We had breakfast in Amsterdam, lunch in Brussels, and dinner in Paris. Wow.
Before we got to Belgium for lunch, we stopped to visit one of the 3 remaining concentration camps from WWII. Even though this was one of the more solemn excursions of the trip, I still really enjoyed learning about it. The details of what happened at the camp were so nauseating to me - how could the human race allow for this treatment, how did some view it to be okay?
I really hope humanity has taken a step forward from genocide and extreme discrimination. But then I think of Joseph Kony and even the way Americans are treating gays as a separate class in society. This is very unsettling to my optimistic and tree hugger soul.
Afterwards we got waffles and crepes in Brussels, and it was finally the first warm and sunny day of the trip! I almost forgot what sunshine felt like and the immediate happiness it brings me.
I bought some Belgium chocolate bars for my mom and family (hopefully she doesn’t read this post!) at a little shop in the city and the man behind the counter was so friendly! I got 5 big bars for 9.90 euros! A steal indeed. And when I left he said I had a beautiful smile. :) Little compliments like that always make me pause for a moment and think “what a nice thing for him to say.”
Keep smiling - Paris awaits!