European Adventures Part 2

European Adventures Part 2 is our trip from Amsterdam to Brugge (via Antwerp) then to Brussels:

We left Amsterdam and got the the Centraal Station and took the next fast train to Antwerp where we would change and head to Brugge for the next leg of our European Decembers Adventures! We arrived in Antwerp to a gorgeous train station!

Below is my mom, brother and me waiting for our train to Brugge

Tell me the train to the righ does not look like the train in Harry Potter headed to Hogwarts?



We arrived in Brugge around dinner time and checked in to our lovely hotel, Relais Bourgondisch Bruyce, where Scott and I and Chris had the whole top floor of the older part of the hotel. My parents were 2 floors below us but the place was PERFECT! We all got changed and ready to head out for dinner and met in the lobby and had a cocktail or two.

View of one of the canals outside the hotel



We had a recommendation from the hotel to try Christophe Bistro which was only about a 10min walk from the hotel (everything is relatively close in Brugge). The food was absolutely AMAZING. I would highly recommend trying the restaurant if you ever go to Brugge.

On our way back from dinner we walked by one of the chocolate shops and saw this interesting sculpture. Do you see something disturbing in this photo?







The next morning we grabbed some breakfast which was of course some waffles and a cup of coffee and then grabbed a few pictures before headed off for our walking tour.







The last picture above is the hotel we stayed at.

We headed up to the markt to start the walking tour, my brother's walking tour. Flashback to 3 years ago, Scott, Chris and I headed over to Brugge for out last weekend while living in London. Chris had flown over for a long weekend to join us on my going away dinner and drinks at work and then for a long weekend in Brugge. We did the Chris walking tour three years ago and he has been refining his tour ever since.

Back to December now.... we had to first grab a gluhwein (mulled hot red wine) before we started the official tour, which also happens to start in the markt.

One of the first points of interest along the walking tour is the 1st stock exchange known. Chris being in the Bond business felt at home here.

You can see by the photo below that the walking tour is going well and that the tour guide (in the blue jacket) is ensuring we are on the correct route! Also a few pictures along the route.

The next main highlight of the walking tour was a stop at the watering hole (oldest pub) for a few beverages to wet the pallette. By the way they only have 2 beers on tap and the place is extremly small and quiant which was perfect.

After leaving the pub we continued walking saw this "peeing pole" as we dubbed it by a church. A little odd but nonetheless I think all dogs would flock there regardless due to all the smells.

We then came upon the "Bobbin Lace Museaum" which my mom was waiting to go to. Of course when we got there they were closed for lunch but would be back in a few minutes, so my mom and I stayed there and waited for it to open while the gents continued on the walking tour.

When we met back up with the gents, we found them like this:

All smiles and a few bottles of a christmas brew down. We joined them and continued to drink bottle after bottle after bottle when we then thought it would probably be a good idea to get some dinner.

We headed back out for dinner that night and here is a nice photo of Scott, Chris and my dad right outside the hotel.

We had a nice meal out and then headed to a pub or two after dinner and called it a night. In the morning walked around for a bit and then packed up our stuff and headed to the train station. We took the train to Brussels, checked in and checked out the sights and the Christmas market.

That night we wanted to see the Packers game so I reached out to some friends whom lived in Brussels for a little while. They had suggested "Fat Boys" which is run by an American and they show the American Football games. When we got there Scott was in heaven, Chelsea was on the big screen. After the European Football games were over the place basically clears out and then a new crowd came in for the American football games. We had dinner and drinks and watched the Packers. We headed in then for the night as Scott, Chris and I were on a flight the next am back to New Jersey and my parents were staying in Brussels for a few more days.

We had a great time and my parents truly enjoyed their first time in Brugge and Brussels! You know it is a good trip when your dad says, "I am really glad to came here since you all talked so highly about Brugge, I would love to come back again in 2 years." Vacation = success after that!

Since this trip we decided that it will be a trip to Paris first then to Brugge in December 2012.

European Adventures

Happy Belated Merry Christmas....hah! This is how long it has taken me to get our Flaten/Tune European Family Adventures up on the blog!

