Out for Breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien, Liege, a Must Visit!

It is rare that we like to eat out in Liege, Belgium.  We tend to find eating out to be expensive and has been stressful in Liege because of our low level of French.  Today we decided to eat out for breakfast (mostly, we didn't have any groceries and our friend told us there were some good breakfast places in town).

It is a quaint little restaurant that we found in the city center.  We ordered in French and the servers were patient and accommodating with our level of French.  You can see more reviews here.  It is found very near the Place de la Cathedrale and across the street from the Cinema Churchill.  Overall, it cost the two of us €20 to have a complete breakfast and a drink.  Remember you will need to pay for water, but are not required to leave a tip.

An image of the front of the Cafe.

The cute checkout counter with delicious breads lining the back wall.

The table decorations.

Toupie D'Amandes au Chocolate (3.40)
Spinning Almond and Chocolate 

Deux Oeufs a la Croque (6.60)
Two Eggs in the Shell

Granola Parfait: Yoart et fruits frais (6.70)
Granola Parfait: Yogurt and Fresh Fruit.  I opted for the
soy yogurt, but you could also get milk based yogurt.

The Hallerbos, Bluebells

The trip to the Hallerbros is best made when the flowers are blooming.  They were in bloom when we visited on April 26, 2016.  We attended a trip planned by the Brussels Expats Club.  It was really great!  First, we traveled from Liege to Brussels by train, where a double decker bus picked us up near the train station.  We took the bus for a short trip out to the Hallerbos near Halle Belgium.  They gave us some snacks when we arrived and just before our three hour walk through the woods.  It was beautiful and relaxing at the same time.  The guided tour was in English and our tour guide kept moving as she was in a time crunch!  I believe our stamina has improved as Americans in Belgium, as we were often in the front of the pack and others were struggling to keep up with the tour guide.

As we walked through the woods, we were not allowed off the tracks and into the area where the Bluebells grow because the plants are very sensitive and will not grow back next year if they are stepped on.  We saw many interesting plants just from the paths and we are sharing pictures of them below, with you.

There were also many stumps of trees that had been cut down.  The reasoning behind this is that the trees were all destroyed during the war and the trees were replanted.  To try to help the forest be more natural they come through the woods, cut some trees out and replant trees so the trees won't forever be the same age and height.  We hope you enjoy the numerous pictures we are sharing below.

Nick and I in the woods together taking in the smells and scenery!

One Albino Bluebell that was found in the woods.
Next year, there should be more.

The Bluebells and the woods with some weeds in front too. One of the paths in the woods (and one of our favorite pictures). Our "red" group on a path in the woods. We were divided into three groups. A side path.  Some paths were just for people, some for bikes and some for horses.

Bluebells on some rolling hills.

Bluebells on some rolling hills.

Bluebells on some rolling hills with the stump of a tree that was cut down.

Bluebells on some rolling hills. With some Bear Garlic.

Bear Garlic, found growing wild in these woods (the whole area really did smell like garlic).

A carnivorous plant that eats the bugs that fly into its opening,

Bluebells and Bear Garlic.

Bluebells and leaves that had fallen in the woods.

Bluebells and Bear Garlic.

Bluebells and fallen branches in the woods.

Bluebells on the rolling hills of the forest.

Bear Garlic growing in the woods.

Bluebells and the woods.

Close up image of the Bluebells.

Royal Palace of Laeken in Brussels, Atomium and Mini-Europe

Each year the Royal Palace of Laeken opens their gates to the public for 3 weeks.  This year was no exception.  From April 15 to May 6, 2016 the gates opened, visitors shuffled in through security and were welcomed onto the grounds of the Royal Palace.  Me went by Metro and got off at the Stuyvenbergh stop on the Line 6.  It was an easy trip (30 minutes from the center) on the metro and then a 10-15 minute walk to the grounds.

The tour of the grounds took about two hours and it was well worth the 2.50 euros each person had to pay to get in.

After touring the gardens it is a 20-30 minute walk to the Atomium and Mini-Europe.  If you plan and have the time you could visit this in the same day.  After looking online, I found the prices for the Atomium and other activities grouped together at this website.

Please enjoy the images below!

The line of guests waiting to go through
security at the Royal Palace of Laeken.

A Greenhouse seen through the windows of another greenhouse.

A statue pictured between the bushes in the garden,

Stairs leading to the Winter Garden.

An interesting twisting tree on the grounds.

The grounds with trees.  A pretty sight of the sunny Belgian afternoon.

The grounds with "The Japanese Tower" in the background.
This was acquired at the World's Fair of Paris in 1900 by King Leopold the II. 

A picture of the King and Queen of Belgium.

A picture of the Royal Kids and their dog in front of the Winter Garden.

An interesting stump with flowers growing out of it.

The sculpting studio of Queen Elizabeth the First.

Image of a small garden within the greenhouses.

A wing of the green houses.

A black and white photo of the concrete structure and
glass connecting at the top of the greenhouse.

A photo of the glass of the top of a greenhouse.

A black, yellow, and red chair, lined up
together like the flag of Belgium.

A picture of the Atomium.