Brussels and Bruges, Belgium

We touched down in Brussels after a brutal and cramped flight from Chicago and vowed not to sleep until at least 9 (to beat out jet lag). We didn't spend that much time in Brussels, but we did learn a few important things:

• Eat the belgian waffles. They're not famous for nothing. Whipped cream and chocolate... don't diet here.
• Try the mussels your parents order. Maybe you'll fall in love; maybe you'll vomit. Either way, steal their fries as well.
• Bring your boyfriend and/or girlfriend! PDA is rampant, to say the least. (But make sure you hold hands the Belgian way.)
• We saw some high school students smoking hookah openly in a park. Make of it what you will.
• WATCH OUT! Gypsies are out there, waiting to get you. Don't wear backpacks unless you want to wear it on your chest. If you wear it that way, socks and sandals are required, cargo shorts recommended.

Some things we did:

Leon - Difficult to find, but supposedly every other restaurant "has rotten food." Realistically, all the other restaurants' waiters literally try to pull you in like the Kraken of the sea.

Brugges - Walked around, shopped. Fairly touristy but very cute.