Finally, WiFi!!!

After a smooth flight, an almost landing and the actual very bumpy landing, followed by a 'slight delay' (an hour waiting on the Tarmac) we made it to London, Heathrow without being too tramatized.
An 'almost landing' is when your piliot descends the plane almost to the runway, so you get excited to finally arrive at your destination. This, however is false hope. At the last possible safe moment (about twenty feet from the ground) the piliot pulls back into a rapid climb. After circling for a few (twenty-ish) minutes the steward came over the intercom and informed us that 'there was already a plane where we scheduled to land'. This message was delivered with the typical British manner, quite polite and calm.
UK customs was relativly easy to clear, Sean almost got arrested for taking a photo though- the security gaurd actually made him delete it while he watched. Apparently it's a criminal offence.  
London has an amazing metro system. Thanks to seans research we were able to navigate our way to the hotel via three different trains no problem, even with three pieces of luggage. It was neat seeing the everyday life of the other passengers. A mother and her two children boarded, and were the only ones chatting, the British seem to be very quiet- unless watching a soccer match.
Londons 'largest hotel', the Hilton Metropole was a nice place to spend our first night abroad. After dropping off our luggage and bundling up we set out to find a true English pub. Unaware of the large Middle-eastern population we were dissapointed to find only hooks bars, chineese medicine shops and Persian resturants in one directions. Deciding not to settle we set off in another direction only to find the first pub we found was packed, on a Thursday night! Eventually we found a place that looked promising- lots of locals inside, only the bartenders didn't speak much English... Or our accents were to thick? So we had a few beers and a chicken pot pie with mashed potatos that looked like it should have come from a 5-star resturant, and left to continue our search for that true ambiance we felt we needed to validate our arrival. 
Walking a few more blocks in another direction we stumbled on just what we were looking for 'Sir Arthur Flemmings'. The beer was warm, accents were thick, service to be found only at the bar, and no such thing as 'leaving the tab open'. After milling around in mostly a stand up only environment we found an open table right by the window. Shortly after sitting it began to snow. I'm not going to lie, watching snow fall still mezormizes me. I was fixated like an infant watching 'Baby Einstein' for the first time.
Our walk back to the hotel was quite 'brisk' due to the falling snow and a California girls idea of freezing weather. After a night-cap at the bar we tucked in for a good nights sleep... Which didn't happen. Adjusting to the time difference is much harder than I had expected. Nothing starbucks in the morning couldn't fix. I can now say, I've had starbucks in three countries and on two continents. 
Due to a 'planning overload' I put off/ forgot to book our overnight ferry from London to Amsterdam. After calling the not-so-nice gal at StenaLine I was informed that they were sold out for the evening crossing, but may have some tickets at the Liverpool train Station. We took a jolly taxi ride to the train St only to find they were all booked up and the Eurostar, chunnel train leaves from Kings Cross train station. Taking the chunnle to either Paris or brussles was our only other avaliable option to get to the 'mainland'. What a nightmare! Whilst trying to avoid an argument between the two of us we made the trek, bags in tow and chopped off an arm and a leg (Seans left arm, my right leg) to pay for the tickets. 
Thus, we are currently in Brussles. Where the bathrooms are unisex- kind of, and you have to pay .50 euro to use them, this was discovered in the midst of attempting to find a WC in a foreign terminal with a full bladder. With no Euros on me. Commence breakdown #1.
My knight in a Burton AK jacket saved the day and got change from buying a diet coke. Oh yeah, they didn't accept euro bills- only change. Complete breakdown averted. Only a 1 on the ricter scale of emotional crisis'. 
The chunnel was actually a bit anti- clamitic. We were seated facing north-so on this journey we were truely moving backwards. With the weather conditions in turmoil our train was delayed a bit- still only minor grumbles from the British citizens. Maybe they all secretly do yoga everyday to maintain the overall calm disposition. 
We arrived in Brussles, Belgium safe and sound. All limbs intact, and luggage accounted for. Not planning this stop on our itenerary we weren't even sure what the local language is. Apparently most people speak French, thankfully with a little English thrown in the mix.
Hotel Ibis was a light in the dark, dark world- it's lights shining brilliantly bright blue lit up the building right across the street from the hellish train station known as Medi. We thanked our lucky stars they had a room avaliable for a fairly reasonable price. 
 After a meal of meatballs with tomato sauce and French fries for myself and something indescribable containing cheese and ham for Sean., we got in a solid five hours of sleep.  Even with a bed that could have been carved from a boulder. 
Feeling not so refreshed but anxious to explore we stashed our luggage in a locker at the station and hailed a taxi- which was an Audi, i'm just saying...
Belgium residents like to close shop early, and sleep in contrary to the 'early to bed, early to rise' theory. Everyone we encountered seemed healthy and to say the city is wealthy would be an understatement. I think I could fit in very nicely in their culture, lots of sleep and the best chocolate in the world... doesn't sound too bad to me, throw in an amazing heritage and you've got yourself a deal.
The only word that comes to mind when trying to explain how I felt when we walked into the serene city center is "annamored". It was like eating ice cream for the first time ever. Breathtakingly beautiful. Majestic facades, ornimantal stone figures on the buildings and statues covered in gold are a few distinct visuals that stand out in my memory. We spent the better part of the day meandering through an enchanted winter wonderland of cobblestone streets and old world culture.
The shops didn't open til 10am which is when people started venturing out. It was surreal being do isolated and alone in the 'great square'. I guess being up early really does have it's benefits, even on 'vacation'. By the time we were done with our traditional Belgium waffles for breakfast the streets were bustleing with activity and Christmas market stalls galore. 
Sean and I both agree that Brussles is by far the most amazing place we've experienced... So far. 
Returning to the train station around 2pm, or 14:00 dissapointment and panic started to settle in when the gentleman working in the travel center told us that 'getting to Paris today is impossible'. Like my momma always said, where there's a will, there's a way. Therefore, we are currently traveling west to Tournai where we will make a mad dash to catch a train to Lille, where we should be able to hop on another train taking us to St-Quentin- from St-Quentin well be on our way to Paris where we have a lovely three-star hotel booked for a glorious three night stay. 
So, Paris here we come! God willing, and the creek don't rise!