The Ayers do Switzerland: Brussels: Holiday Tour Trip 3

Another trip down on the Ye Ole Holiday Tour. Brussels is everything I remembered and more. Grand Place is still on of my favorite plazas and the city is now officially confirmed as one of the best drinking places in the world (on my ever improving list). Before I begin to regale you with the events of the weekend I must first start by saying that the story should be broken up into two parts: Pre-Absinthe and Post-Absinthe. Pre-Absinthe: We started the evening with what is now a traditional round of 3 + 1 free Kwaks (A delicious Belgian beer served in "coachman's glass"). From there we moved on to the Christmas Market and light show in Grand Place. This year was an electric tree in Grand Place which received mixed reviews. The tree lit up to different colors synchronized with Christmas music (we...of course were singing at the top of our lungs to every song). Although it wasn't exactly traditional, I enjoyed the overall feel and contrast between the old world architecture in the square with the modern tree/light show. Once the show ended we headed to Delirium Alley which apparently turns into a drinking haven for under aged children during Christmas break....we only stayed long enough to crush a "Das Boot" of cherry beer and a shot of the Little Green Fairy. Post-Absinthe: Alicia has no recollection from this point on....she says it is all hearsay. We moved back to our happy little corner where we drank Kwaks, had a beer at a smaller Delirium Cafe, and finished it off with delicious kebabs. All the while Alicia was trying to convince us that she needed to be "free and fly like a peacock" and also "spread her wings" because we were cramping her style. She almost had us convinced (she is a lawyer now after all) but at the last minute decided she would rather eat kebabs and go back home with us....I didn't argue. (Que family portrait #2) Pre-Absinthe: The next morning/early afternoon was rainy, cold, and downright miserable.....hmmm...what to do? Pub crawl anyone? We went to a few pubs before Alicia had the brilliant idea of getting Christmas sweaters for our family portraits so we started off for the shopping district. After an hour or so of walking around in the pouring rain...the sweaters were found! We went to La Lunette for one of their liter bowls of beer and then headed to the Floris Bar that sells more than 300 types of Absinthe. Post-Absinthe: Christmas sweater party! (featuring the three of us and a camera with a timer). Next stop, Prague.