What better way to celebrate than with a full-on weekend? It started with a bike trip around the villages surrounding the edge of Brussels which ended in the village of Gassbeek.
Gassbeek has a chateau, several interesting rural development initiatives and a farmer's market on Saturday afternoons.
Mindful of being on my bike I restricted myself to buying ingredients to make one 'local meal'. Parsnips, shallots, endives, a local farmhouse cheese and two types of salad. All that was missing was the ham, potatoes and mustard (which I already had in stock).
Following the local we went for the global: A virtuoso Hungarian folk band.
Followed by a party at an Ethiopian restuarant, which sort of spilled out onto the street. (Great finger food there - it tempted me to go back for a real meal).
There was no let up on Sunday - despite losing an hour's sleep. I went to visit a local collective garden project rejuvenating a stretch of barren land, with a clear view of Brussels' 'Little Manhattan', an ecology in action project. I plan to become an active member.
There I met some artists who invited me to a 'guerilla' art exhibition, staged in an abandoned warehouse by a local arts collective . They put the whole show (which they hope will be the first of many) together in 48 hours!
Somewhere in the neighbourhood - behind the freight terminals - there was a carnival band rehearsing - though I couldn't find an access route to round off the day's photos.
On Sunday evening a French conversation table and a underground jazz club beckoned - but I was far too tired to follow though on those options. In fact, I've spent much of today recovering from so much 'input'.
1 comment:
I keep checking for a new post. Perhaps you're too busy enjoying that lovely city, or drumming up new business.
Thanks for being such an excellent host and tour guide the other weekend.
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