Tag Archives: Brussels

Mar5

A trip to Leuven – Working out at a cathedral climbing gym

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Friday, 18-April-2025


Our last day in Belgium was unscheduled – we had the whole day to ourselves. Some people made some plans, but I had my own goals for the day… ages back, I’d read about a cathedral in Brussels that had been converted into a climbing gym. I hadn’t had a chance to check it out while I was there in 2024, and so now was the time to make it happen.

I packed my climbing gear into a pack, hopped on a train, and zoomed off on my own lovely little solo adventure.


After a week of classes, negotiations, and socializing, this was heaven for me. Calm, quiet, and blissfully solo. I kept to my own schedule, rented a scooter, and blasted my way around town until I found myself climbing tall routes under beautiful stained glass.

Then, I grabbed a quick snack, and did it all again – scooting my way to the train station, then catching a ride back to Leuven in time to meet the class and get the bus to the airport.

Yeah… I do enjoy planning and executing my own adventures.


(A quick link to a news story about the gym: https://www.brusselstimes.com/1566631/hidden-belgium-climbing-space-in-church)



Mar3

A trip to Leuven – Brokering peace at the EU Parliament

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Wednesday, 16-April-2025


Okay, so while I may have my opinions about Trinity, I’ll give the Leuven trip some legit credit here – We got a very solid tour of the EU Parliament on Wednesday.

I mean, there’s not too much else to say, though. I got to talk with one of the Policy Coordinators for the EU – specifically the one reviewing tariffs, which was interesting since this was just at the start of the “US vs. the world” tariff war. I learned a bit, explored a bit, and enjoyed it a good bit.

And I dressed up, with a fancy Trinity Knot tie. So… that’s a fun part.

Sep15

The flight from Brussels to Dublin

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Saturday, 03-Aug-2024


Holy crap it’s happening.

I woke up, grabbed my bags, called a cab, and… I was at Brussels Airport. Grabbed some food, walked onto the plane, and…

Well, my trip isn’t done yet. I see my “Grand Adventure” as continuing through the middle of August, when I’ll hopefully have a new apartment and be settling into a new life in Dublin… but this flight really was a turning point in the adventure.

I’d be exploring Dublin, no doubt about it, but I’d be exploring in a different light – I’ve been a tourist for three long and amazing months, and would not be switching roles into a “new resident”… someone exploring to find places to re-visit, versus someone exploring to see the highlights.

It was a lovely, and slightly overwhelming, flight to Ireland. I sat, appreciated the flight, and considered what my new life in Dublin would be looking like…


Ohh yeah, about the weird bathroom picture.

Seriously, just look at it. How nice is that bathroom? That’s a damn nice bathroom. Wish we had bathrooms that nice in the US…