Belgium 2006 - Press 3 for English and other cultural differences

You know how when you get an automated answer at home, you hear “Press 1 for English, press 2 for
Spanish”. Well, here it is “Press 1 for French, press 2 for Dutch, press THREE for English”. In Flanders,
it is probably 1 for Dutch and 2 for French. I just love observing this little battle between the two
regions….there is something in the paper every day. I’m beginning to feel like a Wallnonian my self and
find myself siding with them against the Flemish - those pesky reprobates!!!! More power to their
secession effort – we don’t need them!!! :)

I know that about the press 3 thing because I called to order a concert ticket today. Tomorrow night I am
going in to Brussels for dinner and a jazz concert. The artist is David Linx – a native of Belgium, but
internationally well-known as a musician. I have listened to him for years and am so excited to see him in
person.

They aren’t real big in on cooking meat all the way through here….that’s OK for beef (I prefer it rare) – but
not chicken and fish. So I was a little under the weather last night – I think a combination of undercooked
salmon croquets for lunch and the jet lag catching up with me. And the hotel’s wake up call system is
tied to the TV which was replaced yesterday so it wasn’t working and there is no clock in my room. So, I
overslept this morning – didn’t wake up till client called to check on me at nearly 11:00!!!!!

The restaurant has a salmon fillet I would be tempted to try except it clearly says “cooked on one side
only” so I won’t be having any of that.

And water and ice – you can’t get ice to save your life!!! No machines anywhere in the hotel or at the
office or in the restaurants. And they don’t automatically bring you a glass of water – with or without
ice. You have to ASK for it and PAY for it – bottled water and cheapest one I’ve had was 4 euros –
about $5 american. I was confused in the beginning when they asked if I wanted “still” or “Sparkling”
water. I thought they were saying distilled so I opted for sparkling even though I’m not real crazy about
it. Now I find they really are saying “still” as in not moving – no bubbles like the sparkling.

And no Diet DP to be found – just coke and pepsi.

But, on the positive side – the bread, cheese and CHOCOLAT is SOOOOOOOOOOO wonderful!!!!!!!

Here’s a few little odd things from the hotel guide in my room…

The front desk is referred to as “the reception”

The fitness center is open “uninterruptedly” (all the time)

If you want your laundry back the same day, must “warn” the front desk.

The coffee, sugar, creamers provided in the room is called a “courtesy trail”

Elevators, of course, are called “lifts”

Well, good night all. It’s almost 11:00 – think I’ll go to bed.