Meatloaf takes on Brussels

I'm fighting the urge to eat a snack and take a nap on this lovely Friday morning at 1043 am because I know I've been seriously neglecting my blog. I wish I could say I was really sorry about it but I'm not so much. I've learned that being a single parent really stinks. I've somehow managed to survive these last two weeks on microwave meals and 7 o'clock bed times. Other than that, we're just trying to survive over here and stop the perpetual thoughts running through my mind that these last two weeks are just many in what feels like a very long summer. And it's not even June.

Anyways, prior to Chad's departure we were able to do a few things. Our last big trip was the one to Belgium that you may recall from two posts ago. However, that was probably 2 months ago so I can't blame you if you've since forgotten.

After spending our afternoon in Bastogne, we continued on to Brussels. There are a lot of lovely places in Belgium to visit but we know the cut off for our family is 5.5 hours of driving before we all go temporarily insane and start saying things we shouldn't. And so Brussels it is (was?).

Even though Chad wasn't so happy with his choice in hotels via Paris, I think we were all pleased (including Meatloaf) with our stay in Brussels. It was in a great location and we were able to walk everywhere... including Meatloaf. Oh and the breakfast was quite impressive. Which is how I like to judge my overall hotel experience... on breakfast. The most important meal of the day.

Anyways, we walked, shopped, ate (a lot) and were able to celebrate both Easter and Chad's birthday on this trip.

Oh and the chocolate, waffles, and frites are as good as they say. It wasn't mussel season though but I've only heard great things.

Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Brussels 

Rue du Fosse-aux-Loups 47 

B- 1000 Brussels 

Belgium 

Easter in Belgium (and how traveling with a dog changes things)

It just so happened that Easter... Chad's birthday... and our local school's spring break all coincided into one weekend. Normally this wouldn't be a problem. We typically spend our Easter at home doing nothing.  We do nothing not necessarily by choice but because Easter is more important in Germany than Christmas and the entire country shuts down Good Friday through Easter Monday. True story. 

This year we decided to take advantage of the holiday and get out of the country for a bit. Unfortunately, we were extremely limited as to where we could go because as it was spring break here and a holiday... our dog kennel was booked about 7 months in advance for this very weekend. We had no choice but to travel with canine. This pretty much removed the majority of places we wanted to visit from the table. No Ireland or Spain this time around. And so, we decided on someplace a little closer to home. Belgium. Five and a half hours and two countries away (and dog friendly). 

So in the early morning of Good Friday- myself, my husband, our child and our dog headed North with visions of frites, waffles and Belgium chocolates dancing in our heads (okay, mostly my head since Chad was driving).

Our first stop was in Bastogne, Belgium. I've wanted to go here for YEARS I tell you. YEARS. This is no exaggeration. I'm not a World World II historian by any means but ever since reading The Diary of Anne Frank in the 4th grade (and supplementary texts) I've had a slight fascination with the era. I've read books from the American perspective, the German perspective, and the French perspective. Chad and I have visited Hitler's Eagles Nest, Dachau, the Anne Frank House, etc all of which have fed into my curiosity and peaked further interest into this time. 

Bastogne is about an hour and a half outside of Brussels. It was the perfect stopping point for lunch and potty breaks. You know.... for Meatloaf. Also, we were mainly stopping there to see the various monuments (although there is an 101st Airborne Museum that we didn't visit) and to see Easy Company's fox holes. All dog friendly. 

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You know it's going to be a great trip when it starts out with an 105 Euro gas bill. Nice.

If you're not familiar with the story of Bastogne and it's history... you should read or watch (or both) Band of Brothers. Seriously. It was absolutely amazing to be able to go and pay our respects to the men who fought so fiercely in the most unforgiving of environments...

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And even though we weren't there to enjoy it, we left our Easter tree up for the neighborhood to see.

Frohe (very belated) Ostern!

Brussels next....