St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral in Downtown Brussels
I have so many things I want to post, but I’m trying to keep this entry short.
Yesterday was a holiday, so banks and stores were clsoed. Instead, we headed downtown, had some tasty pizza and beer, and wandered around. The highlight was the old, fancy church in this entry’s photo. Various foreign communities had created different nativity scenes representing their cultures. Afterward, Thomas gave me a lesson in navigating trams and metros. I now feel comfortable getting to our bank, the large grocery, the express grocery, and downtown from our apartment.
Today was very productive. We started out by setting up our bank accounts. The ATM cards and credit cards here have SMART chips that we’re not used to. Other than that, banking seems pretty similar. Next, we headed downtown and waited in a really long line for a month-long metro/tram/bus pass. We didn’t know that we were supposed to bring a photo with us, but we got our passes anyway. We haven’t yet figured out what to do or where to use them though.
Afterward, we picked up prepaid SIM cards for our cell phones and wandered the shopping district for a bit. I looked for a coat, but I had trouble finding one that fit comfortably. I’ll check again this next week. On our way back home, we stopped by the grocery store and picked up a few items. We found plenty of items we’re used to cooking, and even some brands we recognized. I was especially surprised to see tortillas (a staple in our refrigerator) and some mexican foods.
Last night, when I talked with my sister-in-law and then my family on Skype, I think I sounded a bit frustrated as I compared our first couple of days to camping. But after today, I’m feeling much more confident as I’m starting to understand where to find the things I need and how to get around.
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I imagine there are still surprises awaiting you, but it will get a whole lot easier as basic things begin to become familiar and comfortable. Spare us no details… it’s interesting to learn new things and see the world from a new angle.
Glad you made it safe and sound. Happy New Year and hope all is well there! Beautiful building!
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what does the smart chip do?
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Glad you are making such progress.
We’ll pick up Mary tomorrow on our way to Tulsa. John spent the night with us & drove Poke’s car there.
I’m so sorry that your coat was left behind, but this is a great excuse to buy a new warm one that is from Belgium. I’m so impressed that you’ve learned to get around on the public transportation, and taken care of your bank and phone. It would take me weeks to figure all that out. I love the photos. Send lots. Check your e-mail from me.
Glad to hear you’re hitting your stride!
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The chips are in everything! But it’s good cause they’re much easier to use worldwide then the US ones without the chip. If you get a identity card at your local town hall it’ll probably have a chip too, with all your info on it (address, nationality, etc.)
Oh and the month tram/bus/metro pass that needs a photo is strange. If I get one I have to show ID that proves who I am but they give me the pass right away and basically it’s good for taking all the public transport except the trains. You may want to double check though because I’m in Flanders and you’re in Brabant so the public transport system is slightly different.