Well, we're here!

Arrived Brussels 10 AM, & started walking. That backpack you see Vicki wearing and the one just like it that I'm carrying is the only luggage we brought. Didn't think I'd be backpacking thru Europe when I was 50 but here we go!

First thing we did was stop & buy a chocolate covered waffle from a street vendor - YUM! Then we walked over to the Grand Place, "the most beautiful square in the world" as Victor Hugo said.

Then we found a great little bistro called Chez Leon that's been in the same place since 1893 to have "moulles & frites" - mussles & fries (with mayonase of course!) - where we really started our people watching. :-) After some more walking, we found the Cathederal of St. Michael and St Gudula, a 13th centruy gothic structure that took 300 years to complete. Wow! The stained glass and the Grenzing Great Organ was amazing. The organ is mounted high on the wall in a bird's nest position - the organist has to climb up to play! The carved pulpit was extremely ornate and huge - almost 15 feet wide.

No time to rest, cause we had to be on the TGV - a 250 MPH train that got us from Brussels to Paris in 1 hour & 15 minutes! In Paris we took the subway to the Courcelles stop where we were met by Angie McGurk - Michael is now stationed at the Embassy. What a georgous city and what a wonderful hostess! Here's a shot of Vicki setting in the window seat at their apartment.

Wandered around the city until after midnight. Walked up to the top of the hill where the Basilique Du Sacre-Coeur is located & saw the whole city before us then had dinner next to the Bastille monument where the French Revolution began.

Well, it's after noon and in the words of John Wayne, "We're burning daylight" so got to get going! More later!