Maria's European Adventure: September 2006

Birthday Party

Wednesday night was Rana and Philipp's joint birthday celebration.

David, Louisa and Myrto

Louisa, Myrto and me

Fredrick and me

Philipp and his totally awesome Pittsburgh Pirates hat and me

Håvard, me and Yann. Yann looks so mad because I won't tell him the rule to this one game. HA!

City Hall

I guess it has been about a week an a half since my tour of the Provincial buidling, the port of Zeebrugge and City Hall. Basically the day was a giant snooze fest and ports are not that interesting. However, city hall was nice, the mayor was nice and the free beer was nice. Here are a few pictures of the room we had our meeting with the mayor in.

CANAL TOUR

After class on Friday a rather large group of us decided to take a canal tour. Needless to say it was pretty awesome.

The group on the boat.

View from the canal.

Me, Louiza and Abdul on the boat

One of the oldest hospitals in Europe.

Group shot from the other end of the boat.

Bruges from the canal

Inside the Church of Our Lady. This is the Madonna and Child one of the only Michelangelo statues found outside of Italy.

Inside the Church of Our Lady

I am sure there is a technical term for this thing but I know it is where the priest would give the sermon.

Beach

Today was absolutely beautiful. Several of us decided to take advantage of what is probably the last really nice day and go to the beach. We left after lunch and took the train about 15 minuites to Knokke. It was absouletly fabulous and we all had a great time.

A view of the North Sea, which is quite cold. However, my Danish friend Julie, thought it was just fine. The Spaniards didn't quite agree.

Julie helping Yann apply sunscreen because we care about our skin.

Knokke is quite close to Zeebrugge, the port of Brugge. So you can see some of the cranes and other port implements in the background, sorta. The College is going to Zeebrugge next Wednesday so you can all anticipate those photos.

Yann taking a picture of Koussay taking a picture. It is pretty bad with a Scandanavian is darker than you...

The boys: Yann, Koussay and Gonzalo

The North Sea

Sea gulls

View down the beach

Me and Julie being very studious on the beach.

The North Sea during high tide.

Another day, another party

Last Saturday was another residence party, they have a become a weekly tradition already.

Me and Louiza my Cypriot friend

Monica, Christoph and me

NAFTA pic. Monica representing Mexico, me America and Adam Canada. Yeah, we're that lame.

Monica and Philipp dancing

Technology...

Printing at the College of Europe is a special experience. First of all you log on to the computer. Then you decide what documents to print. Then you find a functional printer - not as easy as it sounds. Then you use your student card on a little reader next to the printer and go through a serious of prompts that allow you to actually print you document(s). Then you hope it actually prints them. If it does it takes forever. Luckily I was able to print everything I wanted. Most people were so lucky.

Furthermore, look how huge the printer is! I was amazed. Maybe it is just the fact that I am American and come from the land of people who know how to use technology.

I shake my fist at you giant printer, I shake my fist.

Climb to the Top

Today Abdul and I decided to go to the top of the bell tower. It was a gorgeous day and, gosh darn it, we wanted to be touristy. So we went.

While walking from our residence to the bell tower we happened across quite the crowd in the main square. After angering some eldery Belgians who had been standing there for 2 hours we were told that it is the 350th anniversary of the Grenadier Guards which were formed in Bruges when King Charles II was in exile. So there was a little parade. It also explained why the British flag was flying.