We have heard from folks we know and folks we don’t. Amazing and gratifying!
Ken, I was
one of the Pax boys living in Bakwanga (Mbuji Mayi) in '62 - 63, working with
CPRA and building schools, distributing relief supplies and driving truck. For
part of that time, your dad stayed with us as an interpreter and overseer while
Archie Graber was back in Leopoldville with his family. Glen helped me
personally with my struggles to accept myself as an acceptable servant of God.
His sense of humor and laid back love of life still impresses me 'till this
day. He yearned to be with your mother and with his kids who were back in the
US. His love for you all bubbled out of him most when the 'mail truck' arrived.
You must really be proud of his legacy.Following
your blog has been a delightful experience. Please convey my appreciation to
Lenore. Glad you're back home safe and sound.
Henry Braun
Best regards, A-J - Andre-Jacques Neusy
Tuesday in Brussels.
 |
| Mussels for supper |
So we ate all our meals European times today. Not a bad way to do it. ;) Went to the same patisserie for B’fast and they remembered our drink preferences. (OR it could be that we are not up on this Euro exchange rate yet and confused it with Kinshasa francs and left them a $13.70 tip for a small breakfast yesterday! But to give them credit they did come and stop us to tell us what we had done. Ken smiled and told them to keep it and share!) I threw them because I wanted Earl Grey tea instead of Cocoa today.
We then came back
and caught the Double Decker/London Bus- as they call it- and toured the whole
city for the day. We sat up top enjoying the cool autumn day and had a glorious
time. Churches from the 1600’s and earlier, castles, Palaces, old and new
architecture, statues and lots of old, old buildings. The flower boxes were all
still in bloom so the old Row houses were all decked out in their bright summer
colors. Pretty, pretty place. Nice way to ease back into civilization. 
The nice thing
about the bus tour is that we could get off and on at will and a bus was coming
by the stops every 15 minutes. So I could shop, we could hop the bus and let
Ken get over shopping and walking, get some more culture and history for awhile
and then hop back off for some more cultural merchandise exchange! ;) We went to the Atomium- symbol of the 1958
World’s Fair here in Brussels. We got some neat pictures. Did not brave the Porte-Potties-
had heard enough horror stories about those. So we paid 3 Euro somethings-
change stuff- each to go to a real restroom at the ticket office. We went and
saw the building where Ken and his folks spent the summer working at the fair.
It was locked up so could not see inside. From there we were going to go see
mini-Europe but the lines were too long to stand and wait so we headed on to
the next destination. Made an important stop along the way- for a Belgian
waffle to split! Yum!! Carb country!Got off at Dansaert Street and took a gander at the high couture shops, perfume shops, and Ken even spotted a Bobbie Brown make-up shop! (He knows I am running low-but I saved that shopping trip for the USA!!)We walked until we found a wonderful little café along the street. Ken had a cauliflower creamed soup with vegetables, French bread – of course- and Shrimp croquettes. I had grilled chicken, apples, grapes and walnut salad and the famous Belgian French Fries- Frites. Yummy! As we ate, we people watched. Fascinating! (The soundtrack on the bus had told us that Belgians speak many languages- usually French, Flemish, German and English. So that if we were lost just to feel free to ask anyone for help!) So Ken and I used Tshiluba!! Folks asked where we were from! Funny!
Next we bought a
T-shirt from Brussels and went on the search for the Manneken Pis. Found him
and it is a very small…”statue” to garnish so much attention! ;) What was funny was to watch all of the kid’s
reactions when their parents told them to get up there by the statue for a
picture!! A hoot and a holler!! Something was going on because cop cars were
racing all around and police helicopters were all up in the air over city
center. May try to watch the news and see what was up. If it was major and
y’all already know about it- we are fine!Walked to some more shops and then headed for the last bus stop. We had to be there by 4 or take a taxi home! We found the stop and made it on time. Then back to the hotel to put our feet up. For supper we went to another street café on Luxemburg Square near the hotel and had soup, eggs, an “ok” spaghetti and mousse and ice cream for dessert. We walked home on the cobblestones in a nice gentle rain. So Europe feeling! ;)
So on our list of thing to do we have had croissants, Belgian Waffles, home-made comfiture (they had, blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, orange marmalade, honey, pear, and chocolate) went to the site of the 19958 World’s Fair, and I had Muscles (none were left under my chair!). Still have the chocolates to sample and our old homes to find and see. I’d like to find the/a mall and do that but don’t know yet on that excursion!
