We are now in our third day in Belgium and we are quickly realizing what a multi-lingual country this is. All the signs are written in two languages usually French and Dutch. Although it is our second day I believe our group is quickly becoming experts in the art of traveling. We're learning how to wake up early, walk long distances, navigate through the labyrinth of metros, haggle with local street vendors, and to scout out the neighborhoods for the best food spots and bakeries.
This morning we had an amazing opportunity to have guest speaker, Jonas from MANA, come to our apartment and talk about his work with Interfaith dialogue. It was interesting to hear about his experiences as a christian reaching out to prominent Muslims in the theological and academic world to open discussions on what it means to be Muslim and how different faiths can work together in our global society.
After our visit with Jonas we opted for a quick lunch at an urban deli-style cafe. We have been lucky in our selections of restaurants and have always found places that seem to please the wide variety of taste that form our colorful group.
With lunch out of the way we were on our way to visit the various sites that are a must-see for any tourist in Brussels.
The first stop was the Royal Palace which is only open 5 weeks out of the year. Unfortunately the royal family was not around so I'll have to wait a little longer to see a prince! The Royal Palace was magnificent. So grandiose and elegant that it truly seemed to be out of a fairy tale.
Next we visited the Musical Instrument Museum which houses over 8000 antique instruments.
Our last stop was to the Grand Place - which is like the center square of Brussels. Our house agent mentioned that she believed Brussels's town square ranked the best in all of Europe and I have to agree. It is surrounded by stunning buildings with such intricate architecture and gold embellishments. All around us is a fusion of delicious smells and sights - from freshly baked Belgium Waffles to sizzling well-seasoned fries.
While at the Grand Place we visited the Town Hall, which we mistakenly assumed was a cathedral because of it's beauty and size. The Town Hall is only opened 3 days out of the year for the local festival. The inside not only held antique artwork also doubled as a flower exhibition from local florists who created modern flower arrangements.
Finally after a long day of walking and sight-seeing we came home to a well- anticipated dinner. As the sun starts to set on our day in Belgium, a peaceful quiet has come upon us while we prepare for the Sabbath and anticipate a day of rest in this beautiful country.
-Daniella V. Hernandez
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