Only I'm not a hitman, and no one died, and other tiny details. I had a horrible head cold, so I wasn't up for much excitement, but I was in a much better mood than Colin Farrell.
Cool stuff:
- the belfry/Belfort/belltower, which has about nine hundred spiral stairs that get progressively more cramped. The bell carillon at the top has a giant rotating drum to play the bells, like an huge music box. There's also a really nice view of the surrounding area.
- the Chapel of the Holy Blood. It wasn't the big procession day, so we didn't get to make sure that the world wasn't heading for disaster. That's about three weeks from now, I think.
- the Fries Museum, which was a bit silly but ended with tasty tasty fries dipped in curry ketchup.
- a chocolate museum (not as good as Cadbury, but what can be?). There was a chocolate chef who gave her presentation in at least three languages, at high speed. It was impressive.
- canals. Venice doesn't have a monopoly!
- Dutch language. And then in Brussels everything was French. The difference was surprising.
- a secret indoor ATM lobby!
- statue of Jan Van Eyck. It's a good thing I wasn't actually looking for him, because I don't know how to pronounce his name, either. I guess he's kind of a big deal.
- a pretty interesting museum with a lot of paintings.
- chocolate from a grocery store, because it's supposedly better, more authentic, and more reasonably-priced than the ones from "Belgian chocolate" shops.
- "frizzy" drinks.
- swans.
- more fries.
- 1-euro beer that I DID NOT DRINK BECAUSE OF MY HEAD COLD. Seriously.
- a Michelangelo in a church.
- "lights and music" in another church. Really, there was only music. I don't know about the lights part.
Leaving the country was logistically difficult, but finally successful. Current location: England!
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