Wow, July

Well, it's certainly been a busy, fun few weeks since my last post. The weather has really pumped itself into high gear, producing lots of sunshine and even several days of 32+℃ (90+℉) temperatures! Our apartment stays fairly comfortable, temperature-wise, but for about a week it was so hot in the evenings we just had to leave. We sought solace on the terraces of the many cafés in our neighborhood, and were also able to watch several World Cup matches in that convivial environment! Brussels is a particularly fun town in which to progress through Le Mondial as there are people from everywhere here, so each match held a personal drama for someone.



This is a shot standing outside De Valera's pub during the Final between Spain and The Netherlands. De Valera's was the de facto Spanish-supporters bar on Place Flagey, while Café Belga across the square was the gathering spot for the Dutch side. It was just too crowded for me (as I told Troy, the only way I like a crowd is when I'm on a stage performing in front of one!), so we headed to a café around the corner where we could actually see the screen. But, we went back down to Flagey afterwards to experience some of the post-match madness.





In the midst of all the soccer-craziness, Brussels was also buzzing the first weekend in July when the Tour de France passed through town! Troy's writing a whole post on that subject so I won't steal his thunder, but instead will just offer one pic as a teaser.



In addition to these big-time sporting events, there always seems to be something going on around town. Some people claim that summer in Brussels is boring, but I think that's because they assume that nothing happens once the vast hordes quit the town for the summer, on holiday or on their annual return to their home countries when the EU institutions take their break. But, au contraire mes amis, this is our third summer in Brussels and we find it to be a lovely time. The big summer sales in July (one of only two legally-allowed sale periods in the year) make for some great shopping, festivals of all sort seem to happen every weekend, and you even see random things like the Belgium Rollers. And just what is that? It's a crazy summertime rollerblade-and-bicycle parade and our street is on the official route, making our terrace a prime viewing location for the 10 minutes they pass by.





The rollerblading cops getting their groove on never fails to crack me up! But, seriously, in a town as devoted to the car as is Brussels, it's pretty impressive to see the streets blocked off to traffic for such as this.

Here's a brief video clip of the rollers and their DJ taken from the terrace. (Not the best quality, but you get the idea):



As if all this wasn't enough fun and excitement for one month, July is also my birthday month! Whereas last year and the year before we went out of town for my birthday, this year we decided to stay in town. We've been meaning to have a party chez nous for quite a while and so what better excuse than a birthday?



Beautiful birthday bouquets courtesy of the charming Troy.



We invited 50 people(!), but luckily only about half could make it (luckily only in the sense that our apartment would have been packed like a sardine can if everybody had showed!). We snapped a few shots before the guests arrived, and I had great intentions of taking lots of pictures of my friends and the evening, but....we were having so much fun I forgot until the very end when only a hardy few remained.








Alice, (me), Ana, and Matt -- serious party-goers!

In addition to being interesting, fun, and international (the 20± people present represented about 10 different nationalities!), my friends were also super generous -- I received several lovely bouquets, many nice bottles of wine, and some really thoughtful gifts, including a tiny vibrant orchid to add to my growing flower collection.


Birthday posies, plus French B&B book


Miniature orchid!

We had such a good time! By the time the last guests grabbed a cab and we finished cleaning up, it was past 4 am! As you can imagine, nous avons fait la grasse matinée the next morning and spent the rest of the day "taking some sun" amidst the flowers on our terrace. Truly a bon anniversaire!