Back in Brussels--and Pictures!

Quick note on today and then on to what I know you really want...Pictures!

This morning we checked out of the hotel and I hung around doing some work in the lobby. Our train was supposed to leave at 2:36, but it was delayed about 20 minutes. We caught it, no problem, and they seemed to make up some time as we went along so we actually got into Brussels early; and by early I mean 7:30...long train ride! This was not a high speed train, but the slow pokey kind of train. But anyway, it was a very comfortable ride.

My seat was in 2nd class because I was paying for it myself. Kristoffer and some of the other assistants were in 1st class because their tickets were payed for by the Swedish government. But after the ticket guy went by I went up and sat with them since there were extra seats.
Not much difference with 1st and 2nd class. I was definitely glad I didn't pay the extra 20 Euro for it.

Anyway, now we're back and tomorrow we pack and leave again! Our flight leaves around 7pm so enough time to get some stuff done tomorrow before we go. Kristoffer has all sorts of plans to meet up with people in Stockholm, so it should be quite fun!

And now, to the pictures!

PARIS

Maria's SIXTH FLOOR APARTMENT and the reason for all the caps is that there was NO ELEVATOR.


Notre Dame. The top half because we couldn't get far enough back without loosing our place in line to get in.


Melinda in the towers of Notre Dame! You can see the Eiffle Tower way in the background and the gargoyles behind me. So cool, and a really pretty view!


No, I didn't actually ring the bell. I don't think they would have really like that.


Maria, Kristoffer, and I on Pont Neuf, a bridge over the Seine.


One of the small children running around the Orsay Museum.


Outside the Musee D'Orsay and the fantastic double rainbow! The pot of gold is apparently behind the Rhino...That's me with the umbrella cause it was still pouring.

STRASBOURG

This is the Astronomical clock in the Cathedral. In the olden days towns had one mechanical clock for time keeping purposes, other than people ringing bells at estimated times of day. These were huge, ornate things that had many symbolic items and moving figurines. This is one of the few left, and they make it chime the noon hour once a day (otherwise it doesn't really run). For reference to size note that the man whose head you see is standing up and is taller than me.


This is a view of Strasbourg from the Parliament. The tallest spire is from the Cathedral shown next.


This is the massive Cathedral in Strasbourg. This is just the top half; it was so big!


A picture of me in the streets of Strasbourg, the central part of the city is an island surrounded by canals so this is on the edge of one.


This is the European Parliament. BIG building used for 4 days once a month. Sometimes I wonder...