Last night in Brussels....
When I get back to base, I will write a proper final post (or several).
It finally stopped raining and I look through the window to see the beautiful arch illuminated at night, one more time...
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Friday, 26 February 2010
Day 140
What happened to people this morning? Did they all got out of bed on time for a change?!
I had to let 3 metros go by before getting a place... Well, the third one was a bit silly actually, because I didn't have time to see that there were places on the next carriage (or wagon, whatever). It's not like I was late anyway....
Last day at work... and it's raining and grey...
Three more days and I'll leave Brussels....
I had to let 3 metros go by before getting a place... Well, the third one was a bit silly actually, because I didn't have time to see that there were places on the next carriage (or wagon, whatever). It's not like I was late anyway....
Last day at work... and it's raining and grey...
Three more days and I'll leave Brussels....
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Day 139
Another grey coloured paper on my desk....
I had actually just finished cleaning my desk, throwing away all the working papers that I won't need anymore. Only today and tomorrow left, here at the office.
In the last weeks I have been watching quite a few movies.
- Up in the Air
Liked the strong female characters. Was a bit heavy at some points and there's a couple of sad parts, but altogether, I liked it.
- Taking Woodstock
Thought it was a laugh! And I agree with some of the critics who complain about the absence of any original footage from the concerts or at least someone pretending to be those artists. OK, the emphasis was the experience, fine. But, hey, the music!!! AND, I normally don't say these things but.... Jonathan Groff really transmitted a good vibe (aka, was hot!).
- Paranormal Activity
Shouldn't have seen it... Dammit! Was simplistically scary!
- Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Was cute. Nice to have something less serious for a change :)
I also rewatched Adventureland (really like it, love the soundtrack!!) and the The Ugly Truth (good for some giggles).
Books wise, I am having a little break from The Shining and reading a Portuguese romance based on the life of Aristides de Sousa Mendes. It's good to read something in Portuguese for a change (HP didn't count, because it was a translation - quite bad at some points - and this book I am reading now is originally in Portuguese).
Have been having a hard time fallling asleep, dunno if because of the stupid movie or of the whole anxiety concerning the end my contract or both... Tired...
I had actually just finished cleaning my desk, throwing away all the working papers that I won't need anymore. Only today and tomorrow left, here at the office.
In the last weeks I have been watching quite a few movies.
- Up in the Air
Liked the strong female characters. Was a bit heavy at some points and there's a couple of sad parts, but altogether, I liked it.
- Taking Woodstock
Thought it was a laugh! And I agree with some of the critics who complain about the absence of any original footage from the concerts or at least someone pretending to be those artists. OK, the emphasis was the experience, fine. But, hey, the music!!! AND, I normally don't say these things but.... Jonathan Groff really transmitted a good vibe (aka, was hot!).
- Paranormal Activity
Shouldn't have seen it... Dammit! Was simplistically scary!
- Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Was cute. Nice to have something less serious for a change :)
I also rewatched Adventureland (really like it, love the soundtrack!!) and the The Ugly Truth (good for some giggles).
Books wise, I am having a little break from The Shining and reading a Portuguese romance based on the life of Aristides de Sousa Mendes. It's good to read something in Portuguese for a change (HP didn't count, because it was a translation - quite bad at some points - and this book I am reading now is originally in Portuguese).
Have been having a hard time fallling asleep, dunno if because of the stupid movie or of the whole anxiety concerning the end my contract or both... Tired...
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Day 137
When I got to the office this morning, there were two grey toned papers, announcing the funeral of two people that worked here. About an hour later, another paper was added to that pile. I think these people might have died following the major train crash in Halle last week. May their souls find peace, wherever they are...
On a completely different note, yesterday I finally went to Kitty O'Shea's. Interns with a special discount card had good deals and though these deals were there every Monday since the beginning of October, I had never managed to go and decided I should at least try it on my last week. Managed to get two Carlsberg pints for the amazing price of 3,90€ :) It was a pleasant evening with two Portuguese friends.
Today is grey and rainy and I am getting a little stressed because I can't seem to find vacancies to apply to...
