed the vacation as a whole.
Let this be your warning when you come to Belgium, Beware the Stairs!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Again with the Belgian Weather
The past two days it was wonderfully springlike. The morning started with fog, it burned off to beautifully sunny days in the low 60s. Absolutely perfect. Today we started off with a decently warm morning and partly sunny skies. Now the wind has picked up, the sun is gone and it's trying to rain. Good gravy, make up your mind!!
This doesn't seem to bother the pheasants, rabbits, moles, crows and other assorted wildlife that is scurrying about today. All the while, I keep looking at the sky giving it the "hairy eyeball" and waving my fist in the air.
This doesn't seem to bother the pheasants, rabbits, moles, crows and other assorted wildlife that is scurrying about today. All the while, I keep looking at the sky giving it the "hairy eyeball" and waving my fist in the air.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Spring!
Today is a beautiful spring day! It's about 56 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the sun is shining and there is all sorts of stuff to do today.
Currently, we have a classic car race speeding past our house. There are all sorts of cars, from Model T looking, to vintage Porches and a few that look like old VW rabbits and even a WWII Jeep. Some have roll bars inside them, some have multiple lights mounted to the grill. It's been fun to watch them speed past. Many of them have waved at us and given us quizzical looks as to which way to turn up at the corner. With my limited French, I could make out that some of the cars belong to a classic car club from Brussels. This is the second time since we've been in the house that there has been a road race go past the house. I'm amazed that anyone can even find our house, let alone have a car race go past it not once, but twice.
There have been a few groups of cyclists ride past as well. The opposite way as the cars, so that's good. You can tell that the drivers aren't excited to slow down for the cyclists, but you know the cyclists aren't going to ride single file in Belgium, it's just not their way. (or wear helmets)
We have our friend's dog, Miss Mo, for a few days, so we took advantage of the beautiful weather and took her for a hike around the woods behind our house. My son was excited to be outside, after some "encouragement" to get away from the fabulous AFN Sunday morning cartoons. My husband took the camera and got some nice pictures of the wild snowdrops and daffodils that are blooming in the undergrowth. Miss Mo got to go off leash and roll in some stinky stuff and get some exercise. We got to jump puddles and enjoy the sun and fresh air. We got to walk past the dairy barns and see the new lamb in the pasture on the corner. It's just been a wonderful morning so far.
This evening, we were invited over to a cookout. Now, I don't want to be too hopeful, but I feel pretty positive that the weather is going to hold out for us. This will be the perfect way to end this lovely spring day.
Currently, we have a classic car race speeding past our house. There are all sorts of cars, from Model T looking, to vintage Porches and a few that look like old VW rabbits and even a WWII Jeep. Some have roll bars inside them, some have multiple lights mounted to the grill. It's been fun to watch them speed past. Many of them have waved at us and given us quizzical looks as to which way to turn up at the corner. With my limited French, I could make out that some of the cars belong to a classic car club from Brussels. This is the second time since we've been in the house that there has been a road race go past the house. I'm amazed that anyone can even find our house, let alone have a car race go past it not once, but twice.
There have been a few groups of cyclists ride past as well. The opposite way as the cars, so that's good. You can tell that the drivers aren't excited to slow down for the cyclists, but you know the cyclists aren't going to ride single file in Belgium, it's just not their way. (or wear helmets)
We have our friend's dog, Miss Mo, for a few days, so we took advantage of the beautiful weather and took her for a hike around the woods behind our house. My son was excited to be outside, after some "encouragement" to get away from the fabulous AFN Sunday morning cartoons. My husband took the camera and got some nice pictures of the wild snowdrops and daffodils that are blooming in the undergrowth. Miss Mo got to go off leash and roll in some stinky stuff and get some exercise. We got to jump puddles and enjoy the sun and fresh air. We got to walk past the dairy barns and see the new lamb in the pasture on the corner. It's just been a wonderful morning so far.
This evening, we were invited over to a cookout. Now, I don't want to be too hopeful, but I feel pretty positive that the weather is going to hold out for us. This will be the perfect way to end this lovely spring day.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Gent, Belgium
Yesterday, we took advantage of the lack of rain and decided to go to Gent, which is only an hour and fifteen minutes from here. Gent is in the Flemish region of Belgium, which meant that any French that we had learned was out the window and better to speak English. We had heard that Gent is right up there with Brugge for beauty and canals, so away we went.
