an american in belgië : November in Pictures

This a post of photos I've taken over the past few weeks. No rhyme or reason, just photos.

I used to be amazed at what people (like me) are willing to pay for here. Like in a restaurant, it's not possible to get tap water. Tap water = not an option.

Water is on every menu, sold only in a bottle, and generally costs about 2 euros - same as a Coke and a beer or coffee (that's water on the menu up there under Coca Cola).

You also have to keep in mind that the bottles of Coke and water are tiny, like the little 6 oz. Cokes you remember, but that probably don't exist anymore in the States.

So you can either sip your 3/4 cup of liquid during your meal or buy 2 or 3 more. This is your only option.

We sometimes like to take a break from Belgian food and eat at one of the only American restaurants in Belgium - McDonald's. At every McDonald's in Belgium, ketchup will cost you. This one pkg. of ketchup, equivalent to 2 tablespoons is 60 cents. That's 82 U.S. cents for every little pkg. of ketchup, or mayonnaise, or barbeque sauce . . . This, too, is your only option.

This is us at a Mexican BBQ restaurant celebrating our neighbor's birthday. It you can call it a Mexican restaurant - Sangria was on the menu, but margaritas were not :-\

That's Pieter, Anse, Bert, Esther, Ross, me, Annemie and Jim.

This is an armoire at the kringwinkel I would have liked to purchase.

For only 140 euros.

You may think that says 740 euros because everyone here makes their ones look like sevens. All sevens have a line drawn through them . . . to distinguish them from the ones, I guess.

This is another armoire at the kringwinkel I would have liked to purchase.

Also priced at 140 euros.

Sevens and ones again.

Of course, neither of them (the armoires) would fit in the car so someone else will get to enjoy these bargains.

Also at the kringwinkel . . . this item was not tempting. At all. Someone else in the market for a pink bidet will get to enjoy this bargain.

We saw this truck in Glasgow. Luckily it was stopped at a red light because it took me that long to get my camera out!

Isn't that great?! It reminded me of something clever Randi would invent.

This is us having drinks with Jim's co-workers and their wives.

That's Jim, me, Elaine, Carole, Steve and Alan.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with some of our Belgian and American friends. It was delicious if I do say so myself.

That's Laurel, Daniele, me, Jim, Annemie, Jenna and Ross.

This is one of two Christmas trees I put up in our house this year. Ross swears I've had them up since Halloween and that may in fact be true. I really love Christmas.