1st Day in Brussels!!!

We arrived in Brussels at about 2:30 on Thursday afternoon. I instantly got anxiety when we got off the train and had no idea what was going on. The train system here is much more confusing than the German train system. Once we figured out how to use our train passes to get through a series of gates (with our luggage which was difficult because we had to get through the gate before it closed) we found our way to the street, which was also difficult. Luckily we had a guide help us out, or else we would have been stuck in the train station for a while. Once we stepped out onto the street I noticed how different it is here than in Munich and Berlin. The streets are mostly all cobblestones and wide enough for basically one car plus cars parked on the side and a sidewalk. 

Our hotel is only a few blocks away from the train station, so we only had to run over the cobblestones with our luggage for a few minutes. Our hotel is very nice here, and also has a gym, so a couple of other students and I went to that before we had to meet up an hour and a half later. Turns out treadmill’s in Brussels are much different than America, either that or I just run too awkwardly that I break the machine. It kept stopping and showing an “error” message. Great.  I got a decent at best work out in, but it still made me feel better after eating out for every meal. 

We showered then went out to stroll around the town and find some dinner. Our hotel is centrally located in the town, which is very nice, so there were a lot of options around. We found a hole in the wall place that was actually pretty cool. I ordered a lambic blanc, which was way different than anything I’ve ever fasted. It was very fruity and sour, and almost dried out my mouth. It almost tasted like champagne, and it was very refreshing. After dinner we went to the grocery store to pick up some “gnome” beer, which is actually Brasserie D’Achouffe Belgium, which was pretty good! Here in Belgium beer comes in smaller sizes than Germany, but is much stronger in alcohol content. Since Belgium doesn’t have the purity law, the beer here is MUCH different than the beer in Germany. Then we went out to the Delirium Café, which was bumpin’, and full of people our age, which was different because most people we saw at the pubs in Munich were older. We didn’t stay for too long though because most of us were pretty tired (especially myself). But we took note of the spot, and will definitely go back. That spot rocks because they offer 1,000 different beers. Crazzyyy. 

Amanda and I at dinner

Lambic blanc, Emma and I both ordered it, so it came in this pitcher