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Sunday, August 24, 2014

Friends In Any Language


In Bruges
Day two took us off on a day trip to Bruges.   This little renaissance town filled with canals and charm was a great adventure.   We walked through the Markt Square and wandered through town to a canal boat tour.  
Center of the Square


Markt Square


Train Station


 As she does everywhere she goes, Siena found a friend.   As we waited in line Siena wandered up to a little girl from the Netherlands who spoke little to no English and struck up a conversation.  I don’t think either one knew what the other was saying but they were giggling together in no time.  Alyssa was there with her dad and little sister and being good parents we all connected behind the friendship our little girls created.  We shared the boat ride with them and then parted ways to tour more of the town.  
Canals

Strike a Pose
For Lisa and I it was fun to meet someone from another place and to share stories of who we are and where we live (go figure, the guy had relatives in Manteca CA).  For Siena, who still doesn’t know what a stranger is, it was a playmate and though they didn’t speak the same language, the language of smiles, dancing and holding hands is the same everywhere.   It’s these type of special moments that teach me so much.  While seeing different parts of the world is a gift for the entire family, for Siena, seeing the world is special.  She doesn’t see people as anything other than people and can appreciate them all at face value.  She reminds me all the time that smiling and saying hello is never really the wrong things to do.
Siena and Rhoadie
 
Loving my vacation

Friends

Siena and Alyssa from Holland

The afternoon brought us to the Chocolate factory.  A truly touristy attraction, the small little museum was just right for Siena.  The tour concluded with a demonstration of how they make chocolate and comes with the requisite sample.   


Rhoadie at the Chocolate Factory

As we left the rain was falling and Siena was in high gear for splashing in puddles.  We saw plenty of rain on this trip, but it never slowed us down.  Being in the midst of a drought, we found the rain to be a nice change of pace.  Siena just saw it as a chance to experience something new, catching raindrops on her tongue.



After touring the town we headed outside of the city to see the windmills.  For Siena and I it was our first real windmill sighting and as we wandered along the canal we passed by 4 of them.  Siena insisted on trying to climb one and had to run up the hills to visit them all.  After another nice dinner overlooking the canal we headed back to Brussels. 



Be the Windmill

She had to Climb One

   
Windmills























Our trip was off to a nice start and by day three our collection of travel vehicles was building, Rhoadie had travel by car, plane, train and boat in just two days.  
Pretty in the Park

On the Train To Bruges


Siena the Photographer