OUT AND ABOUT IN
BEAUTIFUL BRUXELLES
The open air Red Bus tour is a must for all visitors, which took us to see all the highlights. We first experienced the Red Bus in Paris with John, Ashley and Taylor on their visit at Christmas (and it was absolutely freezing riding in the open air). We have decided that it is the best way to see a city..... that is if the weather is warmer!
As you can see, the Red Buses in Bruxelles advertize some of the famous attractions of the city. We can see the beautiful gleaming Atomium (from a former World's Fair) from our apartment windows. Notice the famous " Manneken-Pis" on the back end of the bus. They are everywhere in this city, and in every color of chocolate you can imagine! When you see the original statue, it is only about two feet high, which surprises everyone! The funny thing is that this little statue has about a dozen different costumes that they dress him in...so at Christmas he is wearing a santa's suit!! Oh Yes.... and the Belgium waffles are everywhere!!! They are sold on the streets, the subway tunnels, the grocery store entrances, and in every restraurant.... and the toppings are outrageously delicious!
You can actually go up into these large globes! We can see the Atomium
in the distance from our kitchen and living room windows, and it is beautiful!
in the distance from our kitchen and living room windows, and it is beautiful!
The medevial "Grand Place" is a must for every visitor!
Dave and Lindsey treated us to a lovely dinner at our favorite restaurant "Barbanera", which is in our neighborhood just around the corner
Once a year the Opera House is open for visitors. It is so very beautiful, and we enjoyed the "behind the scenes" tour of back stage, dressing rooms and areas not usually open to the public. We have just gifted each other season tickets, which will be for our birthdays, anniversary and Mother and Father's Day!
The detail and beauty of the work on this ceiling of the artisans of old Europe, is astounding!
NAPOLEON'S LAST BATTLE AT WATERLOO
The famous battle where Napoleon met "his Waterloo" at the hands of the Duke of Wellington is just outside Brussels. We all took a fast climb up and down this hill overlooking the site and tryed to pictured the battle which changed Europe once again. This year, re-enactments of the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) are being staged across Europe as part of bicentenary celebrations. Last week, more than 1,000 congregated on the banks of the Neman River in central Lithuania, to re-stage Napoleon's 1812 assault on Tsarist Russia. The bloody history of Europe provides many such opportunities! Work is underway to transform the Waterloo battlefield into an exact replica of what it looked like in 1815. On this climb to the top of the hill, Lindsey was very enthusiastic about the great condition of her Dad and Mom!
Every visitor wants to visit the charming medeival city of Bruge. We find it a very peaceful, vibrant and authetic part of old Europe. The waterways let you glide effortlessly along, thinking deep thoughts and viewing the well preserved buildings over 300-years old! On a sunny day, it cannot be beat for atmosphere and "charm."
Thanks Dave for the boat ride through the canals of Bruge
A beautiful Sunday dinner in the garden of my dearest friend and visiting teacher, Rebecca. Her little village, outside of Brussels, is an idylic pastoral setting where streets are made of cobblestones and about one car width wide, even in the 21st century!
THE NETHERLANDS TEMPLE TRIP
We had a wonderful first visit to the beautiful Netherlands Temple with members of our ward R.S.
Our carpool, with wonderful friends Rebecca, Robin and Sharon
the best loaf of bread that I have tasted while in Europe! Yum!!
I teach Relief Society the fourth Sunday of the month from Conference talks in the Ensign. Since the theme was "Judge Ye Not" and "Forgiveness", I took my new best friend, "Zachary the Zebra", along to help me introduce the theme. I first saw Zachary through the window from my favorite front row seat on bus number 63, as we were stopped in traffic. He was standing proudly in the window of an antique shop, but he was behind a table, which obscured a full view of his body. Since I love the combination of black and white, and also love animal prints, I could not get him out of my mind that next week, and determined that I wanted to sometime walk back and find that shop for a closer look. Since my view through the window of the bus was from his belly upwards, I was shocked when I finally saw how tall he really was!!!
Zachary is carved from one solid block of wood, and is from Pakistan. As you will notice, he has no kneecaps, which makes it impossible for him to bend over to eat those beautiful tulips. I am certain that many unkind "judgments" were made by the other animals in the jungle, because he was not a normal zebra!! Judge Ye Not! Zachary stands proudly on my white desk in our small black, white and red family room. He makes us smile whenever we walk into that room.......... and so we have decided... that he will move back to Washington D.C. with us when we go home, as I could not bear to leave him behind!!!
Photo taken in front of our charming old townhouse chapel in the upscale heart of Bruxelles, with a couple of our Young Women, and three of my dearest friends...L to Rt Sharon (who will soon move to Prague), Regina from the Congo and Vaitiare from Tahiti. Vaitiare met her husband (from Russia), and joined the Church while at BYU Hawaii. I love this unconventional chapel, and the beautiful dark carved wood winding staircase off the foyer. I believe there are five floors, with a font in the basement, and a small elevator for those who have difficulty navigating the many stairs in high heels. That would be me!
Recently we arrived early to church, and I was taking the tiny elevator to the basement, where I hide my flower arrangements and treats, until it is time to teach. When the elevator reached the basement, which was totally dark......the elevator door would NOT OPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!! David was still out trying to find a parking place for the car, and there I was....stuck in an elevator in the dark!!! I probably complicated things by pushing buttons...but what else could I do??? I finally pushed the "bell" button, and that connected me to the elevator company, who said they would send a technician out. That could take hours!!!!!!! Knowing that there were just a couple of people in the building, I started pounding my fist on the door and yelling!!!! Not very lady like I know, but what's a girl to do! Well to make a long story shorter, someone finally heard me and knew which closet the controls were in to make the door open. Whew!!! That is not a fun situation to be in!!! Needless to say................I now take the STAIRS!
Last month we attended a zone conference in Bruxelles with our native French "Paris Mission President", President and Sister Poznanski....., and also our new Europe Area President, Jose Teixeira from Portugal, and his wife. It was a great "shot in the arm" for all who attended, and for us it brought back many sweet memories of our service in the Hungary Budapest Mission, and also the Mesa Temple Visitors' Center, and working with all of those wonderful missionaries!!! Onward and Upward..... There is nothing like the mission field!!!!!
THE PETERSON FAM
Someone is missing here........Can you guess who?
A prize to you if you can tell me who is missing here???
HAIL HAIL.................THE GANG'S ALL HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We close this entry expressing the great love we have for each of our seven wonderful children, who have gathered in Utah from the East Coast to West Coast, for their "own family reunion". We feel so blessed to have children who love being together...even while their parents are serving a mission.
We love you all so much!
AU REVOIR FROM BRUXELLES!
