Our apartment at Thon Parnasse entitles us to full use of a modern gym. We seize this opportunity to do morning workouts. The facility is well-equipped, including a friendly staff. The nautilus treadmills are fully programmable and come with individual television monitors. We opt for BBC, one of a few English, non-American channels.
Today, Monica is off to the Museum of Fine Arts for a display of modern art with a focus on Belgian artists in the 19th and 20th Centuries. I’m much too shallow for this and take time to look around and take pictures. The museum is housed in the meeting place of Brussels, La Place de l’Albertine. It includes a public garden and a number of other museums including one of a Chinese Tea House.
La Place de l’Albertine leads to the Palais de Justice. This UNESCO cultural site is the main courthouse of Belgium, and is considered the largest building built in the 19th Century. Ironically, in the Middle Ages, the building was constructed on a hill where convicted criminals were hanged.
Monica and I meet again in the public garden beside the Chinese Tea House. We take the subway to ‘Place du Luxembourg’, headquarters for the European Union. This powerful confederation has grown steadily from a 1950 agreement between France and Germany to pool coal and steel resources. It now includes 27 countries (2007) sharing a common market. At this writing, the Euro is worth 1.6 U.S. Dollars – tough tomatoes for die-hard Canadian tourists.
Despite the currency exchange, we treat ourselves to a neighborhood restaurant, ‘Poivre et Sel’. The Chef presents
us with an assortment of bread and a black olive tapenade which goes nicely with our Chianti. We both decide on pasta for a main course, served from an open kitchen concept. Their unwritten motto appears to be ‘The job belongs to whoever isn’t busy’. The Chef, sous-chef and waitress work efficiently, providing quality food and service for the 36-seat eatery.
Our day isn’t quite finished. With extended travel comes the weekly chore of laundry. We are fortunate our apartment has laundry facilities. All we have to do is decipher the German instructions. For the most part, we use trial and error. However, we are stumped by the instruction ‘verlaagd centrifugeertoerental’. After revving up the washer drum a few notches, we come to the conclusion it stands for ‘adjust spinning level’.
Today, Monica is off to the Museum of Fine Arts for a display of modern art with a focus on Belgian artists in the 19th and 20th Centuries. I’m much too shallow for this and take time to look around and take pictures. The museum is housed in the meeting place of Brussels, La Place de l’Albertine. It includes a public garden and a number of other museums including one of a Chinese Tea House.
La Place de l’Albertine leads to the Palais de Justice. This UNESCO cultural site is the main courthouse of Belgium, and is considered the largest building built in the 19th Century. Ironically, in the Middle Ages, the building was constructed on a hill where convicted criminals were hanged.
Monica and I meet again in the public garden beside the Chinese Tea House. We take the subway to ‘Place du Luxembourg’, headquarters for the European Union. This powerful confederation has grown steadily from a 1950 agreement between France and Germany to pool coal and steel resources. It now includes 27 countries (2007) sharing a common market. At this writing, the Euro is worth 1.6 U.S. Dollars – tough tomatoes for die-hard Canadian tourists.
Despite the currency exchange, we treat ourselves to a neighborhood restaurant, ‘Poivre et Sel’. The Chef presents
us with an assortment of bread and a black olive tapenade which goes nicely with our Chianti. We both decide on pasta for a main course, served from an open kitchen concept. Their unwritten motto appears to be ‘The job belongs to whoever isn’t busy’. The Chef, sous-chef and waitress work efficiently, providing quality food and service for the 36-seat eatery.Our day isn’t quite finished. With extended travel comes the weekly chore of laundry. We are fortunate our apartment has laundry facilities. All we have to do is decipher the German instructions. For the most part, we use trial and error. However, we are stumped by the instruction ‘verlaagd centrifugeertoerental’. After revving up the washer drum a few notches, we come to the conclusion it stands for ‘adjust spinning level’.
Good Morning @11:00 A.M. NL
ReplyDeleteJim,
If the top picture is the gym, it sure looks different. Looks like it is made, of some sort of plastic or rope. You both have experienced some different equipment.
Monica, you sure enjoy the arts. Today today, you each do something different. Which is good.
Will comment, later on the remainder.
Enjoy the sights & sounds, of a new day.
Take care.
Verna
Hi
ReplyDeleteJ. & M.
The service, appears to be good at the restaurant & everyone works together.
The final touch of the day, is the laundry. I think, you both have experienced, just about everything in your travels. Until next time.
Enjoy the evening.,
Verna
aghhh....we had the same exchange rate...you can't calculate the exchange at the time otherwise not as enjoyable (that's your treat when you get home..hahahah!! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat I want to know is how did you meet at the right time in the middle of Brussels without cell phones...we can't do that here(with cell phones!) !!! Obviously we need tips (particularly Alex..haha :) safe travels and welcome home!!!!!!!