Swest

So......... Aurevoir Brussels... I had a great time there... the beer and the chocolate was good. The symbol of the city, Mannekin Pis (a statue/fountain of a little boy peeing) is a little disappointing (tiny)... but life in Brussels was good (when we moved out of our filthy hostel room and into a 4 star hotel because we couldnt take the filth anymore!!). It was brilliant to visit the European Commission and Flanders Fields and the other WW1 sites we went to in Belgium. Now... I'm here in Compiegne. The trip from Brussels to Paris then Paris to Compiegne was lovely. The French countryside is so absolutely lovely compared to other parts of Europe. There is no denial that all the romantic notions people hold for France are more than deserved. When I got here today.. ... read more

This morning was great... I went to a midday briefing at the European Commission (European Union). It was amazing to actually be in that room with all the other journos from around the world... especially considering so many people working at home will never get to do it. I picked up a great story about Europes inacceptably bad policing of the fisheries industries. It really was very cool to be doing an interview at the European Commission. (The online component of my Tour de Flanders story, by the way, can be read at http://www.euaustralia.com/2007/04/10/sport-bike-season-heralds-the-summer/#more-529). After the briefing we had lunch in the fabulous cafe inside the EU Commission building.... great food and really cheap - they really look after journalists in Europe and Ive noticed this a LOT so far doing various stories in Germany and ... read more

Still in Belgium and still havent found another internet cafe so I will try and write this entry using the dodgy keyboard on this yucky computer in Brussels Gare du Middi (The criminal centre of the country). This city is massive and its outter districts arent very nice (they are old and dirty and seem really rather poor), but the centre of the city is AMAZING. We spent our first night here in grand style... having a traditional dinner in the old part of the city. I had a pasta meal with mussells (which are loved here) that was lovely... but I could hardly make a dint in the enormous serving as my stomach seemed to shrink when i was sick. I have some incredible photos to upload when I find a decent internet cafe. Yesterday ... read more

OK, So this may well be the most annoying and slow blog entry I will ever write..... the Belgian Keyboard is stranger than any other I have ever encountered. I know its been ages since my last blog.... unfortunately I have been really sick with some sort of stomach virus. Finally, however, I am just about back to my normal self now... just in time to say good riddance to grey, drab, depressing Germany... and hello to Fabulous Belgium (the keyboards being the major exception). bring on the Belgian beer and chocolate for easter....yay. I have lots of stories to tell... but they will have to wait until I find a better keyboard, or a cheaper internet provider. Happy Easter Everyone... from wonderful, transient Belgium: Aurevoir for now.... read more

Photos Galore Europe » Germany » Frankfurt By Swest April 2nd 2007 Hi Everyone..... Gutentag!!! Having a great time here in Frankfurt. Yesterday we went to an exhibition of Op Art (which is optical illusion art)... it was very trippy and I ended up with a headache afterwards, but it was great. Last night we went to a traditional German restaurant and ate some very traditional food. It too was great. The Apple Cider wine was good too... and very warming.. though tonight we are having beer in steins (to celebrate Emily's birthday). Today it was the Bourse stock exchange... brilliant! I will write more when I get back from the FAZ financial newspaper headquarters this afternoon, but to ti... read more