Before I left for Italy, there were many places I knew, or hoped, I would visit during my time here. Belgium was not one of them. That being said, I sure am grateful we decided to take a trip there this past weekend. I had no intentions of ever going to Belgium; not because I thought I wouldn’t like it, but because I had no idea it was such an amazing country so it had never been on my radar. There was a group of fourteen of us that decided to go to Brussels for the entire weekend. Our flights left at 6:55 A.M. on Friday and 9:20 P.M. on Sunday, so we had as much time as we could possibly fit into the three short days we had to spend in the beautiful town.
The Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium
It was everything we could’ve asked for and 100 times more than we expected. If you don’t know – like we didn’t until very soon before we left – Belgium is known for their waffles, fries, and beer. What better way to fully experience a country than by eating/drinking all they have to offer in their famously delicious foods and drinks? There is no better way, so we did just that. It’s alarming the amount of waffles and fries I consumed in that short weekend but I wouldn’t do it any other way if I had the chance. It had been so long since we had eaten “American” food so we obviously jumped at every chance to eat French fries, which pair very nicely with the delicious hamburgers Brussels has to offer. The waffles were unlike anything I had ever tasted. No matter what you prefer, there is something for everyone: waffles with chocolate syrup, fruit, powdered sugar, white chocolate, Nutella, the list could go on forever.
One of the many waffle stands in Brussels
Overall, the trip was a complete success and I think I speak for everyone when I say we would definitely go back in a heartbeat if the opportunity arose. It was so nice to be in a city where a majority of the citizens are fluent in English and the food and stores are familiar. As much as we all adore Italy, sometimes it’s refreshing to have a tiny taste of life that we’re accustomed to. I can’t wait to see what else the rest of Europe has to offer!
Riley Pitman