Day Trip To Antwerp

Having spent a exactly one week in Brussels ....I decided it was time to visit a nearby city called Antwerp. Antwerp is Belgium's second city and biggest port. While Brussels is mainly under French influence....Antwerp is under Dutch influence. It was a cold rainy day...like many of my days in Brussels so far... but nonetheless undeterred by weather I ventured out...I arrived in Antwerp after about 40 minutes.  Along the streets I saw  a lot of members of the Orthodox church dressed in black.... I also found out that Antwerp is famous for diamonds.. I guess they did not mention that during my history lessons. I was prepared to visit historical buildings and museums, however... the bad weather was unfortunately persistent..lots of wind and rain, making sight seeing very difficult if not almost impossible.... so I ended up at another Exki cafe... I found this one more to my taste....very cute and cozy on two floors.....while there i met a young lady from Burundi who was having coffee there. We chatted briefly watching the street...I will return there again in better weather and explore the city next time...

Parc Du Cinquantenaire and Merode

Almost everyday I had a french conversation lesson with a tutor that I found online, Emmanuel.  It was decided that since besides improving my spoken french my other reason for visiting Brussels was to see as much of the city as I could. So it was agreed that Emmanuel and I would meet at a different place for each lesson wherever possible. For one of my lessons he proposed that we go to Merode, since I did not know my way around,he met me and walked with me   me across the Parc du Cinquantenaire which  is a large public urban park, which was build to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Belgium's independence.  the park is very beautiful lovely benches, trees, ponds and pathways.  i could imagine that in summer it must be a great place to be...but still even as it was it  lovely. After a longish walk we arrived at Merode and I chose to have my lesson at Carpe Diem....I thought it was a fitting choice...it was a cute cosy cafe..

Harare Confidential: Coffee in Exki Cafe In Brussels....

Harare Confidential: Coffee in Exki Cafe In Brussels....: I arrived in Brussels over the weekend...after the ongoing heatwave in Zimbabwe..I must confess that I have found much relief in the cooler ...

Coffee in Exki Cafe In Brussels....

I arrived in Brussels over the weekend...after the ongoing heatwave in Zimbabwe..I must confess that I have found much relief in the cooler temperatures here in Brussels...it will be while before I start missing the sun...

I went out for the first time on one of the many days when its drizzling and ended up at Exki Cafe which where apparently all expats working in Brussels hang out... I had to practice my bad spoken french as everyone first assumes you speak french before trying any other language...I successfully ordered a capuccino and found a place to sit.  It was warm and cozy after the rain and wind outside.  the focus of this cafe is on natural products and healthy eating..