Brussels

It's just past 10am and I'm so tired, it's that "kinda wanna puke because it's so early" tired. I only managed to get to bed at about 5am and the deadline of having to be in Bern tonight by 10pm at the latest means I gotta "get my train on" within the next half hour or so, just in case.

In Brussels I've really gotten to see for myself what a difference having a local host will make. From having moules et frites made fresh at home, to having a cheese fondue pulled out "just for the guest", and going to all kinds of interesting places (an absinthe bar and a fetish party among them), it's really been amazing. In fact, I now have an anecdote that begins, "So I was talking to this dominatrix transwoman decked out head to toe in vinyl and a goth boy raving on about Bauhaus at this fetish party on a boat in Brussels, when this topless dude walks by with "use me with good reason" written in French on his back..."

THIS, is life.

So while I didn't see many churches or castles or historic sites here, I'm more satisfied with my experience than if I had, methinks. I've had a small slice of life shared with me and I'll be indebted to my Brussels hosts for this. It's amazing how much faith people have in each other and the decency that people are willing to extend to each other based on that faith. Gives me renewed hope for life on our planet...

And now it's time to finish packing the last of my things, hit the rails, and find myself laying my head down halfway down the continent.

Sep 13, 2009

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