George in D.C.

I've been bugging him to come visit for years ... and he finally did! My brother George came to visit this weekend and we had a great time. We packed our weekend with lovely meals with friends, sightseeing, shopping and a cocktail or two to add to the fun. After years of hearing about him, many of my friends were thrilled to finally meet my brother ... especially Martha, who fulfilled her fantasy of befriending the Golga that loves Buffy the Vampire Slayer just as much as she does!

Hoping that George takes me up on the offer to come visit again soon ... maybe a weekend at the beach this summer?

I can't believe my sister talked me into a bike tour of the monuments. I'll just smile and pretend I am having a good time.

Announcing ... the Summer of Europe!

As Elizabeth, Renee, Santiago and I enjoyed Europe Day in Washington on Saturday, Elizabeth came up with a brilliant idea ... "let's make this the Summer of Europe," she said.

Here's the idea: D.C. is filled with dozens of European embassies, cultural centers and restaurants. Thoroughout the summer, we pledge to plan at least two (if not more) excursions per month to take advantage of all the great European cultural activities that exist right here in our Nation's Capital. The plan helps us reach two goals -- 1. finally do all of the stuff we always say we're going to do and never get around to, and 2. save money on plane tickets to Europe! (I'm still planning a trip this fall but this will tide me over until then!)

So the Summer of Europe is on! MoGo A Go-Go is proud to be the official home of the Summer of Europe. Check back for announcements of new activites and recaps of the all the hilarity I am sure will ensue.

Things I Miss About Brussels

I've been back in the U.S. for a little over a month now. The fact that I am still living out of suitcases means that I am a bit unsettled (to put it mildly) and therefore, am really longing to return to my comfortable life in Brussels. So in no particular order, the things I miss about living in Brussels ...

• My beloved duck ponds near Flagey. No place more beautiful to go for a run ... and even better on the weekend when you can visit the farmer's market after your run.
• Reasonably priced Belgian beer. Everyone here has it, but I saw a bottle of pecheresse on a menu on Friday for $24/bottle. $24!!! What the funk is that about?
• Schweppes Light Agrum soda. It's the best ... and they don't sell it here. It sucks.
• Thalys to Paris in an hour and 20 minutes.
• Sushi Shop delivery.
• Bike rides around the city, especially through Bois de la Cambre.
• Taking lunch breaks EVERYDAY with my girls.
• Having drinks with friend at Boniface.
• Free public transport.
• Daily maid service. God, do I miss my daily maid service.
• Cute, tall European men around every corner.
• Never being in a hurry to get anywhere or do anything.
• Girls nights of drinking champagne and watching movies.

Yeah, I miss it. Being home is OK, but there's nothing like Europe.

Berlin: The Hippest City in Europe

Since I arrived in Brussels, everyone has been telling me to go to Berlin. Word is it is the coolest city in Europe ... crazy art, hip bars and clubs, and dirt cheap to boot. I finally had the chance to go this weekend and was super excited to be going with my fabulous friend Kathrin, a born and bred German and woman obsessed with Berlin.

We had a fantastic time. Really fantastic ... we laughed and laughed and laughed all weekend long. Too much fun and too many things happened to relay in this space, so I'll just post some photos with captions to give you a sense.

And we're on the train from the airport to the city center. Check out the stylish seat covers.

I'm just a girl from the Midwest. Pass me a Jagerbomb, please.

Apparently, German girls like their Jagerbombs too!

Mmmm ... schnitzel sandwich.

Brandenburg Gate!

Reichstag! I was hoping to see Angie, but no.

See the line in the road? That's where the Wall was.

The Holocaust Memorial

Two things Germans love ... wurst and emoticons.

Berlin is very cool. My camera died half way through the trip, so I don't have anywhere near as many photos as I'd like to have. We played in Christmas markets, went to some very hip bars, walked all over the place. It definitely deserves the hype ... I can't wait to go back.

Roadtrip in French Wine Country

So Kathy came to visit for a week and we went on a lovely roadtrip to French wine country. We began with a day and night in Champagne (yes, this is my third trip to Champagne ... wouldn't you go as often as you could if you lived in Brussels?) and then we headed south to Burgundy. While it was extremely cold and harvest had passed, it was still a stunning place to visit. After a quick Croque Madame in Dijon, we hopped on the Route Des Grands Crus and toured through some lovely little wine growing villages.

There's Kath in the vineyards!

We visited a cool chateau called Chateau de Clos de Vougeot where we learned about how delicious Burgundy wine ... mostly pinot noirs ... are made. The Chateau is the home of a decades old wine club that meets 17 times a year ... they just happened to be meeting the night we were there and most of the guests in our tiny little hotel were attending the celebration that evening.

