Une Ville Magnifique
I "have to" spend a week in Brussels working at the head office. The weather is a far cry from the much loved African days I have come to enjoy so well. Balmy breezes replaced by a wet winter bite that stays with you well after you get to shelter. On a number of nights I pulled on my raincoat and wandered the rain-slick foggy and narrow streets of Brussels. Once in a while I slipped into the warmth of a pub for a cold glass of Belgian beer and to listen to the boisterous stories told as much with hands and voices as the beautiful French language. It's just like the books I've read. Though dark and brooding, Brussels is dripping with history and mystery - a perfect treat for the intrepid explorer.Pictured below is how a project starts. After the exploratory work is done the team heads to Brussels to "pitch" their case to the various (and there are many) support people on the team. This is a project for a malaria treatment project in South America. You can see the South American team on the monitor as they watch and participate in the debate. It a delicate balance of assessing needs and weighing them against the organizations resources, expertise and responsibilities to our principles.This is Humanitarian aid in action and it's a privilege to be a part of something so important and well done. Imagine the intricacies of weighing the political, economic, medical and social needs of a country or region. In this case, it's a change in government in Venezuela that necessarily becomes part of the discussion.
I took the time to visit the Musees Royaux des Beau Arts in Brussels. It was a wonderful show displaying masters alongside a surrealist exhibition. From Peter Paul Rubens to Rene Margritte which is somewhat like a performance featuring Celine Dion and Courtenay Love. I'm not a big Rubens fan though his impact on the evolution of art is undeniably significant. While the baroque style was so important in emphasizing movement color and sensuality it fails in my view to communicate any sense of hope regardless of the difficult times in which the pieces were produced. Always a purveyor of hope - I have my biases....
Contrast that with the playful work of Margritte who so delightfully establishes the preposterous as a possibility. The look of disgust or disdain by a pig is a a perfect contradictory statement against the backdrop of established and serious measures. The well cut suit and grand city in the background are no match for the look of indignation. This little piggy went to market - so what - go fuck yourself.!!!
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The sights and sounds are wonderful but for me this experience is about the food. Where to start - the beer, the chocolate - the waffles or even the Belgian endive. It's fantastic. Whether it's handmade chocolates in shops that have been doing it for over 100 years, waffles that look like something out of a cartoon, or a simple bottle of wine, cheese and baguette, there is no end to delicious in Brussels.
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| Walking into a chocolate shop is almost as good as eating... |
Thanks for reading - Layno
