A couple of "quiet" days

Sunday and Monday were a bit slower and quieter compared to the rest of our Belgium vacation. Sunday morning, Jean Pierre took us to a Moroccan outdoor market.  It was crazy.  The fresh fruit and veggies looked yummy.  We had a light lunch there of Morroccan pancakes stuffed with cheese and chicken, etc... We also had Moroccan tea.  

We went hiking Sunday afternoon in a forest near Brussels with Agnes' friend Marion & her son Vadiel.  A light blue flower was in bloom and this is the only time of year that it blooms.  It was a beautiful sight... it looked mystical, almost like a light fog covered the ground.  I think that this may have been Erlan's favorite stop on our vacation.  He could run around, pick up sticks, throw sticks, play in dirt--a perfect stop for a little boy.

Both boys were exhausted after our journey through the forest.  Both fell asleep two minutes (literally) before we arrived back at Agnes' house.  

Speaking of Erlan, I think that his top 10 guide book of Belgium would read: (1) Busses!  (2) Trams! (3) Motorcycles! (4) Tunnels! (5) Trains! (6) Airplanes! (7) Dogs! (8) Candy! (9) Big rocks! (aka cobblestones) (10) Churches! 

He has been fantastic, especially for a 3-year old.  It helps tremendously that we are able to stay with Agnes.  Erlan adores Agnes and Sacha.  He is able to chill out and be a kid with Sacha after a day of touring.  He can also play outside in the backyard.  

On Monday, Ben, Erlan, & I toured Brussels a bit more.  We finally stopped by the cathedral.  It was awesome.  We also stopped by some of the top chocolate makers to bring some goodies home.

Mechelen, Leuven, and Bruges

We have had two marvelous days in Belgium, where we have been to Mechelen, Leuven, &  Bruges. We spent yesterday with our world-famous tour guide, Emil.  We spent much of our time in Mechelen (pronounced Mickalyn).  It is barely mentioned in our guide book, and it is an absolute gem.  There were three churches.  We saw inside two, and they were magnificent.  Ok, magnificent doesn't begin to describe these churches...  We took pictures, but they will not capture the beauty that we saw.  

 

It was a national holiday yesterday in Belgium--May Day. 

 Mechelen had its town fair, oomplete with a band.  Mechelen 

also has many squares.  We also saw 

women making lace.  It looked so complicated, 

but I was assured that if I could knit (which I can), then I 

can make lace.  It was really so pretty.

We then went to Leuven (looven), which is a university town in Belgium.  It also has many wonderful churches and buildings; however, my top three favorite parts of Leuven: (1) 

the old markt, which had more bars in one single place than I have ever seen--it must be fun to go to college in Leuven; (2) the beguine (sp?), which was a place where only women lived.  It was not a convent, but it was like a sanctuary for women.  It was so peaceful.  I really liked it. (3) the company at dinner.  We had dinner with Agnes family!  We met her sister Ann, and Ann's daughter Ramila.  Agnes' parents, Emil and Magda, were there as was Jean Pierre and Sacha.  Erlan and Sacha were awesome at dinner.

I learned as we were looking at all of the Catholic churches that Belgian Catholics no longer kneel.  Did American Catholics stop kneeling too?  Sorry for my ignorance, but I haven't been to mass in 20 years.

We spent today in Bruges with Agnes, Jean Pierre, and Sacha.  Jean Pierre remarked that Bruges was a bit like European Disney World.  I didn't understand what he meant until we hit the traffic going into Bruges.  There were so many tourists.  Once we got away from the high tourist areas, the city was wonderful.  The canals give it a distinct charm.  Erlan's 3 favorite things in Bruges: (1) the horses, (2) the boats, and (3) the fair!  Bruges was also having a fair for the holiday weekend, and Erlan took a ride on the "Grand Canyon"... his smile said it all.  We had dinner at a local restaurant and had a fantastic time.

We ended the night with a tour of the red light district, complete with scantily clad young women in the windows.  Sorry guys no pictures.