Weekend Trip to Ghent

For Valentine's Day weekend Charles and I took a trip to Ghent which is supposed to be just slightly more hip than Brugge. It was really an awesome way to spend a day or two. First off, there is a castle in the middle of the city...



A ticket lets you explore the inside which includes a mini museum featuring weapons and various torture devices....



From the top you can see the whole city...



We also took a boat tour through the canals...



The streets were interesting and it was quite entertaining to just stroll around. Here is a shot of a genuine Belgian waffle place...



The food was incredible. We had some delicious French food at this place and tasted the Delirium beer whose logo is a pink elephant. Supposedly if you have too many this is what you see.



The poodles came along and enjoyed the hotel room while we explored the city. They did get the occasional walk, hence the doggie coats...



And I think the cutest picture of Remus and Charles is a good way to close out this post...



If you would like to see the rest of the pics they are up at our Flickr gallery.

Pictures from Antwerp

From the Antwerp Christmas Market

Broken Elbow

I am typing this one-handed because Charles and I decided to take a weekend trip to go to the Christmas market in Antwerp and I decided I could ice skate after a glass of champagne and a gluhwein. Charles (who had to wear size 46 skates on his size 49 feet) even managed a lap, but I fell hard after about 3/4 of the way. Truly i am so bad at ice skating I probably would have managed to injure myself without the influence of holiday spirits. I got up and didn't think I was that badly injured. My hand was numb, but I ignored it, took some Advil, took the poodles (who made the trip with us) for a walk and had a fabulous dinner at Rooden Hoed. I thought it was just a sprain and it would feel better in the morning.

We stayed at the Hilton on Groenplaats last night and I slept OK, but when I woke up I could not bend my arm at all. We called the doctor in Rotterdam, but had to take the train all the way back home to see someone. So we took the hour long ride home with the whiny poodles and a really sore arm and made it to the MCRZ in Rotterdam around 14:30. After 2 hours of poking, prodding, and xrays, we were told that the bone in my left elbow which allows my arm to twist is broken. All in all the experience was very much like how it would go in the US...just more people involved who are specialized in certain areas.

So now I have this huge pink cast that almost reaches my shoulder and a sling. I have to go back to the hospitaltomorrow morning to get my circulation checked. In a week or so I go back to get a new cast but the whole thing will probably take a few weeks to heal. Charles is being a good husband and babying me.

I would stay home from work for a while, but the end of the year is busy. The main problem with working is that none of my clothes fit over this huge cast. I will have to post a picture soon along with others from our fun time in Belgium because we did have a great weekend despite this minor mishap. Last day of work before my holiday break is 20 December so there should be time.