We're getting ready for a little jaunt back to the good old US of A soon. I must admit, I'm more than a little excited about it. Russ has been back there several times, but the kids and I haven't been back to the lower 48 in 5 years. (I know that Alaska is part of the US, but some times, it just doesn't feel like it. Maybe it has something to do with Canada standing between it and the rest of the gang.) Our trip has me thinking about what I love about both Belgium and the US. Here are a few of them...What I love about Belgium:
- Living in a small town in the country. I love opening the windows and listening to the chickens clucking and the horses neighing. I love the huge fields of corn, swaying in the wind. It's a simpler way of life, and I find that I prefer it.
- Architecture. Beautiful buildings are all around you here. Churches, government houses. There is so much history here. Where else can you walk down cobbled stone streets and pass a church that has been there for hundreds of years.
- Bike paths. People are so much healthier here, because there are bike paths just about everywhere. They run their errands on bikes instead of cars. It's better for the environment, and better for you, as well. As an added bonus, a lot of these paths are along the canals. It doesn't get much better than that.
- Fresh food. There are open air markets in most towns here, and you can buy fresh fruits and veggies, as well as meat. The restaurants use only the freshest foods as well. Everything just tastes better here.
- Round-abouts. I know what you're thinking. Is this the same person who was whining about round-abouts just one short year ago? Yes, it is. I have since embraced them, and (don't tell anyone) they are tons of fun to fly around. The round-about has released my inner Mario Andretti. I am speed. I am invincible. Give me a round-about over a stop sign or red light any day.
- Safety and security. You can leave your bike outside of a store, shop for a while, and the bike is still there when you come out. Go figure.
- Chocolate. No explanation necessary.
- I'm smarter. I actually understand what people are saying to me. I can read signs and menus with no problem. I don't have to think so much. It's nice. I like being smart. I can't wait to step off of the plane in the states, and have my intelligence level instantly leap upwards.
- Streets that go North, South, East and West. Streets here head out in all directions from the center of each town, like spokes on a bicycle. If you take the wrong one, it might be a long while before you get back to where you want to be. In the US, they run parallel, so if you take a left turn and go over one block, and you can get back on the right road.
- Drive thrus and delivery. They don't really have either of those here. The only drive thrus I've found here are Burger King and McDonald's. There aren't many of those, and they aren't close to us at all. Belgians believe that eating is a social occasion. It's something that should be done out with friends, and takes hours to finish. You can't rush food here. There are days when I would practically kill to have a Domino's pizza delivered to my door.
- Clothes shopping. Apparently Belgian women don't have butts. Or hips. I can't wait to hit the malls in the states. I'm prepared to do some serious retail damage. This is Russ' only warning. (So don't tell him.)
- Sonic. Applebee's. Podnuh's BBQ. Sometimes a gal needs a few preservatives in her diet.
- Family. And that includes Tink and Ashley.
- Air conditioning. It's been in the high 90's lately. I REALLY miss air conditioning.
- Big discount stores like Walmart and Target. You can get everything on your shopping list in one swoop. You don't have to drive from store to store to find what you want. If someone opened one of these stores in Belgium, they would make millions in the first month.
Today, we went to Movie Park, Germany. It was a blast! We had SO much fun! Some friends of ours met us there, and we rode just about everything in the park. Movie Park is Germany's version of Universal Studios. 
This roller coaster wasn't the biggest, but it sure was fun. We all rode it. It's Jimmy Neutron's Atomic 
Jess was one happy camper today. She wanted to ride everything. We haven't been to an amusement park since 
It was crazy to see all of the Nickelodeon characters in the park. This was Dora the Explorer's Big River Adventure. They had SpongeBob, Patrick, Shrek, and all kinds of friendly characters from home. 
In my opinion, this was the scariest ride in the whole park. So, of course, the boys just had to go on it. A clamp picks you up and hauls you to the top of the structure. When you reach the top, the seats tilt outward, so you are staring straight down. Way, way, way down. 
Then it just lets you go, and you drop. Terrifying. The guys talked us girls into doing it. That was my first, and last, time on this ride. I'm just saying. 
This one was more my style. It's the MP 
I didn't ride this, but the others did. It's called Crazy Surfer, but we called it The Wave. You sit on a little seat, facing out from the circle, then it spins you while it goes over a wave shaped roller coaster track. Crazy, but the others loved it. 
Things have been a little hectic lately. We spent all of Thursday decorating for our Annual 
I didn't really get any great pics there, because they don't allow flash photography in there. Seems the fish don't care too much for it. Still, we had a great time there and saw lots of interesting things. The sting rays reminded me of Florida. One section that had the sound of sea gulls in the background reminded me of the Sea Life Center in Seward, Alaska. 
This was a glass tunnel that went through a huge fish tank. Sharks, stink rays, and other exotic creatures swam right over your head. It was lots of fun to just hang out in there and watch everything passing by. 
This was the Amazon Rain Forest section. They had tanks of piranhas and other lovely things that live in that region. After exploring for a couple of hours, we went to our hotel to check in for the night. 
We stayed at the 
Plus, we had this handy little extra sink in the bathroom. I know what you're thinking, it's a little short to be a sink. I suspect it's there for those rough mornings after you drink too much German beer. (Before you start typing out those e-mails...yes, I know what it really is.)