Dank U, Belgium

Hello world!

I write to you from Bruges, Belgium and I am quite happy!

Driving into Bruges, it reminded me of driving north on I-25 to Loveland. It smelled like cows and there were big flat fields with little farmhouses nestled between them underneath big trees. The only difference was that behind the fields were thick forests that I'm pretty sure are the inspiration for many a fairy tale: the limbs of the trees stretch out as if to draw you in to the funny light and who knows where the paths will lead!

Bruges is the quaintest. We are staying absolutely gorgeous apartments! I thought our apartment in Paris was wonderful, but it was nothing compared to this (although really, who can complain about any apartment in Paris??) It has a bedroom, a little couch room that only has a couch situated to look out the window, a huge bathroom, a hallway to a living/dining room and off of that is the kitchen. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? We are so, so blessed to be living in these places! The streets of Bruges are all cobblestone and lined with four-story, old buildings with colorful doors, of course. It was pretty funny to see all 47 of us rumbling our suitcases single-file along the cobblestone street to get to our hotel. We looked like a mini ant brigade.

This is Europe, as Mom said when we (finally!) got to skype!! Apparently Belgium's specialties are beer, chocolate, and waffles. Tomorrow the plan is to go for a run, do homework, eat chocolate, eat waffles, (probably skip the beer) and have a wonderful relaxed day!

I love you all,

kenz