Europe Trip 2015: Day 1-2

You only have one life, so cherish it. Live and learn. Keep those who care close.

-Nicole Fillman

       On Friday April 4th, I left the states to go Europe to visit some of my family members and to take a break from everything going on in the States.

Since this wasn't a planned trip, My mom just asked me if I wanted to go and the next day she gave me a ticket. So off i went to Europe for 3-4 weeks. 

  This was my first trip oversea since moving to America in 1997 and this time I traveled with my oldest Brother. The plan was that he would drop me off at my aunt's place in Toulouse, France after we visited our maternal side of the family in Belgium. 

Prior to leaving CLT, my aunt F stop by to give some advice about traveling aboard especially visiting distant family. She reminded me that everyone works, so i must have a plan each day on what i wanted to do, and find transportation or I will be stuck at the house watching TV. So with the little time i had left, I did a bit of research on what to do and transportation. 

We left the States on Friday around 8pm, arrived in Paris, FR around 11 am then rented a car, drove it to Brussel, Belgium. We took one stop at a gas station in France and experienced the worst customer service ever!!!!

Upon arriving in Brussel, we met one of our uncles, uncle F who was attending a church conference there and since i was jet lag, i stayed at the hotel while everyone attended the church service.

After church, they came to pick me up. Since i was hungry we went to get something to eat but it was 10pm already and the next two days were Easter Holiday, most shops would be closed. My uncle JM took me to this burger place called Hector but it was close. So we walked to over to the Golden Arches (McDs). McD's was pack with people. It was the cleanest McD's that i have ever been to. It had the two golden arch outside but everything else was different. They had the online system where one could order instead of waiting in line. The McD's was built with white marbles as if it was a museum or a library.

I ordered the Big Mac, my first meal in Europe was McD's Big Mac with no cheese. Then we went to my uncle JM apartment in Brussel, where i would be spending the night.

The next day, my uncle and his girlfriend gave me a quick tour of Brussel. We first went to the Basilica at Charles de Gaule. It was filled with people playing soccer and crickets, while others were having picnics and dates in a car because they could not openly date (due to religiously reason). 

not wearing my glasses, so i have to squeeze my eyes to see:)

the basilica:)

Close up of the Atomun

Then we went to the Atomun, took pictures there then the Flower park nearby. Took more pictures. My camera started to act up so i could not take better pictures. It was nice to see bunch of people of all creed, religion, and ethnicity just walking around enjoying a day out. It felt weird hearing French being spoken everywhere we went, it reminded me of my homeland. Then we went to the park near the Royal place, took some pictures then my camera died. 

The Atomun

this photo does do it justice but the flower garden was gorgeous!!

me outside the Royal Place of Belgium!!

The gate of the Royal Place of Belgium:-)

We went back to my uncle's place, pack my bags and drove an hour outside of Brussel to my aunt MJ place near Mois, Belgium. It was like visiting my mom's place except the house and land space was much smaller. As always, we ate African food (you can take people out of Africa but you can't take the African out of them). I slept 2 nights, at my aunt's MJ place. I did not do much but catch up on my sleep and chit chat with her. I had the longest conversation that i have ever had with a person since leaving Florida. My cousins' J & N and their significant other came over to visit and say hi which was so nice. I' am truly grateful i got to meet them. Communication was a bit hard, i can understand French but speaking is very difficult for me while they spoke French but speaking English was difficult for them. We talked for some hours, ate dinner and exchange numbers, hopefully we'll meet again.

The next day, my brother and i left for France.

 ~xoxo

*This post was originally written on 4-6-15.