Making delicious wine is backbreaking work.

The town we stayed in, Gevrey-Chambertin, could not have been more dead. We had a before dinner glass of wine at the only bar in town (I think it was actually called "Le Wine Bar") and then we had dinner at a gorgeous little bistro where we were the only people there for about 45 minutes, when another pair arrived. And that was it ... no one else. I had a fantastic coq au vin and the woman running the restaurant could not have been sweeter, chatting with us and giving me some good French practice! After dinner, we went home, put on our pajamas and sat by the fire at the inn and drank some wine. It was really a lovely evening.

The best part of the trip though was waking up early on Sunday and going for a run in the vineyards. I got to watch the sunrise over Burgundy ... quite amazing. I can't wait to return when it is warm, the sun is more brilliant and the vines are still full of grapes.

Always happy to be on a wine road ... one of the best things in life!

Lucky Number 33 in Brussels

Such a treat to spend my 33rd birthday with my new friends in Brussels. Rebecca, Kathrin and Sheila made sure I had a wonderful day. Rebecca brought me breakfast, Sheila sent me beautiful flowers as she was in Seattle and unable to participate in person, and Rebecca and Kathrin planned a really special night for me.

Kathrin, Rebecca and I began the night with cocktails at the Metropole. Hotel Metrople is one of those Brussels establishments ... a gorgeous fin de siecle space that is totally classy and over the top.

The beautiful Ms. Eichel at Metropole.

The sexy and mysterious Ms. Rebecca Brown.

And that's me, laughing my ass off in my beautiful Josep Font dress. Love it!

After drinks, we had a really lovely dinner (not at La Manufacture as planned, but at a nice little Italian joint). The girls made me a huge birthday table and gave me my gifts and a little cake. Rebecca gave me a very "me" ring and Kathrin gave me a Berlin city guide (we are going this weekend!). I'll admit it, I cried. I love my Biscuits and Dr. Eichel!!!!

Me and my Biscuits at my birthday dinner.

After dinner, we headed to Zebra Bar to meet up with other friends. The night went on and on ... I believe I arrived home at 4:30 am with a kebab from the Sultans of Kebab in tow. It was a blast ... and I don't feel a day over 25!

John and Dragan were there to celebrate.

So was Filippo.

And my crazy friend Eva!

And the adorable Zoe!

Paris: Third Time is a Charm

Ms. Kerry O'Brien graced Europe with her presence a few weeks ago and the main event was a long weekend in Paris. For years, Kerry has been talking about visiting the Rungis market. Rungis is a huge, huge, HUGE market on the outskirts of Paris that is the main purveyor of meat, fish, vegetables, and flowers to the restaurants and shops of Paris. They only are open to the public on the second Friday of every month for 6 am tour. Yes, I said 6 am. After waking up at 4:45, taking a cab to the bus depot, and taking a bus out to the market, we joined our tour at 6 am. I wish I had photos, but I can tell you that there were massive amounts of cows hanging on hooks, entire buildings of gorgeous looking vegetables, and a dead rabbit or two to keep you awake throughout the tour. While it wasn't totally my thing, it was a cool experience (especially when our French tour guide tried to blame Kerry and I as the Americans on the tour for ruining the Camembert industry) that I'm happy to have been a part of. Glad Kerry got to do Rungis.




As it was her birthday, I wanted to make sure Kerry and I did something memorable in Paris. So I booked us a table at the Moulin Rouge.

If you've never been, do yourself a favor and go. Not because the dancing is so great. And not because the girls are scantily clad (if you are into that sort of thing). Go for the live ponies. Seriously people, they bring live ponies on stage during one of the numbers. It is awesome. Plus, they have these bizarre intermission acts with bad ventriloquists, poor magicians, and the best acrobats you've ever seen in your life. The half bottle of champagne you get helps with enjoyment of the show. But really, Moulin Rouge is awesome. Definitely something to see ... and not that bullshit movie with Nicole Kidman and Ewan MacGregor I've fallen asleep during three times.

In addition to Rungis and Moulin Rouge, I had a great time during my last weekend in Paris. Galleries Lafayette and Le Printemps already had done there windows up for Christmas. I shopped all day in the 5th, bought a lovely coat and contemplated (but wisely decided against) buying something at Catherine Malandrino. And on Sunday, I hung out in a cool flea market and the Marais. Ate a delcious strudel-type thing from one of the Jewish bakeries and generally fell in love with Paris all over again.

Warning to everyone who cares ... I am definitely moving to Paris.