Journeys without George: When in Belgium, do as the tourists do…

I forgot to mention what last night’s dinner actually was.  I went to a nearby place called L’entrée Des Artistes.  When you walk inside you’re greeted by framed photos of Hollywood stars including my boy Bobby D. (Robert DeNiro).  I counted at least two Tom Cruise pics.  Really?  I ordered the salmon and it was spectacular.  Also a side of frites since I hadn’t eaten all day (frites are freedom fries for the less cultured among us).

Then I went back to the hotel, watched some Monk and called it a night…but not until after about 1 a.m.  Although I was tired I just stayed up.  I wish I had gone to sleep earlier since the glorious sounds of construction woke me up at 6:30 a.m.  It stopped by 8:30 and I was able to fall asleep for a little bit again.

In the afternoon, I left the hotel just as the school next door was getting out for the day.  A rush of kids jammed the streets.  Much like in Japan, all the kids just walk home or take public transportation.  It’s amazing that in Brussels and Tokyo that’s normal.  If you, as a parent, allowed your kid to get home by themselves after school in a major city in the U.S. you’d be deemed negligent. 

Read the rest here.