Belgium: Trip #2

Work sent me to Belgium in July for 2 weeks again. My camera battery was dead when I got there so I don't have any pictures. I would have bought a replacement battery except for stores are only open from 10 to 6 Monday through Saturday and are closed on Sundays. I couldn't but one on a week day because I was (surprise) working. On Saturday, I went in a million stores but none of them had the right one. Next time I will be more careful before I leave for a trip. Anyways.....

Work was busy but that's good because I like to be busy. I didn't do much on weeknights except for eating and I love to eat so that's great. I found one restaurant that I have to recommend to you. It was recommended to me by my tourist book, the NYTimes, my parents, and some good family friends who live there. If you are ever in Brussels, you must go eat at the Belga Queen. Its amazing. Just go.

The first weekend I was there, I ventured to Antwerp. Antwerp is famous for 2 things: diamonds and Peter Paul Rubens. I started off the day going to Rubenshuis and checking out the artists former home which was filled with his work, work of his students and work of his contemporaries. It was a great museum because it had great things in it but only took an hour to go through it. Anything longer than that, i start to get bored.

I had lunch at a great Italian restaurant and had a fun 3 hour chat with my waiter. He was trying to get me drunk and was offering me shots (i refused) at 2 in the afternoon. He also wanted to take me out at night for lots of drinks and dancing by the water. hahaha He was a fun guy though and almost (note: almost) inspired me to get a tattoo. He had these great little stars behind his ears and I loved it. I have never wanted a tattoo ever and kind of feel like tattoos are something you get in college but I guess Europe got to me that day and I became obsessed with his tattoo.

Last stop was the diamond shops. Most of my friends hadn't ever even heard of Antwerp, but Antwerp is one of the largest diamond cities and does more than 6 times the amount of diamond sales than Amsterdam. Well, I learned (actually more like reminded of) that I have expensive taste. Next time I go diamond shopping, I need a man who's paying the bill to go with me. Any volunteers?!?! :)