EURO, 5 Countries in 3 weeks

[SEA Traveler]

Being originally from the USA, working in Asia most of my adult life and now residing as a retired EXPAT in Thai for the past few years has shelted me somewhat from what I would consider to be an expensive cost of living in Europe. Don't get me wrong, I've been to Europe on business many times in the past and enjoyed the sights, food, aspects offered within the various and varried parts of Europe and each time I've departed Europe with an appreciation of how expensive it is to live there when compaired to the US, Korea where I've lived and work for more than 17 years, and Thailand. Saying that, I/we (my Thai spouse accompanied me as she always enjoys exploring new parts of Europe and the world) went to Europe knowing that I would be doing some consulting work for about 10 days in Poland and taking advantage of an invitation from a Belgium EXPAT friend who also resides in Thailand with his Thai spouse, to visit Belgium with him and his bride and stay at his parents home. Good deal right. Well to tell you the truth, it could not have been a more plesant time. Our trip took place in July 2011, a good time to be visiting and traveling in Europe. Our schedule would have us flying into Brussels, Belgium, stay in Houthaltes, Limburg, Belgium and using the residence of my Belgium EXPAT friend'd parent's as home base for traveling within Belgium and Germany for a week to 10 days. Then we plannd to take the EuroStar train to Paris for 3 days and nights to see the sights and return to Brussels for a night and a day before heading to Poland for the work effort and then to Copenhagen, Denmark for a short R&R before returning back home to the the residence in Thailand. This will be the story of our trip and it will be somewhat of a pictorial. If a particular part of our tour locations is familiar to any of our well traveled TD members, feel free to chime in about the areas history, foods of the area, etc. My posts will be incremental with a few posts and pictures every day until I've completed my pictorial story. I hope this thread will be as enjoyable to the readers as it was for my spouse and myself.

[SEA Traveler]

This was home and home base for the first week or so of the trip. The family residence of the parents of my Belgium EXPAT friend living in Thailand. We were picked up at Brussels airport by my friend, his Thai wife, and the friends brother. A warm greeting was provided and then we headed about 1 1/2 hours West to Houthaltes, Limburg, Belgium where the house was located. We hand no idea of what to expect but my wife and I have met my EXPAT friend's parents several times in the past during their frequent visits to Thailand. About 6 months prior to our trip to Europe, the EXPAT friends parents came to my home in Ban Chang for an afternoon visit, chat, and refreshment partaking. Anyway, upon arrival at the house in Belgium we were again greeted warmly. This time by the parents of my EXPAT friend. Bags were taken up to the bedroom and we sat down for a brief chat as it was getting late and we had had a long day traveling. We were givern our own comfy bedroom on the 2nd floor of the house and shown the shower and toilet facilities. My one question was what were the rules of the house. The response, "there are no rules".

Woke up the next morning and went down stairs about 0700. Mom and Pop EXPAT were up already and had the coffe on and the breakfast table set. I took a shower and by that time everyone was up. EXPAT friend, his bride, myself and my spouse all sat down for breakfast before our scheduled trip into Brussels to tour the town. Breakfast was just our of this world. 2 kinds of fresh hot bread and several kinds of rolls. Cheese, salami, ham, butter, jellies, tea, coffee, and fruit. The breads and cheeses were fantastic and as we all know, available in Thailand but they just arn't the same.

[SEA Traveler]

here is another picture of the exterior of the house.

[Thormaturge]

I hope this thread will be as enjoyable to the readers as it was for my spouse and myself.

It would be if it had some paragraphs.

Interesting.

I used to have a red brick box once.

[SEA Traveler]

It would be if it had some paragraphs.

ok, well ,as I figured, there always some one out there who is not satisfied. I'm wondering if Thormaturge is looking for a break in the text or more narrative with the pictures. no worries at this end. will attempt to carry on in my own fashion. Thor, try and overlook my writting faults by looking at the pics.

[SEA Traveler]

The interior of the house was cozy. Everything was perfectly clean and in it's place. Here is the bedroom that was so kindly prepared for us by EXPAT's Mom and Pop.

