Check out the mama duck protecting her three babies from the rain underneath her – so sweet!
Monthly Archives: May 2013
Brussels is beautiful!
Categories: belgium
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Manneken Pis (yes, that is the actual name)
Manneken Pis is a famous Brussels landmark. It is a small bronze fountain sculpture of a naked little boy peeing. It dates back to 1618/19. He is pretty resilient and/or lucky, as well, having survived the bombardment of Brussels in 1695.
The famous statue is an emblem of the rebellious spirit of the City of Brussels- sometimes they even put clothes on him. The little fella’s wardrobe consists of about 800 outfits!
Categories: belgium
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Belgian Waffles, gelato, chocolate fountains… Yummalicious!
Sacha and Jamie told us we had to have fries (frites), waffles, chocolates and beers while in Belgium. We have tried all of them and were not the least bit disappointed!
Categories: belgium
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Belgian Fries, not French Fries!
Interesting factoid that Sacha clued us into to: French fries are not french at all! Some Belgians believe that the term “French” was introduced when American soldiers arrived in Belgium during World War I. They tried Belgian fries and called them “French” because that was the language the Belgian soldiers were speaking at that time (French was the official language of the Belgian Army.) “French” fries became popular very quickly. South of the Netherlands, bordering Belgium, they were, and still are, called Vlaamse Frieten or Flemish fries.
Categories: belgium
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A stroll through Brussels with Sacha
It’s inevitable with Jesse- if there is someone who will talk soccer with him, he’s a happy man! Above: Jesse and Sacha (who plays for Anderlecht in Belgium and the US national team)
Categories: belgium
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Jamie and Lennon playing War
As soon as we got to Brussels to visit our friends Sacha and Jamie, Lennon challenged Jamie to a game of War… and won!
Categories: belgium
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“Gromit, that’s it! Cheese! We’ll go somewhere where there’s cheese!” – Wallace
Categories: luxembourg
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German Cemetery in Luxembourg
The Sandweiler German war cemetery is a World War II cemetery located in southern Luxembourg. 10,913 German soldiers (Nazis) from the Battle of the Bulge in 1944-45 are located here. American casualties are buried less than a mile away at the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Hamm.
The last person to be buried at Sandweiler was an unknown German soldier discovered in the forests near Wiltz in 2007.
The energy of these cemeteries is so shockingly different- you can feel it right away. Each American has their own cross at the US cemetery, while at the German one, up to four names are on a cross (2 names on each side) and there are many “unknowns.” The US one is pristine with guides milling about ready to give facts and answer questions. At the German one, a guy with a leaf blower was the only person in sight. The grass was overgrown and it just seemed more eery. Perhaps it’s indicative of how people feel about that time in history- I don’t know. (?) We’ll have to do some research when we visit Germany!
Categories: luxembourg
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Our new buddy Penny!
We are currently (May 16) in Brussels, Belgium with our friends Sacha and Jamie Kljestan. (Sacha and Jesse were teammates on Chivas in California.) We were so happy to find out that they have a little dog. Her name is Penny and she is a sweetheart. We have fallen in love with her!
Jesse, Maddux, Lennon and I went to Brugge for the afternoon. Emerson stayed back (feeling sick) with Jamie and Penny. Apparently, Em was feeling well enough to make her do a little photo shoot!
” just living is not enough, one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little dog…” – unknown
The one with Maddux was taken as soon as we got home- that little dog is certainly loved!
She’s so smart, too. She even recycles!
Categories: belgium
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