And now that you know what the guest room in House #1 looks like...

Michele and I in a sea of bikes

...it's time to plan a visit!
We've actually had four fabulous visitors so far, and are starting to get the hang of our guest "routine"- but also enjoy seeing new things ourselves each time.
Our first visitor was my Dad, who was in the area for business back in September.  UNFORTUNATELY this was the weekend that we moved from our temporary housing to our new apartment.  It was great to see him, but we put him to work, lol.
Next was a visit from the Herrons in early November.  Josh was here on business, Michele just for fun- and we had a great week together!  We started doing the basics around Brussels, discovered the Museum of Musical instruments which was okay- but in a beautiful old art-deco building downtown.  Next we took the train out to Ghent where Chris met us for lunch.  Ghent is a really cool medieval city with canals, castles and some great old churches (kind of like Bruges, but the Belgians tell us MUCH less touristy)

St Baafskathedral build in 1290

Over a canal in Ghent

Josh with his Kwak (minus one shoe!)

We all really enjoyed the medieval castle, Gravensteen, right in downtown Ghent complete with many torture chambers, the classic castle walls and stone rooms.  Afterwards we went for a beer at Dulle Griet which serves over 250 types of beer.  If you order a large Kwak, like the boys did, you have to give one of your shoes as collateral so you don't steal with the really cool glass that its served in!

  

Gravensteen castle

The next day we headed off to Maredsous Abbey for some authentic monk made beer and cheese.  Any Belgian beer that says "trappist" on it, is brewed by Belgian monks, and they pretty much only make it when they need money for the Abbey (not to make a profit) Not far from the abbey is the town of Dinant, which has an old citadel (fortress) which you have to take a cable car up the cliff to see.

Maredsous Abbey

After a really fun weekend the boys left for Amsterdam and Ireland (for work) and Michele and I explored Antwerp and drove down to Luxembourg for the day.  It was so great seeing the Herron's we miss them so much!

Finally, our most recent visitor was Brill who came for a very short weekend trip to Brussels.  He got here pretty late Friday, so him and Chris went out for a "bromantic" dinner at Belga Queen and the obligatory visit to Delirium bar downtown.  Saturday I had to drag them both out of bed- it was sunny, 70's and we had a lot to see in one day!  Brill enjoyed the House Hunter's walking tour (complete with the shop we "practice our french in", a stroll by House #3, and a walk through "big decision" park)

 We went down to the Grand Place, had lunch at one of the outdoor cafes, bought chocolate, boys had beer, and stopped by the Mannekin dressed in scrubs? This was the first time I've seen him in costume, but apparently he has over 100 that he wears throughout the year.  Anyways, it was great to see Brill. He had to leave early Sunday, and even missed getting waffle (truck must open in the afternoon) I guess he'll have to come again!