After spending the week resting off my always inevitable post-travel illness (okay, & some homesickness), I traveled to Brussels, Belgium. Appropriately following my turning legal, I had my first experience traveling alone. At first, I'll admit, it was pretty fun & I felt very responsible. After the shuttle to Pisa, flight to Charleroi, shuttle to Brussels, & then finding my way through metros & mazes of downtown streets however, it was no longer fun. I had no one to complain with! Of course, I did finally make it to Smag's aunt's apartment in downtown Brussels late Friday night, ready to see what Brussels had to offer.
Brussels was way too eager to offer. Walking through the streets of the popular area, there were men screaming at us from every direction, trying to get us to eat at their restaurant. Mind you, every restaurant was offering the exact same deal of the exact same menu. We finally gave in to one man, who smartly offered us a free first round of drinks, receiving actual ridicule from other restaurant owners. It was annoying! But our mussels, french fries, & of course a waffle for dessert were well worth it all.
After dinner, we sat outside what we thought was a well-known bar, Delirium, to have a few Delirium Tremens, a famous Belgian beer. When we realized it was in fact not the bar we were looking for,we snuck out a really cute beer glass with the delirious pink elephants on it Smags, Julia, & I made our way to the real Delirium Cafe, a huge 3 story bar with over 2,000 different kinds of beer on tap (a Guiness World Record!). Due to the popular concert we were in town for the next night, along with 49853 other American study abroad students, it was packed. But it was still awesome to check out.
On Saturday, we met up with Nug, Haben, & Anne (!!) in the main square, Grand Place. Julie, those three, & Julia went off for some authentic Belgian french fries (onions, mayo, ketchup), while Smags & I went off for some Belgian Subway. It was sadly a letdown, but exciting nonetheless.
Ready to move on from our failed lunches, we were naturally drawn into Chocopolis, a huge Belgian chocolate store. This place had all the chocolate anyone could want - huge pyramids of truffles, bricks of different mixed chocolates, chocolate drinks, everything. Plus free samples! We of course all left with bagfuls.
Nug, Haben, & Anne went back to nap before the show & Smags, Julie, Julia, & I walked around some more to explore Belgium. While Grand Place featured amazing architecture, the rest of the city seemed almost American, with lots of shops, malls, & tourists. But again, the thousands of other American students there could have had something to do with it. We walked around, stopping for an impromptu photo shoot every 2 blocks, then went back to get ready for Sensation.
Until that day, we were unaware that the concert was an hour train ride away in a city called Hasselt. We figured the trains would be super crowded, so we planned to take the first train. This turned out to be a great decision because I've never seen a bigger, more anxious crowd, all trying to get through the same tiny doors of this train. Also, the concert had a dress code: all white. It was quite the sight.
We finally made it on, only to learn that the last three cars of the train (including ours) split from the rest of the train & went somewhere else. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this train had thousands of white-clad kids just stuffed into it, blocking every aisle & stairway. We finally made it to a door, & quickly decided we really only had one option: running to the front cars. We were kind of laughing about it, thinking it was ridiculous, what if we didn't all make it, etc. But as the train & our nervous laughter slowed, the doors opened, & I have never seen Nug run so fast in my life. I only followed Julia's red hair in the massive sea of white, trying not to laugh as Haben almost plowed through a very stunned old lady. I could practically hear 'Run, Run Rudolph' playing in the background. But we all made it. Just another moment I wish I had on tape.
We met up with a bunch of other U of I kids who were staying at a hotel in Genk, the town next to Hasselt. It was so good to be with so many familiar faces, all touching on the John Lennon Wall-esque fact that we could not believe we were going to Sensation - it was our turn!
The show was unlike anything I've ever seen. There was a huge flower-meets-artichoke set up in the middle, with a ring of water falling into the middle from the ceiling. The DJ table slowly spun around this all night. There were also a bunch of smaller flowers around the floor, all shooting water in time with the music. Huge glowing balls hung from the ceiling, changing colors & dropping/raising to different levels throughout the show. Dancers even came down from the ceiling at one point. Plus, everyone in white definitely added to the affect. The lineup consisted of Mark Knight, Afrojack, Sander van Doorn, & Dada Life, & from 11pm to 5:30am, all we did was dance. By the end, we were right in front of the DJs.I was definitely missing my usual concert crew, & I wish they could've seen this! But it was a blast.
