I have two scientist friends doing postdocs here in Leuven, and I got in touch with one who I haven't seen in FIVE years!!!! One reason that I chose to come to Belgium is to see her!!! I took an early train to Leuven from Brussels, and they picked me up from the train station.
This is the library in Leuven. It was destroyed in the WWI and later reconstructed with the help of the US. The architect was the same one who designed the grand central station in New York. The wood work inside is amazing.
Wandering the city and saw beautiful architecture everywhere. I think I actually like this city more than Brussels!
Farmer's market at Leuven. The salmon was so good that I brought some back from Belgium and their fruits were just phenomenal. Great coffee place, I am almost convinced that I should come here to do a postdoc!
The city is so beautiful, isn't it? So is the newborn baby of my friend! Adorable!!!! Only a couple days old.
I spent two hours in the afternoon trying to get in contact with the airline due to the closure of the Brussels airport, so I didn't get to see more of the city. The airline confirmed my flight at 6pm for the next day at 7am, leaving from the Antwerp airport. I was very proud of myself for getting back on schedule!
It was a crazy night though. After I found out my flight is confirmed, I left Leuven and went back to the hotel in Brussels, showered and packed. There is no train early enough to get to the airport, so I decided to take the night train there. I got to Antwerp around midnight, and hoping I could just stay the night at the airport. But guess what!? It is a small airport and it closes at night. So, I have no where to stay, and I found a taxi on the street, and asked him if there's any hotel/hostel close by that I can go to. My plan was just to stay at the lobby till the next day. The taxi-driver said he would have to drive me somewhere and the taxi ride was quite expensive. So, he took me to the taxi center/office? right next to the airport, and they let me stay at the lobby overnight. There was triple security to just go into the airport and it took a lot longer than I thought, but luckily I made it! My flight rerouted to Zürich and from Zürich back to LA. So, I also get to try some Swiss chocolate! It was quite an adventure and I was glad I got home safe!