On a completely different note, yesterday I finally went to Kitty O'Shea's. Interns with a special discount card had good deals and though these deals were there every Monday since the beginning of October, I had never managed to go and decided I should at least try it on my last week. Managed to get two Carlsberg pints for the amazing price of 3,90€ :) It was a pleasant evening with two Portuguese friends.
Today is grey and rainy and I am getting a little stressed because I can't seem to find vacancies to apply to...
Monday, 22 February 2010
Day 135
Last weekend we had some friends for dinner. A friend of ours cooked a Gin tomato soup :) Was very very tasty! A couple of friends also brought dessert :) yummy.
Some of them went to a party on the underground of Café des Halles in Saint-Géry while others went to Strictly Niceness. I actually stayed in :)
The week at work was so so, not too busy.
I had two meetings with my fellow interns with the Head of our DG and the "big boss". It was nice to see that both of them sound like they have both feet on the ground and were really nice to us.
I had taken Friday off, but spent the whole afternoon in a Farewell Conference, the beginning of the end... (A big thank you to the Committee and all Sub-Committees that made their best to make this an even better experience to us all)
Last night was the Euroball, 50s/L.A. Confidential theme.
To start the night, we had some friends (not interns) over for dinner and my housemate cooked a delicious chicken curry with white rice. We got all dressed up, girls with pretty dresses and boys with suit and tie and went to Theatre de Vaudeville, a beautiful location where this goodbye event took place.
It was amazing to see everyone again, all beautiful and cute, take crazy pictures to remember and dance together one more time.
One week to go... Then I will have to pack my stuff and leave Brussels (for now...).
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Day 130
When I woke up this morning there was already light outside. Just a couple weeks ago it was still pitch black at that hour (7.30). It's good.... I like it :)
The hardest part of the year (at least light-wise) is over!
The hardest part of the year (at least light-wise) is over!
Friday, 12 February 2010
Day 126
A couple days ago the snow and the cold came back to Brussels.
Today I am home, took the day off :) Still have one more day off to enjoy next week.
I was suppose to be writing cover letters for job applications, but my Word has been having some kind of problems for a few months now and I can't seem to fix it :( it keeps freezing and complains that it's still looking for some printer...
Yesterday I went back to Start People and finally registered. Now I just have to send my CV via e-mail every two weeks and hope to get lucky real soon.
The streets are still a little white and there's ice all around, but there are rays of light breaking through the grey clouds, hitting my face :)
Weekend :)
On reading matters: finished (re)reading Harry Potter in Portuguese (how awful was that translation some times) and am currently reading The Shinning and hoping it won't creep me out and let me sleep.
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Machine Head at Forest National/Vorst Nationaal
Last Friday, after spending the whole day in a meeting/conference that I had been organising for the last three months, I had a little pearl waiting for me: Machine Head were playing right here in Brussels and I could not resist and got myself a ticket a few weeks ago.
I came home after the meeting, so tired, checked B for the trains and then went to rest for a bit.
For some reason, I got the idea that the train was at 19.12 instead of 19.06 so.... I arrived there a little too late to get that one. The next train was only at 19.39. Went to sit in the waiting room and not long after a homeless person, who unfortunately smelled really bad, sat right next to me. I didn't want to get up all of a sudden, to be rude, so I stayed there for another five minutes, not inhaling, just breathing through my mouth and then decided to just get up and wait the rest of the time standing somewhere else.
My train arrived on time (several trains were late that evening) but, suddenly, when we reached Forest I realised I was not at Forest Est, I was at Forest Zuid/Midi, in the middle of the factories!!!! It was quite dark already and there was almost no one to be seen... I went to talk to the security guy and asked him for help, because I couldn't seem to find the way out. "You should take the tunnel and then turn right". "That tunnel over there", I asked. And he said yes, so I tried that tunnel that went under the rails. When I came out on the other side, I could only see more factories and no way out. I walked towards the first building where there was still light on and another security guy. I went in and asked for help - he was one of the rudest persons I have EVER met! He turn to me and said "I don't work for the train company, I don't have to tell you anything about trains or buses. This is private property" etc etc. Again, I asked him for help and he replied to me the exact same way, gesticulating a lot... I didn't want to be as rude as him, so I just turn my back and walked away, leaving him to continue directing his rudeness... Is it that hard to help someone, even if they are on private property?!