After a lovely dinner at a pizzeria, where the waiters spoke in Italian, we took off to explore. Gent has the largest car free city center in all of Belgium, which is wonderful when you have a crazy toddler that hasn't napped. After taking a picture of our cheesy son near a beautiful statue, we went into the cathedral of Saint Bavo. So far, in our travels, St. Waudru Cathedral in Mons has been the most impressive cathedral that we've stepped foot. Saint Bavo made Saint Waudru look small and amateur in comparison. First step inside, my son noticed right away that you could see your breath. It was a balmy 47 degrees outside, but we could see our breath inside. We looked at all the beautiful stained glass work and the little alcoves around the center chapel. Many of the alcoves, which seems to be typical, housed some underfloor crypts. Others, had more ornate coffins with carved tops of the person inside. One in particular, had a very oddly lounging Bishop on top. The marble and stonework was amazing. Much of the stone and wood was so well cared for that it shone. This place is hundreds to years old and it was shiny. They layers of wax and polish would protect the wood from anything.
Inside one of the alcoves they had a harpist playing. Though is little stand with CDs to sell was a little awkward, he had a sedate smile that when coupled with the music was quite soothing. I would have liked to look inside that alcove, but it was off limits while he was playing.
Another alcove housed The Mystic Lamb or Ghent altarpiece that is an amazing piece of artwork, arguably the most famous in all of Belgium. It was huge and very difficult to see since the doors were shut and you had to observe through the marble pillars and scroll work on the doors. There was a smaller replica displayed in another alcove that you could get closer to so you could see some details. And let me tell you, the details were amazing. Adam and Eve are on opposite panels and they look so real, it's almost like they could walk off the canvas. It was very interesting the differences between Adam and Eve. Adam is so modest in his panel, looking shy and almost hiding his chest along with his leaf area. Eve, on the other hand, looks bored and hardly modest enough to use her leaf. Her breasts are bare and she looks almost provocative in her panel. She is also is not holding an apple, but another fruit that is often referred to as, "Adam's Apple." The details on those two alone are spectacular, but the rest of the frames are equally detailed. You'll have to look at the link to read about it.
After our tour of the cathedral, we went outside to run the boy and look around. We found a lovely chocolate shop that is currently my most favorite Belgian chocolate. Ahhh, the creaminess is just lovely. Then we took off to find the canals.
We crossed over a pedestrian bridge and looked at some of the artwork atop the buildings. We saw the only dragon weather vane that I've ever seen on the Belfry. There was lots of construction going on at the Belfry, so we'll have to see inside that at a later time. My husband and I had a stressful stroll along the canal, with our son very excited to walk on the edge and look for ducks in the water. He spotted Poseidon with his spear in the middle of the canal and was bothered until he told me, "Mom, that guy in the water is only a statue." Then we saw the castle.
Gravensteen Castle has a nice little self-paced walking tour that takes you in all parts of the castle. This castle, the first one we've been in so far, was built in 1180. That alone is amazing. It isn't a large castle, in castle standards, but it does have the walkways and arrow slits, crazy, carved, curved staircases and the damp chill that you'd expect in a castle. If the displays and information boards have it correct, there were many, many executions and punishments performed at Gravensteen Castle. One display showed a mannequin stretched out on a cot with his hands and feet bound and stretched with a funnel in his mouth to pour water directly into his stomach. It left little to the imagination, especially when my son went over the pet the mannequin's wig like he was comforting him. (kinds creepy, right?) It does have the tingly feel that made my husband state that this was a place my step-dad would love to spend the night. Although, most of the time we were behind a tourgroup of 12 year olds, we enjoyed it.
We had a great day, despite a nap-deprived toddler. He thoroughly enjoyed the city square and running around the weapons and armor displays at the castle. I greatly enjoyed getting to see more of this beautiful country and my husband enjoyed having a weekend off from coaching so he could be with us. It was a lovely city, one that we'll gladly go back to.
After a lovely dinner at a pizzeria, where the waiters spoke in Italian, we took off to explore. Gent has the largest car free city center in all of Belgium, which is wonderful when you have a crazy toddler that hasn't napped. After taking a picture of our cheesy son near a beautiful statue, we went into the cathedral of Saint Bavo. So far, in our travels, St. Waudru Cathedral in Mons has been the most impressive cathedral that we've stepped foot. Saint Bavo made Saint Waudru look small and amateur in comparison. First step inside, my son noticed right away that you could see your breath. It was a balmy 47 degrees outside, but we could see our breath inside. We looked at all the beautiful stained glass work and the little alcoves around the center chapel. Many of the alcoves, which seems to be typical, housed some underfloor crypts. Others, had more ornate coffins with carved tops of the person inside. One in particular, had a very oddly lounging Bishop on top. The marble and stonework was amazing. Much of the stone and wood was so well cared for that it shone. This place is hundreds to years old and it was shiny. They layers of wax and polish would protect the wood from anything.
Inside one of the alcoves they had a harpist playing. Though is little stand with CDs to sell was a little awkward, he had a sedate smile that when coupled with the music was quite soothing. I would have liked to look inside that alcove, but it was off limits while he was playing.
