So it has taken some time to get this post up, but I was dealing with issues with blogger and photos. I had reached my limit for storage unless I re-sized the images. Since I am far from a computer expert, it took a little time to figure out how to quickly re-size hundreds of pictures at one time. Thankfully, Tommy took a great computer class last year and he had a great idea. So I tried it out today, and it appears to have worked. Thanks Tommy!
For Thanksgiving, we traveled to Belgium for the long distance swimming championship. Both kids were competing and were very excited. I was excited, too, because this was our first trip out of Italy and because I have always wanted to go to Belgium to see where my ancestors came from. Flying in, the topography looked very much like the Rochester area, probably more like it did 100 years ago as far as open farm space, but I could see why the area would have appealed to my great-grandfather. Tommy's first observation from the plane was that it looked like a big Oak Hill. There were a lot of houses in the tudor style, like Oak Hill, so I could see what he was saying. We flew into Brussels and had decided not to rent a car but to take advantage of their trains and trams. So we headed straight to the train station attached to the airport. It was so nice to see signs in English and to have everyone be able to understand us, because while most people spoke Dutch or French, they pretty much all were fluent in English.
After a train and then a tram ride and a short walk, we arrived at our hotel in Antwerp. I wasn't expecting much, because I heard European hotels are not like those in the US and are very small. We had a room with 2 twin beds and then had 2 additional beds brought in, so I thought we would really be squished for the time we were in Antwerp! However, I was nicely surprised, and the room was quite big and the extra beds were so much nicer than the cots we get at home!
We flew in on Thanksgiving, and the hotel was nice enough to put together a buffet feast for our team. Most of us were in the same hotel, but those who were not still joined us for dinner
This is our turkey dinner. It was turkey in red sauce. Not traditional, but not bad. I don't think I will try making it at home, but it was ok.
Here is a picture of all the swimmers who were at champs.
Tommy with his first plate of food
This is my Thanksgiving dinner. There was fish, turkey, croquettes, chicory, corn, rolls, salad, etc.
Then came the desserts! Yum, Belgian chocolate!
Friday we headed to Bruges. Sam rode in with friends, Tommy didn't want to go so he stayed at the hotel, where one of the coaches was, and Mike and I headed to the train station (above photo is Antwerp train station)
We opted to skip the bus once we got to Bruges and walk to the center of town where we were going to meet up with the other Swordfish families. And I am so glad we did. We would have missed so much of the charm of the city. It was really like being in Epcot if there was Belgium in Epcot =) Narrow, cobblestone roads and charming old buildings. It was beautiful and peaceful.
Once we reached the center of town, there were a lot of different stores. I would love to have had time, and luggage space, to do some shopping! On just about every street, there was some sort of chocolate shop!
This is one of the beautiful buildings in town. I told Mike I was sure this was my ancestral home, but he didn't agree. I think he claims there was a sign that said it was a school, or something like that ;)
The Christmas markets were going strong in Bruges, that is what the little huts are in the center of the picture. You can kind of get the feel of how picturesque this little town is from the colorful buildings in the background.
There were canals everywhere and tour boats running.
We had planned to meet up with the others at this place called the Beer Wall. It took some time, but we found it.
It was chilly and damp out, but they had nice tables with fires outside to keep you warm.
One of the streets away from the center of town. We decided to explore a little away from the real touristy area.
This is the original gate to the city.
This is what I was looking for. I would have preferred to see it surrounded by tulips, but it was still cool to see the old windmills in town.
This is our first order of Belgian Fries. In Belgium, they like their fries with mayonnaise it was pretty good! I like those Belgians!
Just another chocolate shop in town, with a chocolate fountain!
The kids had both wanted to get hats from Belgium, so I picked them up at the Christmas market. Tommy has now decided that it is his goal to get a hat from each country we visit!
That is it for Bruges. We spent some time in Antwerp and in Brussels as well, but those will be separate posts, hence the title "Belgium, part 1". And now that I know how to re-size my photos, it shouldn't take nearly as long to get the posts up!