I face palmed and thought to myself "I really get myself in the most awkward situations sometimes".
Walked back to the first security guy, who was very nice once again, but he was still unsure about the direction. Luckily, when he was leaving his little "house" to help me, a lady was coming from one of the factories and explained to me how to get out and that I was really close to the centre, 5-minute walk.
Note: If you ever want to take the train to go to Forest National, make sure you type Forest EST, so you don't leave any space for mistakes.
The 5-minute walk was more like a 15-minute walk, but I didn't really care. I was just happy not be stuck in the middle of the factories in the dark any more.
I finally arrived to the venue around 20.20. And then I realised - oops, the doors opened at 18h and not at 19h, which means the bands started at 19h and not at 20h and the second band was already finishing their performance by the time I arrived. Face palm again! I was really out that day! :) I have been to so many concerts and I don't recall ever mixing the timetable, but I honestly just really wanted to see Machine Head, so I guess I got what I wanted. No All Shall Perish and no Hatebreed for me then.
Machine Head started playing at 21.00 and played until 22.45.
It was a brilliant concert as usual, they are definitely one of my favourite live bands. The set list was quite mixed, new and older stuff to please everyone.
It's the third year they tour with The Blackening album and for me it was the third time I saw them - once each year in three different countries :) First Germany, then Portugal and now Belgium. In each one of those times their performances were amazing!
Here's a "couple" pictures :)
The only downside was that during my favourite song, Halo (the one before the last, Davidian as usual), I wasn't really paying attention to my surroundings and I think a guy might have jumped, fell on the guy next to me, who then fell on me and elbowed my nose. I was lucky, because he hit the bone and not the cartilage - if he had hit my cartilage that hard I am sure it would have broken in a very nasty way. Anyway, didn't broke, was just swollen for a few days and, after all, it was a metal concert so... I knew what I was going for :) (sorry, it's a Portuguese expression).
Thank you Machine Head!!
No weird events to report on the trip back home :)
Note: If you're interested in going to a concert at Forest National, there are several options, being the fastest getting a train at Central Station. It only takes 10 minutes and drops you at Forest EST, less than five minutes walking from the venue. Normally, though the timetable may change depending on the days, the last train leaves at 23.06 and concerts normally finish on time so people have enough time to get to the small train station and catch the last train.
I came home after the meeting, so tired, checked B for the trains and then went to rest for a bit.
For some reason, I got the idea that the train was at 19.12 instead of 19.06 so.... I arrived there a little too late to get that one. The next train was only at 19.39. Went to sit in the waiting room and not long after a homeless person, who unfortunately smelled really bad, sat right next to me. I didn't want to get up all of a sudden, to be rude, so I stayed there for another five minutes, not inhaling, just breathing through my mouth and then decided to just get up and wait the rest of the time standing somewhere else.
My train arrived on time (several trains were late that evening) but, suddenly, when we reached Forest I realised I was not at Forest Est, I was at Forest Zuid/Midi, in the middle of the factories!!!! It was quite dark already and there was almost no one to be seen... I went to talk to the security guy and asked him for help, because I couldn't seem to find the way out. "You should take the tunnel and then turn right". "That tunnel over there", I asked. And he said yes, so I tried that tunnel that went under the rails. When I came out on the other side, I could only see more factories and no way out. I walked towards the first building where there was still light on and another security guy. I went in and asked for help - he was one of the rudest persons I have EVER met! He turn to me and said "I don't work for the train company, I don't have to tell you anything about trains or buses. This is private property" etc etc. Again, I asked him for help and he replied to me the exact same way, gesticulating a lot... I didn't want to be as rude as him, so I just turn my back and walked away, leaving him to continue directing his rudeness... Is it that hard to help someone, even if they are on private property?!