[SEA Traveler]

The house was cozy and everything was perfectly clean and in it's place. Here is the bedroom that was so kindly prepared for the Mrs and I by EXPAT friends Mom and Pop. There were even cloths hangers on the bed for us to use. So thoughful and kind.

[SEA Traveler]

The living room had a fire place and family pictures on the wall and on tables. A great place for conversation as there were plenty of chairs about for everyone to sit. A very comfortable environment.

[SEA Traveler]

Ther breakfast table was always set the night before. Here I am with my EXPAT friend and his brother. The ladies were still in bed so we had the table and food and conversation to ourselves. The food was tasty and plentyful...

[sunsetter]

nice thread cant wait to see it progress, bring it on!!!!!!!!

[larvidchr]

nice thread cant wait to see it progress, bring it on!!!!!!!!

Yes ditto to that

[Lorenzo]

Need to work on the thread title ..... a suggestion:

"A few pics of a friends parents house"

maybe others can offer a better title

[Thormaturge]

I like the idea of setting the breakfast table the night before.

[SEA Traveler]

Need to work on the thread title ..... a suggestion:

"A few pics of a friends parents house"

maybe others can offer a better title

Sorry Lorenzo but this thread is progressive and covers the travels and sites visited in 5 countries over a 3 week period. To limit the title to pics of friends house would not be covering the extent of this developing thread. I'll stick to my original title but thanks for the suggestion.

[SEA Traveler]

I like the idea of setting the breakfast table the night before.

Yes, saved time and was a pretty good indicator that we were at least going to get breakfast when we woke up. Funny thing though. As soon as we were finished eating breakfast, EXPAT friend's mother set the lunch table. LOL.

[SEA Traveler]

While sitting around the breakfast table we discussed the day's itinerary. The weather was nice so we kept to the plan and headed off towards Brussels, Belgium. I've heard a lot about Brussels and the associated medieval buildings, museums & galleries, and the street cafes. First stop was the center of Brussels to find a car parking spot. We ended up behind Saint Michael's Cathedral.



Saint Michael's Cathedral in the 13th century, is a lesson in Brabantine Gothic archetecture and took 300 years to complete the work. The inside of the church is lavish and has many giant figures of the apostles and renaissance influenced stain glass windows from the 16th century. Below in the crypt of Saint Michael's are the remains of the Romanesque 11th centry church.

[SEA Traveler]

From Saint Michael we headed off to the Grote Market area and had our group picture taken in the plaza in front of Brussels City Hall.

[SEA Traveler]

To get our bearings we stopped and checked out the directional signs down one of the side streets from the Grote Market.

[SEA Traveler]

The aroma of freshly cooked waffles was in the air and was over whelming. We headed in the direction of that aroma and soon found the waffle, ice cream, chocolate and strawberry shop.




My bride had to have at least one of these the moment she saw them. She wasted no time ordering one, her first on of the day.




Here is a close look at the monstrosity. Very tasty though and I decided to order one for myself.

[SEA Traveler]

With our sweet tooth now satisfied, we headed off down the back street to view Petit-Julien or better known as Manneken-Pis. Manneken-Pis is located South of the Grand Place and Grote Market on rue du Chene. Manneken is a bronze fountain statuette dating back to 1619 and is of a naked little boy happy urinating. This statuette has long been an endearing symbol of a "carefree" Brussels.

[SEA Traveler]

We walked the side streets in the area and I took a few photographs of the architecture and buildings that I found interesting. Here are a few of those pictures.

[SEA Traveler]

During our stroll in the area, there was some street entertainment. This accordion player caught my eye. What I did not see though was his monkey. Although the patrons of the cafe restaurant were enjoying the entertainment, the cafe restaurant staff had asked and later assisted the accordion player off the premise. I got to sit on the bench outside the cafe restaurant area and listen to him play for 15 min or so.

[SEA Traveler]

I like the aspect in Europe of bicycling in the city and the fact that they have bicycle rentals and bike stands along with bicycle paths/lanes throughout the city make for an enjoyable environment and atmosphere.

[SEA Traveler]

For any one interested, here is an enlarged replica of the Manneken-Pis statuette that was in front of a chocolate and waffle shop.

[BaitongBoy]

^ My girl would like that...555