David's Country Guide: Belgium (Chocolates, waffles, and rain)

INTRO
Belgium is notorious for a couple of things. Namely chocolates, waffles, and rain...oh and bike racing.

WEATHER
There is a joke among the Belgian weather forecasters that they always leave a chance of rain, because well that chance usually comes true. If the weather is good like sunny and you can dress in shorts it is a sign of the apocalypse. Pack for all types of weather. It could rain for 4 days straight then be windy for another 3 days, 1/2 day of sun, then 1/2 day of rain and wind. For us cyclists, always bring a rain cap. Once I was caught in a storm, out of the middle of nowhere on a beautiful sunny day so bring a rain jacket on every single training ride and if you decided to race your bike in Belgium just drop out and eat some frites.

FOOD
--What to eat:
-Chocolates (any kind ranging from grocery stores to little chocolate shops)
-Pastries (can be found on nearly any street corner and they are very cheap, therefore you should try them all)
-Coffee/Espresso/etc (not a big coffee drinker but nevertheless it is easily the best)
-Waffles (find a waffle stand as they are fresh = better)
-Ice Cream (even better then back home, chocolate-bannana is my favorite)
-Frites (yes with the mayonnaise sauce or w/e you see the Belgian folk ordering for the dressing for their frites, when in doubt copy the Belgians or just ask for curry ketchup on the frites)
-Strictly for adults: Beer (anything is better over here then in America *not that i would know of course)
-Any cereal with chocolate in it!!! Just add milk and enjoy
-Speculoos- OMG!!!!!!!!! try the crackers and the spread. The taste resembles eating the best food you have ever tried and multiple it by 10000000 and that is speculoos.
-Nutella- enough said
-The Wall- it is a huge vending machine that stretches for miles or kilometers and you can buy anything, ANYTHING there!
-Panos- Take Subway, Panera, Quiznos and combine them all and that is Panos! There are an infinite number of combinations to put on your sandwhich. The meal includes a drink and a fresh pastry!
--What not to eat:
Nothing really, my country would have awesome snacks and stuff if the weather was as bad Belgium's.

CULTURE
-Brugge is cool, good place to shop and see the cathedrals.
-Gent is pretty much the same
-Brussels is just a bigger version of Brugge and Gent with French people there

FASHION
To dress like the current fashion trend of Belgian teenagers:
Guys:: go to the women's store in target and buy all the jeans and tight-fighting t-shirts. Shoes: pumas
Girls:: buy the same clothes you would normally buy but die your hair some crazy color

PEOPLE
Belgians are generally reserve and take some warming up to get to know them. Most Belgians can be found in pubs or coffee shops (heck, who wouldnt?) They are very nice and majority speak English very well.

CYCLING
Great training roads if you love rain, wind, cold, and smelly farm fields on golf-cart sized path roads. But nothing in cycling compares to the bergs and cobbles! Even a climber likes those! Racing is geared to cyclists over 6'0" who like to ride in the gutter for 4.5hrs. When racing against the Belgians, approach with caution. They are not afraid of laying it down (both ways for that matter). Dont be scared when they yell at you. Ride near the front unless you like being guttered in crosswind sections.


So that is Belgium in a nutshell! I am sure there is lots more to add but I am hungry right now so I am going to go get some food.....

David

(I really hope nobody takes me serious about this and this is the only way I can pass time when it is raining outside)

Coming up next France!