He Hustles To Brussels–Part I

On Monday after work, 2 co-workers and I hopped a train to Brussels.  We needed to catch a train from St. Pancras train station.

On the cab ride there, I said, "Oh, we're almost there.  It's just up around the corner to the left."  The two other people in the cab who aren't the cabbie, look at me and ask me how I could possibly know that, when they had no idea where we were.  I knew because St. Pancras is right across the street from King's Cross (Platform 9 3/4) and on the walk back, I remember passing and shooting this building with the awesome blue trim.

 

We took the Eurostar train, and after a little confusion with my ticket and seat, we were off.  Most of the ride we were in tunnels or trenches, and didn't have a very good view of the countryside.  And it was getting dark.  And they gave us this REALLY NICE snack plate.

What I'm getting to is, I didn't realize we were in the Channel Tunnel until the said "Welcome to France."  Ooops.  I had been psyched to ride through the tunnel, and totally missed it.

Just to be clear – my trip to Brussels was a week to 10 days before the bombings in the subway & airport.  And the Geneva portion of my trip was canceled.  They weren't ready, so I put in an extra day in London, and got to head home a day or two earlier than planned.

Like I've said, I've been to Brussels before on a previous trip.  I'd done a little sightseeing, but not much and it was 1/2 a life time ago.  So, I was looking forward to getting out and seeing the sights.

My room at the Renaissance hotel in Brussels.  Nice room, but I preferred the apartment in London.	Rooms 'R Us!
	As I was leaving, I thought it would be good to say "Goodbye"

During the day, it was pretty much work, work, work.  I made it out on lunch.  A European lunch.  Meaning that they took forever, and when you ordered a Diet Coke with lunch, you got a microscopic bottle.  And no ice.

This sandwich is my HERO.	Walking around Brussels, I saw a number these barricades and soldiers.  And this was a week before the bombing.  The city was already on alert.
This the lobby of my office.	They had these ugly green chairs to match the walls.
I did try to eat somewhat healthy while I was there.	And I avoided the desert table.

After work, the group of us would go to dinner.  One night it was in the Grand Place (Plas). 

Théâtre Royal du Parc.	Across the road is the Belgian Senate.
St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral.  Man does Cora's camera take great pictures at night, or what?
Mooooo!	Street art or graffiti?  The eye of the beholder.
This is a great name for a restaurant.	This is above the Roy's Cave below.
Koninklijke Sint-Hubertusgalerijen or Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.  A covered shopping arcade.	The Grand Place lives up to its name.
Beautiful old buildings surrounding the Grand Place.
LeRoy D'Espagne - The King of Spain.  A cute bar on the northwest corner of the Grand Place.	Oh, Chimay, I remember you well.
Like I said, something about neon on this trip.	Fire good!  Fire make room warm!
I'm just hanging out with a bunch of pole-axes.	And this Roy is on the southwest corner.
And the co-workers walk back across the market.

The second night we stayed a little closer to the hotel.  We did a little walking around, and then went chocolate shopping.  Afterwards, we went to a restaurant near the hotel.  At the restaurant, we ordered tap water for the table.  The exact response we got from the waiter / manager whatever was, "We don't do that."  REALLY?

Was considering this for Cora, but the lunch box contained too little chocolate.	Luxembourg Square, right by the hotel.
What did I say about me and neon this trip?	I'm drinking "Sudden Death".  A lambic.  Normally a favorite, but not my cup of tea.
This is where we were told that they don't serve ice water.	And this is the look you get when you say that.
I had a nice dinner.  And Belgium is known for its fries… pommes frites.	But we are all enjoyed a nice meal on our last night
If you are going to have just one, make it a good one.	Back at Luxembourg Square.  I needed a another picture to fill out the table.

And then, there's the last night in Brussels, when I'm running wild, trying to visit everything in one night…

Next time.