I face palmed and thought to myself "I really get myself in the most awkward situations sometimes".
Walked back to the first security guy, who was very nice once again, but he was still unsure about the direction. Luckily, when he was leaving his little "house" to help me, a lady was coming from one of the factories and explained to me how to get out and that I was really close to the centre, 5-minute walk.
Note: If you ever want to take the train to go to Forest National, make sure you type Forest EST, so you don't leave any space for mistakes.
The 5-minute walk was more like a 15-minute walk, but I didn't really care. I was just happy not be stuck in the middle of the factories in the dark any more.
I finally arrived to the venue around 20.20. And then I realised - oops, the doors opened at 18h and not at 19h, which means the bands started at 19h and not at 20h and the second band was already finishing their performance by the time I arrived. Face palm again! I was really out that day! :) I have been to so many concerts and I don't recall ever mixing the timetable, but I honestly just really wanted to see Machine Head, so I guess I got what I wanted. No All Shall Perish and no Hatebreed for me then.
Machine Head started playing at 21.00 and played until 22.45.
It was a brilliant concert as usual, they are definitely one of my favourite live bands. The set list was quite mixed, new and older stuff to please everyone.
It's the third year they tour with The Blackening album and for me it was the third time I saw them - once each year in three different countries :) First Germany, then Portugal and now Belgium. In each one of those times their performances were amazing!
Here's a "couple" pictures :)
The only downside was that during my favourite song, Halo (the one before the last, Davidian as usual), I wasn't really paying attention to my surroundings and I think a guy might have jumped, fell on the guy next to me, who then fell on me and elbowed my nose. I was lucky, because he hit the bone and not the cartilage - if he had hit my cartilage that hard I am sure it would have broken in a very nasty way. Anyway, didn't broke, was just swollen for a few days and, after all, it was a metal concert so... I knew what I was going for :) (sorry, it's a Portuguese expression).
Thank you Machine Head!!
No weird events to report on the trip back home :)
Note: If you're interested in going to a concert at Forest National, there are several options, being the fastest getting a train at Central Station. It only takes 10 minutes and drops you at Forest EST, less than five minutes walking from the venue. Normally, though the timetable may change depending on the days, the last train leaves at 23.06 and concerts normally finish on time so people have enough time to get to the small train station and catch the last train.
Monday, 8 February 2010
Ireland (last post)
There is not much more to write about my stay (of course, there's more pictures and a couple more bars, but I think I already posted enough).
It was lovely, I had a great time and will be forever thankful for the hospitality girls!
Will try to go back some day, for warmers days.
It was lovely, I had a great time and will be forever thankful for the hospitality girls!
Will try to go back some day, for warmers days.
Last photos, at the airport:
Lacuna Coil at The Academy (Dublin)
During this trip, I also got a bonus: Lacuna Coil were playing there on the 29th and my friend was already planning to go anyway.
I had seen them at least twice before, at Wacken (crowd of about 70.000) and M'era Luna (15-20.000), but this time it was nice to see them at a tiny cute little venue (that room could take about 650 plus 250 up on the balconies).
It was a great concert!
Here's a few photos as well:
I had seen them at least twice before, at Wacken (crowd of about 70.000) and M'era Luna (15-20.000), but this time it was nice to see them at a tiny cute little venue (that room could take about 650 plus 250 up on the balconies).
It was a great concert!
Here's a few photos as well:
Ireland - Dublin City
On Friday we spent the day visiting Dublin. We hopped on one of those tourist buses, went to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, visited the Dublin Castle (a little different then what I expected, I might say), saw several expositions on the Chester Beatty Library, check Dublinia & the Viking World just next to Christ Church,... First it was nice and sunny, but during the day, special after three o'clock, it started getting cold and rainy. It was a nice day walking around, seeing the city.
The Spire
Trinity College
Dublin Castle:
Christ Church:
GPO
Ireland - Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough
My friend took Thursday and Friday off, so we would have time to do some sight-seeing.
