An Adventure in Brussels with JacquesPlease note, there were no pictures taken this night. Photos depicted are only representative of the atmosphere and locations discussed. Brussels, Belgium - Wednesday, May 19 John: Well, I'd say that we're at least taking in the aroma and sights of the local bars. Tim, an American we met at the hostel is here also. Let's hear it for Tim. It's amazing but beer is cheaper than water.
John: Yeah, check out the price list up there. If you order beer it's cheaper. Dick: Where? John: Right there, see it "eau". Dick: "Oh"? John: No, "eau". That's water in French. Dick: And I ordered water. John: You know, they even serve beer in the local golden arches, McDonald's. Dick ordered some McDonald's fish sandwiches there. Dick, are you going to keep this up the whole trip? Eating vegetables, I mean.Dick: John. I am a vegetarian. John: Right. You know, everyone in Brussels seems to know at least two languages. French and I guess they also know... what is it? Flemish? Look, that girl there is eating French Fries with mayonnaise on them. Check it out, Tim's over talking French to that middle-aged gentlemen. Pretty funny since Tim doesn't speak French. He's waving him over to come here since some French is spoken "ici". Tim: I think this guy's name is Jacques. Jacques: "Oui, je m'appelle Jacques".
Dick: I'm going to see if I can get him to make mine "eau". Tim: He wanted to take a picture of me. With my own camera. John: Well, let's see what he comes back with from the bar... looks like he's in some kind of fight there with the bartender. But... no, now they're laughing. He must be a regular here. Oh, more beer just what we need... "merci". Jacques: "Oui, merci... merci... merci. Allait avec moi." Dick: What was that? John: I think he wants us to go with him. "Non non. Nous restons ici, merci". We'll stay. Hmmm... He seems rather insistent. Dick: Come on, let's see what he wants. John: Well, the tab is taken care of. Although... I don't know why he got us this last round if he's immediately taking us on a hike. Tim: I'd puke anyway if I drank any more. Jacques: "Allez!" John: Okay... well, we're going with Jacques somewhere. I'm not really sure where... LATER... John: Well, I can't really understand this. Jacques brought us up this big hill to some official palace or something... it's the, what was it he said... the Ministry of Finance? Although it seems like there are courts and law offices here, which doesn't make sense. He led us through the streets for about 6 blocks, continuously talking in French. He stopped and talked to random people on the streets, took us into what was I guess the office where, I guess, he works although I think actually that bar was his office and then he took us here to this big building. I guess Jacques is as much of a character in French as he is in English. Wait a minute Dick, this is the "Palais de Justice". The sign up there says so. That's why there are courts. Dick: Well, why was he saying all that stuff about the Ministry of Finance.
Dick: It sure looked that way. He was peering around the corner and walking on the sides of the steps to be quiet. John: We'll end up in jail, I know it. So, he went up the steps and now it's, what... half an hour later. And, we're still sitting here. Tim: He's not coming back. Let's exit while we can. Dick: Look that guy's locking all the doors. We better get out of here. Tim: Now the guy's on his way over here. And he's got a badge. I'm with Dick, I think we should take off. John: Hello, how are you? Official: "La Palais de Justice est ferme'". John: He says the building is closed. Right. We're waiting for a guy by the name of Jacques. He went upstairs. Official: "La Palais de Justice est ferme'". Dick: "Merci, monsieur..." we better go. This guy is not too friendly.Official: "La Palais de Justice est ferme et vous fallaiz departe' en immediatement. Allez allez!!!" John: He said we gotta go immediately. Well, don't think we'll ever see Jacques again. Adventure complete.
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Dick: What? Cheaper?
John: He said his name is Jacques. But I'm not sure what else he's talking
about. But, his hand motions make me think that he's going to buy us a round of beer. Yeah, he's going to the bar.
John: He took us around all these offices in here and started telling us, I guess, how the
courts worked... then he told us to sit here on the steps while he went upstairs...
sneaking upstairs, it seemed to me... to
check if the coast was clear. Clear from what, I'm not sure. He
seemed to be taking us up to the roof. 
