Bulgarian voices in Africa

I was just told by a 50 years-old African guy that when he was about 15 he was listening to "The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices".. in Africa.. on the radio... Then he told me that the first thing he did when he went to Europe was to buy a record with their songs.. then he started singing a song... Meeting people from around the world can make you smile for so many different reasons.

Sun found today

I walked on the sunny side of the street today.. and it felt so good!

(click on the picture to view it bigger)

At 4 a.m. on a Sunday morning...

.."watching the city sleep" is definitely not something you can do in Leuven..

When life gives you lemons..

..eat them! Making lemonade takes time..

Cult

I've started to think that Belgians are obsessed with me.
I have been to only three cities so far but found proof for Beigian's secret cult in each place..
You already know the sign from Leuven... Here is what I bumped into when I went to Brussels:

 And this is the one from Ghent:

I wonder what happens if they learn I'm in their country..

(click on the pictures to view them bigger)

Clock

So, when are we going out for a beer?

Moloko also says the time is now...
Well, I don't want argue when there are solid facts..

____________________
Special thanks to Valio for the picture! :)

<< Rewind

Turning back time is still impossible, says science.. Yet, when there are good people around you, anything is possible..

Early in the morning

The construction work is still going in my building. Today they started working very early again. Right in front of my door. Of course. They drilled some holes, hammered some stuff into the holes and swore with colorful variety in Polish (I don't know the language, but some similarities with Bulgarian let me get the essentials).

So, since there was some party in the building till 3 a.m. last night, and then it was still dark outside when the workers started to make noise, I lost my temper. I wrapped myself in a fluffy blanket, checked my hair in the mirror (I might be angry, but my hair still should look nice) and opened the door. I looked at the workers with my bloodshot eyes and said:

- Are you going to continue making noise before 8 every morning? (I might have missed to say "hello")
- It is the first time this week.. (here a confused man's look follows and 2-3 other surprised faces appear from behind the stairs)
- Well, Ok, but you've been doing this every day for the last 4 weeks..
- Don't worry, we will only work until 10 or 11 and then we will stop making noise.. (the additional faces are now nodding in support of the statement).
- But, see, I usually sleep before 11 a.m... (the supportive faces are nodding again and now looking at the talking guy, expecting his answer just as much as I was.. They realized no answer was coming, so they quickly disappeared behind the stairs again).
- Uhh.. sorry - he said and started looking at his feet.

I apologized for blaming them (when it is the owner's fault for the current situation in the building). I closed the door and they continued their work. It was still way too noisy for sleeping.. but it was sweet that now they were trying to drill and hammer quietly (imagine that!).. and the occasional "Kurva!"-s were pronounced with a whisper..

Books

People say studying is good for you.. I can argue with that..

Unspoken truth

Correction

Things definitely look different from my cave-like dark room.. So, here's a song that goes pretty well with the actual weather condition..

Gloomy

Looks like it's going to rain..

Memories from yesterday

Ghent/ Gent/ Gand..

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"Man, I drove down to Ghent..

..in my underwear..", is how the song goes...
Well, I took a train instead of driving there.. and definitely had much more clothes than just underwear. It was freezing cold most of the time, but totally worth it!
So, now I'll just keep singing: "Hey, my life is okay".. until the comfortable, warm bed replaces the song with dreams..

Facial expressions

I have seen many lion sculptures in Bulgaria (we have tons of them) and in other countries.. but none of the creatures has been as terrified as this poor lion in Brussels..

(

(click on the picture to view it bigger)

This corner of the earth is like me in many ways

I was walking to my morning class when a sun ray hit my face and put this in my head:

"Little darlin' don't you see the sun is shining
just for you, only today
If you hurry you can get a ray on you.."

Fries again..

The Belgian fries topic won a second post.. This time it's because they are speaking my language (bottom right corner of the pack).

(click on the picture to view it bigger)

* I suspect that the bottom left corner is speaking a Bulgarian dialect...

News..

"Steven Howking to give a public lecture at K.U. Leuven"
There is no need for more words.. I will just say that KUL is a really COOL university!

Note to self..

Wake up, Katerina!

Manneken Pis..

Sure you know that this little boy likes to pee.. but did you know that he also loves waffles?

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Back to the simple solutions...

My kitchen is still way too much under construction.. But when you have no fridge, a warm beer, a desire to have it.. NOW.. and cold.., solutions just come to mind..

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Brussels..

.. taking pictures is a must!

They say it's Friday..

Communication fail..

Busy student life here.
"Did you get my message?" is what you would hear people saying to each other all the time...
..or at least what you would hear people telling me.. followed by "do you ever use your phone?"..
Sorry, everyone.. and thanks for not giving up! ;)

Life is good...

So, I got a cup of free coffee before the free coffee bar opened.. It's either that I looked too sleepy.. or I smiled at the right person.. hehe

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.. I don't think it's funny..

A song that plays in the head of a student from Eastern Europe.. that currently lives in a Western European country..

Kate Street..

So, I had a lecture on my personal street today..

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He's back in town!

A nice surprise for Leuvenaars today..

Sunny memories..

Rainy days have come to Leuven.. yet, my sunny memories remain..

This is a small street in the center of the city.. restaurants on both sides, tables outside, crowded in the (warm) evenings.. No matter what you feel like eating, you can find it here.

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Cables are underrated..

Since I did not have internet at my room for a week, I was going to other places for some free wireless.. and some free coffee (yep, there are such places here)..
Now I finally have internet at home... what a bliss.. No free coffee, but I can wear pajamas while I browse..

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Sometimes things are not at their best..

Belgian rain - not like any other..

Everybody, sing along: "Rain, rain, go away..." :D

The double-fried potato

If you consider coming to Belgium you should be prepared.. French fries are not what you think they are.. Or at least the Belgians claim so.
I heard that story (there are, of course, other variations): During WW I American soldiers arrived in Belgium (the French-speaking part) and tried the fries. Confused by the language around them, they thought they were in France.. and therefore called the fries "French"..
No matter if that's true or not, the fries taste differently. They are freshly cut, fried twice (yes, two times), fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside.. And, you know what? They are actually damn good..

(That's my small portion from today.)

A room with a green view..

So, I finally moved in my own room a couple of days ago. It definitely is a cool one.. and brand new.. so new they are still working on it.. Which leads to some unexpected events (like waking up to find a construction guy entering)..

Not that I'm showing off, but my place also has a green view. People say green relaxes you.. And being relaxed is something you need when random people wake you up with their presence..

Administration in Belgium..

Works almost as smoothly as in Denmark.

My street..

So, this is Oude Markt. My street (well.. almost my street).. They call it "the longest bar in Europe".
Here's one picture by day:

.. and one from the other side..

Every door here is an entrance to a bar..

And two pictures from the second day of the Student Welcome Fair..

 

...no, it's not blurry, that's art!

(To see pictures bigger, you have to click on them)