If the show wasn't so amazing, I'd be a whole lot more bitter about my travels home. Julie & I left the show a half hour early to make sure we were on the first train back to Brussels at 6am (= madness). From there, I made my way straight back to the airport to catch my 10:30 flight. & yes, I went through security in my all white get-up, glitter eye-liner & all. It was exhausting, but mostly the kind of exhaustion that comes from having spent an incredible night/morning with friends. Plus, knowing I had mac & cheese waiting for me in Florence got me through. & Taylor & Muzz were coming to Florence, too! Can never get enough visitors!
tons & tons of local teens hanging out in Grand Place at night
Brussels was way too eager to offer. Walking through the streets of the popular area, there were men screaming at us from every direction, trying to get us to eat at their restaurant. Mind you, every restaurant was offering the exact same deal of the exact same menu. We finally gave in to one man, who smartly offered us a free first round of drinks, receiving actual ridicule from other restaurant owners. It was annoying! But our mussels, french fries, & of course a waffle for dessert were well worth it all.
brussels' mussels for one
After dinner, we sat outside what we thought was a well-known bar, Delirium, to have a few Delirium Tremens, a famous Belgian beer. When we realized it was in fact not the bar we were looking for,
we really liked it
not outside delirium
outside delirium
inside delirium!
On Saturday, we met up with Nug, Haben, & Anne (!!) in the main square, Grand Place. Julie, those three, & Julia went off for some authentic Belgian french fries (onions, mayo, ketchup), while Smags & I went off for some Belgian Subway. It was sadly a letdown, but exciting nonetheless.
disappointing Subway
& those
hi anne!!
the one person who would enjoy them
Ready to move on from our failed lunches, we were naturally drawn into Chocopolis, a huge Belgian chocolate store. This place had all the chocolate anyone could want - huge pyramids of truffles, bricks of different mixed chocolates, chocolate drinks, everything. Plus free samples! We of course all left with bagfuls.
Nug, Haben, & Anne went back to nap before the show & Smags, Julie, Julia, & I walked around some more to explore Belgium. While Grand Place featured amazing architecture, the rest of the city seemed almost American, with lots of shops, malls, & tourists. But again, the thousands of other American students there could have had something to do with it. We walked around, stopping for an impromptu photo shoot every 2 blocks, then went back to get ready for Sensation.
guildhalls in Grand Place
town hall, also in Grand Place
more buildings along the way
the triumphal arch in parc du cinquantenaire
walking near smags' aunt's apartment
pretty graffiti
look! you're here, too!
Until that day, we were unaware that the concert was an hour train ride away in a city called Hasselt. We figured the trains would be super crowded, so we planned to take the first train. This turned out to be a great decision because I've never seen a bigger, more anxious crowd, all trying to get through the same tiny doors of this train. Also, the concert had a dress code: all white. It was quite the sight.
We finally made it on, only to learn that the last three cars of the train (including ours) split from the rest of the train & went somewhere else. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this train had thousands of white-clad kids just stuffed into it, blocking every aisle & stairway. We finally made it to a door, & quickly decided we really only had one option: running to the front cars. We were kind of laughing about it, thinking it was ridiculous, what if we didn't all make it, etc. But as the train & our nervous laughter slowed, the doors opened, & I have never seen Nug run so fast in my life. I only followed Julia's red hair in the massive sea of white, trying not to laugh as Haben almost plowed through a very stunned old lady. I could practically hear 'Run, Run Rudolph' playing in the background. But we all made it. Just another moment I wish I had on tape.
We met up with a bunch of other U of I kids who were staying at a hotel in Genk, the town next to Hasselt. It was so good to be with so many familiar faces, all touching on the John Lennon Wall-esque fact that we could not believe we were going to Sensation - it was our turn!
got a little restless, which of course led to makeup & selfies
ready to gooo
finally let smags do her thing.. i don't hate it!
reunited seeesters!
The show was unlike anything I've ever seen. There was a huge flower-meets-artichoke set up in the middle, with a ring of water falling into the middle from the ceiling. The DJ table slowly spun around this all night. There were also a bunch of smaller flowers around the floor, all shooting water in time with the music. Huge glowing balls hung from the ceiling, changing colors & dropping/raising to different levels throughout the show. Dancers even came down from the ceiling at one point. Plus, everyone in white definitely added to the affect. The lineup consisted of Mark Knight, Afrojack, Sander van Doorn, & Dada Life, & from 11pm to 5:30am, all we did was dance. By the end, we were right in front of the DJs.I was definitely missing my usual concert crew, & I wish they could've seen this! But it was a blast.
before going in!
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