London Calling–Part II

Like I said, I'd been to London twice before, and have "done" most of the tourist things.  But that doesn't mean on my time off, that I didn't do some of the touristy thing and revisit some old favorites.  And I got to check the last two items off that "Must See" list.

Below is a set of pictures from all around London.  They are roughly in chronological / geographic order.

Bank of England.  And another underground sign.  I shot a lot of them, but didn't publish many here.	Trying to recreate the classic pose from HERE.
Gringotts Bank – Also the Bank of England	St. Paul's Cathedral – I walked by St. Paul's so many times, it was almost like it was stalking me
St. Lawrence Jewry	Saint Alban Church Tower, Wood St. London.  It seems like 90% of London is built on or around old church grounds.
I love the red filter in Chinatown.  I was lookin' for the place called Lee Ho Fooks.  Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein.	When I was in London 20 years ago, I saw the juggle on the taller unicycle in this very spot, juggling fire.
Trafalgar Square with the anti-Trident nuclear sub rally going on.	The gates of Buckingham Palace.
The London Eye, peaking out from behind they Horse Guard Parade.	The London Red-Eye.
St Margaret's Church; the little parish church.  Not to be confused with Westminster Abbey, which sits behind it.	Westminster Cathedral, the Catholic Cathedral in London.  Not to be confused with Westminster Abbey.
These are the newest photo op stars in London:  The Levitators.	Yoda & the Goldman.  These aren't the only two.
Careful Dick, Batman is readying the Bat-Pole.	Scope, hanging out with the Queen.  See the flag?  She's home.
Platforms 9, 9 3/4, 10, and 11 at King's Cross station.	And I'm heading to the Hogwarts Express!
Tower Bridge at night.  Not to be confused with London Bridge.	I have a thing for the Underground signs.  This is right outside where I was staying.
Me, Richard, & Mike, crossing at Abbey Road.  The drivers in the area must plan routes around this intersection.	Abbey Road Studios gift shop.  Not to be confused with the Westminster Abbey gift shop.
I would hate to wake up in bed with this horse's head next to me in bed.	Flowers in Hyde Park.
I took a lot of pictures of flowers.  Not just for Cora.	Allow me to introduce you to an old friend, Peter Pan.  I have visited him in Kensington Gardens each visit.
They have moved the pigeons out of Trafalgar Square.  They have found a home in Kensington Gardens, by the Round Pond.	This gate at Kensington Palace is where all the flowers to Diana have been on my previous trips.
This little dog took himself for a walk.	St. Margaret's Church at Parliament Square
The Esme Percy fountain in Kensington Garden.	We refer to these as "Eric Pictures" where I take a picture of something through something else.
Went with a vintage look for this one.	It's almost 2 o'clock, better get moving.
Do you even need to have a "Keep Out" sign?	I'm on a boat, headed to Greenwich, in the Mean Time.  I am also weary.
Is that guy doing what I think he's doing?	At least she said, "Yes".  That would have been awkward if she would have said, "No" while trapped on a boat.
Did you see "Thor: The Dark World"?  This is where the big battle took place.  They cleaned it up nicely, it appears.	Prime Meridian @ Greenwich Royal Observatory.
Dolphin Sundial.  The gap between their tails.	I'm East.  I'm West.  I'm East.  I'm West.
This ball isn't in Times Square.  It drops every day at 13:00.	At 221 B. Baker St.  Just dropping in on an old friend.
I was really hoping to see the horse bite or kick someone.	And this is the Sherlock Holmes Pub.  Located no where near 221B, but not far from Scotland Yard.
He's smiling, but he will pop a cap in your ass.	While I was there, I went to see The Doctor.
Last time I was here, this pool was a flower garden.	Imperial Camel Corps Memorial along the Embankment.
St. Bride's Church: The inspiration for the tiered wedding cake.	"Defend the Children of the Poor & Punish the Wrongdoer" – Old Bailey courthouse.
Coworker Lalie & her fiancée Richard.	Coworker Mike and I on our way to Abbey Road.

And now, off to Brussels…