Sunday 11.4.2007
Brussels, Belgium (Again)
Our third day was largely characterized by concern for Bennett. What we had initially decided was teething looked to be something more. The poor little guy whimpered throughout most of the day, sometimes breaking into full-on wailing. He also ran a fever which we kept at bay with Tylenol. When we became sufficiently concerned, we decide to go to a pharmacy for a thermometer, praying we could figure out what the appropriate temp for a toddler was in Celsius.
Guess what? Pharmacies are not open on Sundays in Belgium. But after asking around, we found that there are a couple that are open all week (apparently they’re usually Pakistani). The one we found that was supposed to be open appeared to be closed, but had a sign on the door which a passerby told us sais that you can ring the buzzer for an emergency, and for a fee of €4,65, she will come and slide a teeny window in the door open & talk to you. So, we rang the bell.
The woman spoke minimal English, but we managed to communicate our need, and she sold us a thermometer and some scary medicine she told us to give Bennett three times a day. I don’t know what the heck she gave us, and too scared to give it to Bennett… Tylenol would have to do.
Ok, so because of the pharmacy fiasco, we decided to put off going to Antwerp until the next day and went instead on a secondary tour of Brussels. We saw a couple palaces, a handful of parks, and a very nice Belgian playground for Bennett to stretch his legs.
My favorite part of the day was when we decided we needed to sit for a break, and found a great little pub under a canopy of trees. The trees are changing color in Belgium now, and our canopy was golden in color. There were also a few wine colored flowers and a beautiful statue nearby, and Jen and I grabbed a couple of beers and had what our pastor would call a “Sabbath moment”.
And yes... you read correctly- Jen had a beer! Normally, she hates it, but I actually ordered a Kreik, a beer I had never had, and it was fruity & sweet. Too sweet for me, but Jen loved it. I ordered a beer I had already sampled & enjoyed, called Leffe, for myself and we enjoyed one of the better moments of our trip to date.
Brussels, Belgium (Again)
Our third day was largely characterized by concern for Bennett. What we had initially decided was teething looked to be something more. The poor little guy whimpered throughout most of the day, sometimes breaking into full-on wailing. He also ran a fever which we kept at bay with Tylenol. When we became sufficiently concerned, we decide to go to a pharmacy for a thermometer, praying we could figure out what the appropriate temp for a toddler was in Celsius.
Guess what? Pharmacies are not open on Sundays in Belgium. But after asking around, we found that there are a couple that are open all week (apparently they’re usually Pakistani). The one we found that was supposed to be open appeared to be closed, but had a sign on the door which a passerby told us sais that you can ring the buzzer for an emergency, and for a fee of €4,65, she will come and slide a teeny window in the door open & talk to you. So, we rang the bell.
The woman spoke minimal English, but we managed to communicate our need, and she sold us a thermometer and some scary medicine she told us to give Bennett three times a day. I don’t know what the heck she gave us, and too scared to give it to Bennett… Tylenol would have to do.
Ok, so because of the pharmacy fiasco, we decided to put off going to Antwerp until the next day and went instead on a secondary tour of Brussels. We saw a couple palaces, a handful of parks, and a very nice Belgian playground for Bennett to stretch his legs.
My favorite part of the day was when we decided we needed to sit for a break, and found a great little pub under a canopy of trees. The trees are changing color in Belgium now, and our canopy was golden in color. There were also a few wine colored flowers and a beautiful statue nearby, and Jen and I grabbed a couple of beers and had what our pastor would call a “Sabbath moment”.
And yes... you read correctly- Jen had a beer! Normally, she hates it, but I actually ordered a Kreik, a beer I had never had, and it was fruity & sweet. Too sweet for me, but Jen loved it. I ordered a beer I had already sampled & enjoyed, called Leffe, for myself and we enjoyed one of the better moments of our trip to date.
1 comment:
It appears that Europe is either ahead of us (as I thought) or behind us or both since you lived Saturday, Nov 3 twice. Now it's funny that you noted the pharmacy wasn't open on Sunday, considering it was still (or again) Saturday.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha........what a goofball. And take good care of my grandson! Love you All!
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