Brussels, Belgium Part II

Yesterday, we went to the Museum of European History and then to the Royal Palace of Brussels where the King and Queen live! We then walked to Grand Place where we attended a Jazz Fest and listened to some fun music. After, we went to dinner across from the European Commission. We then walked to the Embassy of the United States of America. Today, we went walking back to Grand Place and bought some souvenirs and walked through Brussels City Park.

Brussels, Belgium

Today, we woke up at five o' clock AM and took a taxi to meet my dad's students and took a bus to the European Union Parliament. We saw a presentation on how everything works and it was even more special because the elections for Parliament were also happening at the same time, something that takes place every five years! I then stood next to a large section of the Berlin Wall when it was knocked down in 1989 leading to the end of the Cold War between the U.S. and the USSR. Then, we went out to lunch with my dad's coworker and his family and ate noodles in Grand Place. After, we got chocolate and had some cold drinks while watching a protest of school children who walked out of their class against global warming from the deck of our restaurant. Then, we met up with all the students and went on a walking tour through Brussels and learned a lot of cool facts about the history of the city and the country of Belgium. We finished up at the Belgian national parliament and walked through King Leopold park in the center of Brussels. Everything was a lot of fun!

Cologne, Germany

Today, I went to Germany with my dad for the first time! First, we woke up and walked to the train station and rode the train, got off at Aachen and then took another train to Cologne, Germany. Then, when we got off the second train and went into the city and found an enormous church called the Cologne Cathedral! The church was so beautiful and old. After, we went to a chocolate museum called Schokoladenmuseum and saw how chocolate was made by the Lindt Company and the rich history behind it. Yum! Finally, we went walking around the city and went to some souvenir shops along the way. We got cool keychains for my brother and I, and some other treasures. We even got to go inside the beautiful Cathdral too. Then, we left to go back to the Netherlands after our fun adventure. Today was such a fun day with lots of sites to see and cool things to do!

Friet with Mayonaise

Today, we went out to lunch and had fries with lots of mayonaise in the open-market in the city square. Tomorrow, we are going to Germany to a chocalate museum in Cologne. Can't wait!