Where I want to be right now

Sidin Vadukut has a lovely piece on Much Wenlock in today’s Mint Lounge.

Much Wenlock is quite possibly the most becoming little town in all of Great Britain. In fact, I don’t think I’ve been to a more charming place in the whole world. It is the kind of instantly likeable little place—like Amsterdam, Aix-en-Provence, St Andrews or Braemar up in the Scottish Highlands—where, by the end of your first walk about town, you’re already wondering, whimsically, how much a two-bedroom, semi-detached by the canal or the river or the ruined abbey is going to cost.

I know exactly what he means – ten minutes into Bruges, I was dreaming of a home there and by the end of the hour, the husband and I had decided exactly which house we were going to buy (right by the canal, a three minute walk from the Church of Our Lady, if you are interested. That way I figured I could drop by the church daily to look at the beautiful Michelangelo Madonna and Child statue. And oh, five minutes to the chocolate shops). And then we looked at each other and burst out laughing. A house in Europe, yes, right. Well, it was fun while it lasted.

Anyway. Bruges is what I have been thinking of these last few days when I have been somewhat down and out. That is where I’d rather be right now…

Do Re Mi at Antwerp Station

I have a big smile on my face this morning. Not that I woke up smiling. I never do, el grumpo is what I am when I wake up. This morning, I opened my mail to see this forward – a flash mob dancing to do-re-mi at the Antwerp Central Station.

Now flash mobs are usually not associated with happy things – look at what’s happening in the UK right now. Why, any mob is bad news – what do they say about a mob having many heads but no brains?

Anyway. Not this one. A group of 200 dancers suddenly spring into action at the Antwerp Station to the tunes of do-re-mi. Lovely, lovely!

Take a look – and believe me, you will be smiling too at the end of it…

And by the way, Antwerp Station itself is a beautiful place – grand and imposing and very ver old Europe. One of the ten must-see railway stations in the world, according to something I read long ago. The husband, who is a confirmed fan of train travel, was thrilled to be there…

Belgian chocolate – the battle is lost even before it begins

I read this interesting post on Gadling about the true nature of the Bruges chocolate museum – basically describing it tacky propaganda. I did not visit the museum. One, museums are way too expensive in Europe. And two, there was chocolate everywhere in Bruges. If the idea was just to see, then every single shop window had tantalizing displays. It was just before Easter and Belgium was going crazy with the chocolate bunny motif. Cute toothy bunnies made of chocolate. What’s to complain? I can’t think of anything better I’d like to see on window displays.

The tough part comes now. Can you just look? And not buy? And die simultaneously of pleasure and guilt? And remember, this is Bruges – home to some of the best Belgian fries, eaten with mayonnaise (but that is a separate post by itself). So here it is – chocolate from Belgium. For your viewing pleasure. And hoping these will make you reach out for that nearest slab of chocolate. To hell with the diet!