July 11 and 12. Belgium

We drove to Brussels on Thursday afternoon. It was not a bad drive. About 130 miles to Eurotunnel that took about 1.5 hours, then 20 minute wait for our train, 35 minutes on the train under the tunnel, and finally 190 miles in 1.5 in Belgium. Note that Belgium has much better roads and higher speed limits at least in the portions that we covered.

Eurotunnel was a neat experience. There are clearly marked exits that take you to the booth where you can register and get a print out with your letter - this indicates the time you will be boarding  the train. Then there is passport control - more or less engaging depending on the mood of the officers. After that you are directed towards the train if the current train queue matches your letter or you go to a nice waiting center with stores, restaurants, and a large display. You actually drive into the train, and it is 2 stories tall. Cars are lined up one after another. They all stop and await for the transfer to take place. There are bathrooms too.

We haven't been in Brussels for a few years but the roads did not seem to change: picturesque cottages, windmills and cows grazing. Brussels seemed the same as well. Except our favorite chocolate shop Valrhona is gone. Probably did not survive the onslaught of all the Godivas, Leonidas and others, in multiple representations.

There was a dance festival going on. On the main square they were playing retro hits and an Indian performer with slicked back hair did pretty good renditions of the good old classics. On another square, they were playing techno orchestrated by a DJ in a pretty tin soldier outfit.

We walked around taking in all the Belgian chocolate places, innumerable kiosks selling French fries with mayo. That was the core of our stable diet too while we stayed here so we remembered the tradition. No sight of Starbucks though.

The next day we spent at our Belgium office right outside the town. The team seems happier and livelier and office is more modern and spacious. The walls are covered in motivational frames in French. Made me remember the real things on depair.com.

Belgians took us to Brasserie Industria for lunch. Highly highly recommend this place! I got beef tartar (for the all you the meat lovers out there). It was perfect. It is the sashimi of meat. Can it get any better? Dan liked his entrecote too.

Kids were very happy. Irina tried to take them to the Flower show while we were out but got the wrong entrance. It is a mission impossible. Back at our apartment there were various country flags flying from people's balconies. Concierge explained that owners got deeds to their properties at last and this is to celebrate that. I did not fully get it but it was interesting to see the highly international make up of the owners. It seems to be evenly split into 3 parts: UKs, former Soviet republics and other countries.

We found a new Salisbury supermarket near our house by the Basin and went with kids and Irina to check it out. Pretty nice. That's where we will do our shopping.

Great news about Georgia. She was in 19th place on the waiting list to Fern Hill and Lachmere. St. Altestan seemed to be the only option. Then St. Luke let her in. So she will be going to the Catholic school next year. But school officials assured me that we will not feel unwelcome. I think it is a good experience academics aside to learn about different people Georgia told me she believes in God but not in any ceremonies associated with the recognition of that. I am glad for her.