Wednesday in Brussels-
Slept in again. This could get habit forming. It has been weird after being on MPH “meal by the bell” schedule of 7, 12, and 18 every day for almost 5 months. Ken has voted for B’fast here in the hotel today. While we were out yesterday we spotted the other Marriott hotel. It is more in the downtown center. This one is in a quieter area with homes, beautiful old squares with trees and statues and Parliament nearby. Amazing how many folks are on bicycles. (There are rent a bicycle places all over town. Drop in your money and off you can go!)I have noticed how many of the ladies are in basic black skirts and sweaters (not counting the muslim ones always in black- ;)) with color accents, black tights and neat fashion shoes! Not as many slacks as we see in the US-mostly skirts etc- no matter the hour-glass (or “week-glass”) shape of the ladies. Almost all jeans we saw were on men and not a lot of those. Interesting. Also quite a few were wearing hats of one sort or another- male and female. Beautiful and friendly people!
We just got back
from the trip to find and see our two pensions where we lived as kids. Our
driver was a delightful fiftyish year old man. He spoke English to Ken and
insisted on speaking French to me because he said I was missing nothing he
said! He said usually Americans trying
to speak French have so much trouble he just goes to English -to end their pain.
He said if I’d spend two months here using only French that I’d be perfect.
(Quit laughing!) The bellman had arranged an hour tour for us. We went to my
place first and I knocked. The lady invited me in. Her husband is in the
Belgian Navy and they spent three years in Norfolk. She asked me to please
speak English for her so she could practice and hear it again. The house was not
as dark as I remember because they have added sky lights and big modern
windows. She offered me tea or coffee but I told her we were on a time line and
still had to go see where my husband lived. The school where I went is just
around the block and still running. Her youngest daughter goes there. Small
world! Ken’s Pension was three or four block over. He refused to knock and would not let me knock
either. The neighborhoods are expensive now because of Parliament in the area.
The trolley line still runs among the trees out front of my house. Modern ones
go there now- not the old one with the hand toggle to control the turns! What a
grand time we had!! Oh, what a delight!!We did find out from the driver that all of the ruckus yesterday was police demonstrations demanding more pay. Today’s demonstrations are supposed to be larger and really snarl traffic in town center. So it is a good thing we went yesterday for our tours.
Yea! Just got our Tshiluba fix for Brussels! Our phone by bed has not been working. Guess What!! Repairman is from Kinshasa but born in Kasai! So off to Tshiluba we all went. He was thrilled!! I can’t believe it!! I told Ken we won’t be able to do this in the States! ;) Duh!
In the lobby we ran into a man from Kisumu, Kenya. Told him Clint had worked there with the US Army- “Oh, yes, the Walter Reed Project,” he responded. Gave us his card for the next time Clint goes there. Gee, these blessings “just keep rollin’ along!” Oh, he asked us to please tell our President hello since he is from his town! Guess he does not realize we Americans aren’t all personal friends of our President like many leaders are in Congo and apparently Kenya!
Lunch at Fat Boys. Totally in English. Trying to be American. Got a ways to go! But did have chili, burgers, chicken bits, tacos, onion rings from which to choose. Etc. Almost all in there were Expats. Prefer Belgian cafés.
Tonight we are to go out to eat with the two Neusy brothers- Ken knew them as kids when they were all in Kananga. Wow! That will be fun. They are both doctors and in town for a few days.
So I will sign off for now and post.
Love Ya! Me
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