Brussels

European Commissions Building

Brussels, Belgium is the European Capital. Within the European Quarter, all the important decisions are taken that affect the lives of people through out Europe, whether they live in Romania, Denmark, or Spain. The Schuman Square (heart of the commission buildings area) is to the European Union what the National Mall is to the USA or the Red Square in Moscow to Russia- but not really. I loved walking through this area and visiting each building to see what they had found important to have common among the European countries. I couldn't help but to wonder whether the men and women that make these decisions live amongst and through out all the parts of the city, or if they seclude themselves in certain neighborhoods as a part of "an elite".

"European Parliament"

Parc Du Cinquantenaire Jubelpark

Cinquamtenaire/ Jubelpark

The Royal Museum of Art and History

Similar to the Louvre this museum specializes in history: Egyptian mummies,  14m-long medieval tapestries and works of art from all over the world. My favorite exhibit was a World Problems Photography display- each photograph submitted by people from around the world that captured the truth to the problems that they live through each day. 

The Royal Museum of Art and History

Atomium at a Far

The construction of the nine metal balls in the shape of an atom is like Belgium's Eiffel Tower.  One of those things you have to see with our own eyes, and in the case of this landmark, you can go inside of it. 

Atomium

The Atomium represents an iron crystal, magnified 165 billion times. Inside, you can move from ball to ball on moving staircases. It was built for the World Exhibition of 1958, when people still believed that atomic energy would save the world. I thought that it was really interesting to have this in the middle of northern Brussels. After we went through it and saw the models of each country building, I stepped outside and realized that still to this day the world meets there in their own uniquely designed buildings for the sharing of ideas, inventions, and technology. The Atomium simply sits in the middle as a reminder or symbol of the World Exhibiton. 

Within the Nucleus of the Atomium Overlooking the City

Thanksgiving Dinner

The closest thing we could find to an "American" Thanksgiving meal. Steak, chicken, potatoes, salad, and a roll.