Belgium in the rear view mirror

Time to wrap this up and move on.  I had a great week in Brussels and I am slowly getting caught up at work.  With the holiday and my sudden illness, I figured that I was out of the office for two weeks and that put me way behind.  Already trying to finish up my trip reports (due last week) and get ready for our own internal audit at the end of the month and then my next road trip in August.  This time we are headed in the opposite direction - east.  Another 23 hour flight halfway around the globe to some far, far off land where people eat their Dim Sum with wooden sticks. 

In the meanwhile, let me finish up with my week in Brussels with a few parting shots.  Great city.  Lots of things to see/do/eat/drink.  I love the European culture.  I got the opportunity to spend 4+ years over in Germany and tried to drink up (pun intended) as much of the culture as we could.  The food is amazingly fresh, different.  A lot of the hotels are great/unique (especially the smaller ones).  The people are friendly, if not a bit tolerant to tourists (in certain regions).  Some of my best memories are staying in some out of the way town in a small Gasthaus that was run by family.  The make it feels like you are staying as a guest in their home.  There are plenty of sights to see, some old, some new.  And, of course, there is the beer.  I hate to admit it, but I seem to have fallen in love with Belgian beer.  I used to think German beer vas der best, but my two trips to Brussels has taught me different.  I still love my German beers, but I have grown a new respect for some really fine Belgian Trappist Ales.  

I know I have said this before, but whenever I travel, I make it a point to look for things that make the place unique, interesting.  You will never learn anything new unless you step outside of your comfort zone and try some new things.  You never know what things you may find along the path.