Leuven Library at Christmas

Aachen and Volkenburg Christmas Markets

Aachen, Germany was magnificently decorated for christmas. I went to visit Susanne and Dieter family friends who are always so hospitable. We spent the evening in Aachen where I got to try glhuwin (hot wine) a festive european drink, bratwurst, chocolates, and experience the music and lights of German Christmas Markets.

The following day we went to Volkenburg, Holland where the markets are inside the caves. Years ago the Jews hid inside the caves in hiding and today they are used as huge Christmas Markets. It was nice though because it was so cold out, once you got inside you didn't feel a thing. We spent hours inside, it was neat.

Bruges Christmas Market

The Bruges Christmas Market made me feel like the main character in the most beautiful Christmas movie ever. Honestly, once it got dark and we went ice skating and the town lit up into this wonderland I was so worried I wouldn't be able to get the perfect picture but this one below does it really good justice. The whole town looked like a gingerbread village. It was unbelievable.

Sinterklaas

It snowed for six days here in Leuven. Bikes were snowed in and thank goodness my warm boots made it back with me after Thanksgiving. It made for a beautiful couple days though. Leuven is such a quaint town, I love it.

Sinterklaas is a holiday celebrated in Europe which starts the holiday season off. All the children leave their boots out, a note for sinterklaas, a beer, a carrot, and a sugar cube (kind of like our milk and cookies). Then we woke up in the morning to an orange, pear, chocolates, gingerbread, and coins inside out boot- granted we were good this year. He and his black petes, kind of like his elves, joined us in a big party where we all sung a christmas song and talked about our behavior this year. It was like a big roast and very funny. The season in Europe has been so much fun, can't wait to get home, but boy is the spirit here marvelous!

Snowing in Leuven

Thanksgiving in the USA

It was so nice to be able to go home for Thanksgiving. I did, well ate, a lot of typical American things: Dunkin Donuts coffee, Wendy's, Auntie Ann's Pretzels, Chick-Fil-A, chipotle, Thanksgiving Turkey dinner, funny the things you miss. It was also nice to go to the American mall (malls don't exist in Europe) and the movies with Mick. Also went to pick out a Christmas tree : ) Very quick visit, but only 20 days till I return for Christmas!

I AMSTERDAM

I SPENT THE LAST WEEKEND IN AMSTERDAM WITH EVERYONE FROM LOYOLA. WE WENT TO THE VAN GOGH MUSEUM, RIJKS MUSEUM, ON A BOAT TOUR, AND TO THE ANNE FRANK HOUSE. THE CITY OVERALL WASN'T MY FAVORITE I HAVE VISITED SO FAR, BUT THE ANNE FRANK HOUSE WAS MY FAVORITE HISTORICAL PLACE I HAVE SEEN SO FAR SINCE IN EUROPE. EVERYTHING WAS EXACTLY HOW IT WAS LEFT THE NIGHT THE FAMILY WAS REMOVED FROM THE ANNEX, EERIE BUT INCREDIBLE. I WASN'T ALLOWED TO TAKE PHOTOS BUT I BOUGHT A REALLY NEAT BOOK YOU CAN ONLY GET THERE I WILL BE SURE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL.

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A FABULOUS THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. LOVE, BRIGETTE

Christmas has begun!!

The city of Leuven has officially began preparing for the holiday season! City hall is completely covered in twinkling lights.

Rainy Leuven

Leuven until today hadn't really seen sun in 9 days! It got a little hard to get yourself motivated during the day, but in the midst of a heavy downpour me and my friend Corey mustered up the energy on a lazy Saturday afternoon to put on our raincoats, boots, and hoods and walk through the woods. It turned out to be really beautiful. This is a picture of my favorite little bridge in Leuven park!

Germany

Aachen, Germany was really a neat city. We were there as the Christmas markets were being set up for the next four weeks, I look forward to going back when the town is fully decorated for the holidays because the little I saw was so beautiful.

After Susanne and Dieter, family friends, took me to Aachen they took me to the three landing point, where Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands come together so I was essentially standing in three countries at once which was really cool.
We also went to the Lindt chocolate factory and a gingerbread factory, don't worry I am bringing lots of treats home for everyone to try. It was so nice to be in a home and not a hostel or hotel, they were so hospitable and I had such a fabulous time. Looking forward to going back to Germany and hitting Cologne for the Christmas markets which are supposedly phenomenal.