Another alcove housed The Mystic Lamb or Ghent altarpiece that is an amazing piece of artwork, arguably the most famous in all of Belgium. It was huge and very difficult to see since the doors were shut and you had to observe through the marble pillars and scroll work on the doors. There was a smaller replica displayed in another alcove that you could get closer to so you could see some details. And let me tell you, the details were amazing. Adam and Eve are on opposite panels and they look so real, it's almost like they could walk off the canvas. It was very interesting the differences between Adam and Eve. Adam is so modest in his panel, looking shy and almost hiding his chest along with his leaf area. Eve, on the other hand, looks bored and hardly modest enough to use her leaf. Her breasts are bare and she looks almost provocative in her panel. She is also is not holding an apple, but another fruit that is often referred to as, "Adam's Apple." The details on those two alone are spectacular, but the rest of the frames are equally detailed. You'll have to look at the link to read about it.
After our tour of the cathedral, we went outside to run the boy and look around. We found a lovely chocolate shop that is currently my most favorite Belgian chocolate. Ahhh, the creaminess is just lovely. Then we took off to find the canals.
We crossed over a pedestrian bridge and looked at some of the artwork atop the buildings. We saw the only dragon weather vane that I've ever seen on the Belfry. There was lots of construction going on at the Belfry, so we'll have to see inside that at a later time. My husband and I had a stressful stroll along the canal, with our son very excited to walk on the edge and look for ducks in the water. He spotted Poseidon with his spear in the middle of the canal and was bothered until he told me, "Mom, that guy in the water is only a statue." Then we saw the castle.
Gravensteen Castle has a nice little self-paced walking tour that takes you in all parts of the castle. This castle, the first one we've been in so far, was built in 1180. That alone is amazing. It isn't a large castle, in castle standards, but it does have the walkways and arrow slits, crazy, carved, curved staircases and the damp chill that you'd expect in a castle. If the displays and information boards have it correct, there were many, many executions and punishments performed at Gravensteen Castle. One display showed a mannequin stretched out on a cot with his hands and feet bound and stretched with a funnel in his mouth to pour water directly into his stomach. It left little to the imagination, especially when my son went over the pet the mannequin's wig like he was comforting him. (kinds creepy, right?) It does have the tingly feel that made my husband state that this was a place my step-dad would love to spend the night. Although, most of the time we were behind a tourgroup of 12 year olds, we enjoyed it.
We had a great day, despite a nap-deprived toddler. He thoroughly enjoyed the city square and running around the weapons and armor displays at the castle. I greatly enjoyed getting to see more of this beautiful country and my husband enjoyed having a weekend off from coaching so he could be with us. It was a lovely city, one that we'll gladly go back to.
Friday, March 2, 2012
The Fog Light
European cars seem to have it all over American cars, in many different ways. For example, diesel engines over here are much more fuel efficient than in the States. Amazing, though few will realize it, gas is more expensive over here than in the States, even if it climbs to $5/gallon at home, it will be more expensive here. So, it is nice that the technology is used in fuel efficient engines, both for diesel and gas. Also, they aren't driving huge vehicles around. Our Prius is an average size car here, there are actually some parking places where it's a tight fit. Especially, if we're going to park in a garage, the mirrors are going to have to come in and we're probably going to have dings on the doors.
Those are good things, very good things, but my favorite necessity on the European car is the fog light. They are mandatory and we're way behind in getting ours installed. The fog light is, on most cars, installed along with the rear break lights. It's just a single light, and it quite bright, it would be like having one break light on. It might seem strange, but with all the fog here, it's quite nice to have. The light cuts through the fog for people coming up on your rear. And when you're cruising along at 150KMH +, it's nice to be seen through the fog. (No, we don't drive that fast.....generally) We're looking to get the light installed into the bumper so it looks more natural instead of the way most Americans get in installed, hanging under the bumper. Why is it that this handy safety item isn't a necessary part of all cars made. Toyotas sold in Europe have them, Fords sold in Europe have them, Porsches, Volvos, VWs, I could go on all have them installed in their European versions.
When we bring out little Prius back to the States, if it lives through the Priority to the Right laws and crazy drivers, I'll be more than happy to use my little fog light.
Those are good things, very good things, but my favorite necessity on the European car is the fog light. They are mandatory and we're way behind in getting ours installed. The fog light is, on most cars, installed along with the rear break lights. It's just a single light, and it quite bright, it would be like having one break light on. It might seem strange, but with all the fog here, it's quite nice to have. The light cuts through the fog for people coming up on your rear. And when you're cruising along at 150KMH +, it's nice to be seen through the fog. (No, we don't drive that fast.....generally) We're looking to get the light installed into the bumper so it looks more natural instead of the way most Americans get in installed, hanging under the bumper. Why is it that this handy safety item isn't a necessary part of all cars made. Toyotas sold in Europe have them, Fords sold in Europe have them, Porsches, Volvos, VWs, I could go on all have them installed in their European versions.
When we bring out little Prius back to the States, if it lives through the Priority to the Right laws and crazy drivers, I'll be more than happy to use my little fog light.
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