On Thursday we drove through the Wicklow Mountains, so I could see the country side. It was cloudy and cold, but it was beautiful up there. We kind of got stuck on Sally Gap, when suddenly the road was completely blocked with snow. It seemed like a scene from a movie.
My friend did a very tight U-turn and we went back t0 where we came from. She wanted to show me a big waterfall close, but the access was closed.
We spent quite some time driving around, trying to find the Motty Stone (close to Avoca), but.... it didn't happen. No worries, next time ;)
To compensate, earlier we did find our way to Glendalough and, instead of describing, I will simply post some pictures. I loved it!
This lovely location has been the scenery for several movies, such as Braveheart.
That night we had a lovely dinner with her parents. I tried the "original" salt & vinegar chips :)
On Thursday we drove through the Wicklow Mountains, so I could see the country side. It was cloudy and cold, but it was beautiful up there. We kind of got stuck on Sally Gap, when suddenly the road was completely blocked with snow. It seemed like a scene from a movie.
We spent quite some time driving around, trying to find the Motty Stone (close to Avoca), but.... it didn't happen. No worries, next time ;)
To compensate, earlier we did find our way to Glendalough and, instead of describing, I will simply post some pictures. I loved it!
That night we had a lovely dinner with her parents. I tried the "original" salt & vinegar chips :)
Ireland
After almost four and a half years, I finally managed to go to Ireland to visit my dear friend. My first time in the Emerald Island :)
I arrived Tuesday night (just two days after the Pizza Brunch) and stayed until Sunday evening. Got a nice flight from aerlingus from Zaventem (National Airport, ca. 20 minutes from the centre of Brussels).
The first shock - hey, remember, people drive on the wrong side of the road in this country and the driver sits on the wrong side as well! That took a while to get used to (kept asking myself why my friend was not getting in on the left side of the car). When we got to her place (and her sisters), she welcomed me with some mouldy bread (you are forgiven honey) :) The following day was her birthday, so I gave her my present and birthday card and after talking for a while, went to sleep.
Wednesday - slept long :) The girls were at work and I stayed home relaxing. After the shower I was amazed!! The water is so nice in Ireland! Here in Brussels the water dries your skin so much that you always have to have lotion around, but in Ireland my skin felt so nice and smooth (one point for Ireland!).
I met my friend in the city that evening and we went to Fridays for dinner with some friends of hers. They had some nice frozen and strawberry daikiris and the food was also quite good. We got one of those 15€ menus.
Then we went to a bar, I can't recall the name... But it was literally next to Krystle. On Wednesday they have an amusing special promotion - every drink 2€! The bar/pub was quite full, despite it being huge (when you see it from the outside, like my friend says, it just looks like some old houses, but on the inside it's enormous). I got to see how Irish girls dress up for the nights out and... well... Some of them were quite sexy, but altogether it seemed like a competition to see who can wear the shortest/smallest dress and the highest heels.
Hope you had a great birthday honey! :)
I arrived Tuesday night (just two days after the Pizza Brunch) and stayed until Sunday evening. Got a nice flight from aerlingus from Zaventem (National Airport, ca. 20 minutes from the centre of Brussels).
The first shock - hey, remember, people drive on the wrong side of the road in this country and the driver sits on the wrong side as well! That took a while to get used to (kept asking myself why my friend was not getting in on the left side of the car). When we got to her place (and her sisters), she welcomed me with some mouldy bread (you are forgiven honey) :) The following day was her birthday, so I gave her my present and birthday card and after talking for a while, went to sleep.
Wednesday - slept long :) The girls were at work and I stayed home relaxing. After the shower I was amazed!! The water is so nice in Ireland! Here in Brussels the water dries your skin so much that you always have to have lotion around, but in Ireland my skin felt so nice and smooth (one point for Ireland!).
I met my friend in the city that evening and we went to Fridays for dinner with some friends of hers. They had some nice frozen and strawberry daikiris and the food was also quite good. We got one of those 15€ menus.
(her birthday cake/ice cream)
Hope you had a great birthday honey! :)
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