Brussels Confidential

A Bit 'O Irish and a really good English

Saturday Morning I had to get up early. Bunny Dog needed to get to the groomers to have his long, scruffy, winter coat trimmed for the spring and summer season. So, I set the alarm to get up and have time to shower and dress, watch a bit of Saturday kitchen and then get Bunny Dog off to Grimbergen where a friend runs a trim salon for pets.

The weather was a bit cloudy and drizzly, but fine for a Saturday of chores. Everything was peachy keen. That is....Except for the fact that my head felt like a melon that had been split in two with a machete. You see, I went out with the fabulous Lara the night before. And I think I got home around 4 am. (therefore it was probably later). Anyway, I was feeling a bit worse for wear. I do have a rule though, I do not allow late nights on the town to have an adverse impact on my life. The minute I can't get out of bed because I partied too much the night before, well, then I stop. (Unless there's company in bed and it would be impolite to get up...of course).

Anyway. Whatever headache I might have had, it was well worth it. I had such a blast Friday night. And it was one of those nights when I just had 'IT'. I never know what that 'it' is, but I had 'it' Friday night. I was a sexy, dancing queen and everyone was watching me (not staring I'm sure) but watching. I Imagine if we hadn't gone to eat gourmet Mexican before going out - I would have been borderline silly.

It sounded like such a good idea really. Starting at Chi-Chi's for Margaritas and quesadillas, tortillas, nachos and any manner of 'stomach-coating-Friday-night-out-on-the-town' food. Yes, it did SOUND like a good idea. There's like only 2 Mexican places in Belgium. I don't get that stuff often - ever!! I had a taste for good guacamole and pico de gallo. UGH. How wrong. I should have known when a colleague screamed 'WHAT?? You're going to Chi-Chi's????'- As if I was going to dive naked in to a sewer.

Well, I don't have to tell any of you that I had never been to a Chi Chi's in the states - but I am sure the crap Tex-Mex food is probably properly made there. In Brussels, not so much. I'd never had a plate of food that was completely inedible before that night. Really. I'm not exactly sure how one messes up a quesadilla - but ask Chi-Chi's in Brussels - they know how. And Lara's Barbecue platter - it had to have been BBQ-ed at least two days earlier and reheated. It was a greasy slimy mess.

Ok - an attempt at dinner done and dusted -- the night started.

One Margarita at SHIT-Chi's, 3 Mojitos at PP, countless Vodka Lime and Sodas at OR's, an unsolicited, slobbery kiss from a guy with an Irish (County Kildare) stag party at O'Reilly's - Eew. 'Ore ya gonnah kyss ma? Give a kyss girrrl!'.

We turned and ran as fast as we could - ran right over to Celtica! (Let's face it, if you want to get away from slobbering Irish drunks, where else would you go???) Yeah yeah! Probably not Celtica!! ha ha!! But that's OK - we ran right in to a group of 6 hilarious, sweet and funny guys from Southern England who were on a motorcycling weekend. Ahh.... Aussie Girl would have approved....yessssssss

We danced and danced and danced. Lara was a bit subdued to start, but then Scissor Sisters came on the sound system and she was up off her stool and and boogying down with the best of us. Excellent!

You're getting no more details though... Suffice it to say, a fun time was had by all.

So, another night in downtown Brussels. Amidst hen night parties, stag parties, weekend beer warriors, groups of people in search of freedom, expression, insanity, Blanche beers, Fritland, gaufres, and moules. Another night of wanton debauchery and over-served men in Rugby jerseys and beer goggles. Another night of North African, Dutch, French, Spanish, English, Scots, Irish (Northern too), American, Swedish, and Russian voices. Another night of chance encounters or preplanned rendezvous. Fun.

When are you coming to town?

posted by Brussels Confidential @ 11:06 AM