Priorite de droite

Driving in Belgium is very easy you just remember "priorite de droite" or The person on the right has the right of way. "Oui mais non" remember this from our last lesson, yes but no. If you are in a traffic circle the person on the left has the right of way. So understand there are few lights and stop signs except on major streets so you have to go through the intersection looking right and hope the guy on the left doesn't think your stopped because then he can go.

Now what I really like about driving in the neighborhood is the streets are 2.5 cars wide, but they park on one side of the street on the 1st-15th then the other side the rest of the month. The traffic goes in both directions understand so which ever side the cars are parked on, these people have to wait. On the the first and 15th it is very hard because till everyone moves, they are parked on both sides of the street.

May 1st priorite' coming home

April 30 priorite' leaving the house

Things to know first "Bonjour", hello, we kiss just on one cheek in Brussels, Paris it is three kisses. Bye, au revoir, or salute. Thanks you, merci. Thank you very much merci beaucoup. By the way Brussels in french is Bruxelles, in Dutch, the other most popular language here, it's Brussel.

Left gauche right droite now here's the tough one straight ahead is tout droit, this will have me turning right quite often.

Today I had a job interview at the Army base. This is about the only way to get a legal job in Belgium having just arrived. So I will be working for Army Air Force Exchange Services, AAFES, as it is known, for as long as I can stand it.

Oui mais non

This is the Waterloo outdoor Sunday market in the Winter, right now it is warm and wall to wall people. I found when we go there even though I don't speak french yet I have to pay attention to what everyone is saying. Anne will tell me "they are talking to you!". So now I listen carefully as I stroll the market. As we step up for service I hear, bonjour madame et monsieur. Of course a response is required. Now I am learning by listening even as we walk around I hear things. The details are interesting. I know "oui", Amelie taught me "oui mais non" this is very Belgian I am told. Yes but no. It reminds me of a cartoon with a small yes and a big But about to come rolling down a big hill at someone, yes BUT. Today I heard "mais non" I thought this might be a quick way to say "oui mais non" but Anne said it is different. I figured it's a soft no, "well no" rather than "NO". I am finding without a lot of guidience new languages are very difficult to truly understand. And as everyone knows even in our native languages we are misunderstood, I truly feel that anything I say in french has little chance of being close to what I wanted to express. Having a french speaking girl friend helps you with some of the basics. Bisou, kiss, Je t'aime, I love you, Je t'aime bien, you're a good friend, Je t'aime beaucoup, can be I love you a lot, or you are a very good friend. I have just read two books, "A Year In The Merde" and "Merde Actually", they both point out a few things like this that can get you in trouble.

Off to see an art show and take a community walk, they do these frequently, they map out some routes and half the town is out walking around.

Bonjour

It's all about food quality with Anne, as it is with my sister of www.divinacucina.com . So as we Americans have come to believe they shop everyday in Europe, small refrigerators fresh food everyday. Well at this house it's different than that. We shop a lot of days but we have a big freezer and we go to different markets on different days for special things available only at these places. Today is Sunday and we go first thing to "boulangerie" the bakery. Not the one you can walk to in the neighborhood where we could get it fresh everyday but to the master "Marc Ducobu". This is a little painful for the weak willed. Not only does he bake the best breads but he is a master with chocolates, pastry, and Glacier, thats ice cream maker. I decided that it would be good for me to venture out on my own, try to find my way to downtown Waterloo, its a mile a way, and be forced to communicate in french. The first week I took a list from Anne, when I got there and it was my turn in line, we aren't the only ones that have discovered Ducobu's, well I couldn't read the note, the man next to me spoke a little english and with a smile wished me good luck. I just gave them the note. Week two I wrote the note myself, this was a great success, I had learned to count in french at the age of 6 so un pistolet, quatre croissants, une grande brioche non coupe, douze chibatas, et deux petits pains blancs coupes. Coupe is cut or sliced. This was great, and every week it changes so I practice on Saturday night and get myself a little psyched. This morning the church parking was full, not for church but the bakery, I got in and the desserts looked great. My turn came and I didn't get the one english speaking counter person, I freaked. Ok start with the easy one, I calmed my self and got through it remembering the Chibata only after I had a total, no problem. They are so proud of me when I arrive home with the right stuff.

Leaving the Gate

Photos, Belgium via Mexico

Larry helping with the new berth/sail locker construction
Michael, the crew, awaits the pancakes at Bahia de Muertos
Anne and the Kids, furry ones are adopted Anne and Ed sailing Mucho home. Not really but people told me that was an ugly picture of us so Anne told me to use this one from Genoa
A latte every morning helps the crew motivation