First Stop: Brussels, Belgium

(Picture Above: Mont des Arts or Kunstberg: It means "hill of the arts.")

It is now Sunday 4:26 p.m. local time in Brussels, Belgium. I arrived safely this morning, so bonjour to you!

This is our group's first stop in the RIAS fellowship where we will tour the European Union and NATO, but for now... we had a few hours to explore the capital's downtown or centre-ville before tonight's orientation.

Once I arrived at the Brussels Airport, I was excited to use mon français to ask for directions for the train station.

It turns out the station is right beneath the airport (easily accessible by stairs or escalator). Then, I bought a train ticket from Zaventem stop toward the Gare Centrale.

It only cost 9 euros (about $10.50).

The ride was about 25 minutes from the airport to the center of Belgium's capital, and it went by quick looking at the scenery. Here's a short clip of the train ride below:

 

Then, I walked a short distance to the hotel where our group is staying and met two of the members: Jessica and Bonnie! We left our luggage in the front desk and went out to explore la Grande-Place. I had my first meal of the day: belgian waffle with hot chocolate.

(Jessica to my right, Bonnie to my left)

We were able to see a lot before our hotel rooms were ready. We stumbled upon a comic book festival at the Parc de Bruxelles, went next door to the Royal Palace of Brussels or Palais Royal de Bruxelles, and took photos by the colorful "Open Wall" on the Mont des Arts. 

My day continued with moules-frites for dinner (mussels and fries). It's a traditional Belgian dish, but it is also popular in France (I remember my host family in Lille back in 2010 used to buy them from a food truck - the best!). I met up with two other members, Carol and Judith.

Then we got Belgian chocolates from Pierre Marcolini for everyone at orientation.

 

We went over the plan for the next two weeks, then we mingled over Belgian beer of course!

Our next days are packed with speakers and tours about German broadcasting and politics, so I have to go to bed now and get some rest.

Au revoir. Good night. Gute Nacht.