Back in December the Flaten's and Tune's took the 6 hour flight over the pond to Europe for a long weekend away. I headed over a few days early to Antwerp, Netherlands for some work and got a day to take in some of the sights. I had never been to Antwerp and it is a small scale Brussels, type feel.

Below is Our Lady's Cathedral of Antwerp just at dusk and then next to it is the Grote Markt with the start of the Christmas Market set-up
Het Steen "The Stone"

Antwerp is a major port city for shipping of containers (hence why I was there) and sits on the Scheldt River.

I left Antwerp and took the train down to Amsterdam, checked in at the Hotel Pulitzer and went out for a wonderful Thai dinner, while my family was all flying overnight. I cozied up at the hotel bar and ordered a few cocktails while taking in the view of the Prinsengracht and Keizergracht canals! I woke up in the morning and looked out my window to a snowy and very picturesque canal so ran to the camera and went downstairs to go take a few shots.

Everyone arrived safetly and we ventured out to explore the Anne Frank House, the flower market, with all of the lovely tulips and bulbs......LOADS of flower bulbs. We were not at the flower market in the proper season however it was still amazing to see.

A few shots from around Amsterdam:

A final picture from Amsterdam of my mom, dad and brother at the hotel bar enjoying a few beverages before dinner!

We had a wonderful time in Amsterdam together for a few days and then took the train from Amsterdam to Brugge. Trip to Brugge to follow tomorrow!

Lombardi

Last night the family and I went into NYC to go see the show Lombardi, obviously about the one and only Vince Lombardi.

A little background for those who don't really know me and my family, my parents are from Wisconsin, born and breed, and grew up in the era of Lombardi. The family as a whole (except said husband Scoot) are true Packer fans, so when my dad called and said would you and Scott be interested in going to the show I said yeah!

Last night we met my brother out at a restaurant in NYC and all walked to the show. It is set in an intimate theatre that seats about 250. It would remind you of a small, very small stadium. It was a round stage set in the middle of the theatre which made it very cool. There were 5 actors and 1 actress in the whole production and it lasted an hour and 40minutes. The props were very minimal but you got the idea of the whole scene. I definitely learned a lot about Lombardi and his wife Marie in the whole play and his interaction with his players. Lombardi was played by Dan Lauria (yep the Dan Lauria of the Wonder Years) and Marie Lombardi was played by Judith Light.

A few items from the Packer memorabilia:

After the show they sometimes have what they call a "Playback", where they have interaction with a cast member and the audience. Last night was one of those nights and Dan Lauria and Woody Johnson, owner of the Jets, were the "Playback". You could ask them anything you wanted and at their discretion they would answer. I say at their discretion since one of the first questions to Woody Johnson was "Who do you think the Jets will draft this year?" You think he is actually going to tell you????? All in all a great show to see!

Woody Johnson and Dan Lauria below

February you have been kind

Amazing to think that February is almost half gone! Maybe that is because the days never seemed to end in January that brought all of that snow in my yard and cost Scott and I countless hours shoveling, snow blowing and de-icing our cars. Those days seem far behind us now since I can actually see grass in our front yard.....it is not green, but yes it is grass. Must mean spring is coming soon?

This weekend has shaped up quite nicely with drinks with friends on Friday night at a local establishment where Scott and I have successfully received our Masters! Yes that is an MBA (Masters of Beer Appreciation). We are currently working on our PhD there (Professor of Hops and Drafts). Saturday we went out to dinner with some good friends from college, skated at Rockefeller rink, had a great dessert and then went to the Top of the Rock (top of 30 Rockefeller) which is an amazing view of NYC!

Scott and I skating at Rockefeller:

Dennis, Laura, Me and Scott at Rockefeller skating

Scott and I at the "Top of the Rock" with the Empire State Building just beyond me on the left.

With a great weekend wrapping up tonight with the Grammy's, I have a wonderful week ahead. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, Tuesday I am off to the Rachael Ray show in NYC and then Wed to the Devils vs. Hurricanes game. I am beginning to like this month of February very much! Keep it coming Feb. Oh and you are giving us 50's this week too....don't tell too many people please. We would like to weather to stay.