17 Days in Brussels

Brussels is now 17 days old in my life.

What is it like? Grey. Pretty. Strong. Cold. Bountiful. Organized. Awesome.

And now for the nouns. It is the beer that is STRONG. Belgians are very proud of their beer. I've heard estimates that over 800 varieties can be had. I tried Moinette. Suffice to say that I will be imbibing more cautiously in the future.

The sky is GREY (surprise!). A bit of an adjustment for me here. Costa Rica (my previous home) is often sunny and bright.

The chocolate is BOUNTIFUL. Chocolate stores are everywhere. Not good for someone with a chocolate fetish like myself.

I am absolutely crazy about the French Fries here; they are absolutely AWESOME. Belgians like to think that French Fries originated here. My research tells me that this is a matter of some dispute. It doesn't matter. They are addictive. One word of advice. Take them with mayonnaise. I ordered ketchup once and received a couple of glares. ("How dare he!")

Brussels is a very PRETTY city: cobblestone streets, gothic towers, and outdoor cafes abound.

The people are a tiny bit on the COLD side. That isn't to say that the people are unfriendly or impolite. That is to say that people are more reserved and self-contained.

The public transport system -- trams, buses and two subway lines -- is extremely well ORGANIZED and efficient.

Next time, I'll share with you my initial impression of the Microfinance course, the University, and my fellow classmates.