Brussels: Frites, Gaufres, and the EU

As I make room in my suitcase for upcoming adventures, I thought I would use this blog to post some of my memories so that I can allow other students to read the book in which I scribbled my experiences in the margins.

My arrival in Brussels had been delayed due to complications by a concussion I sustained in December 2016.   Note to self: put Christmas decorations up AFTER finals and do not climb ladders alone.  Given this was my second head injury, my doctors were extra cautious to make sure that I had enough time to heal before embarking on what was to be a 7 month internship/social enterprise abroad.  Fortunately, most of the concerning symptoms were gone when I arrived at the beginning of April.  I only had a few relapses, which just helped me to know how to temper my activities so that I was getting enough rest.

I have been told that the weather in Brussels during my stay has not been typical.  That the mild but sunny days have been more frequent than usual.  The first few weeks, however, were quite rainy so I would venture outside to explore whenever the clouds parted.  Here are the fruits of those excursions:

Night Skiing at Brighton - 3 Heels

It's been awhile since I posted. Let's face it, the mountains now have snow in them and wandering around aimlessly by my cellphone doesn't seem smart in frigid temperatures.

I do have some heel hiking adventures from October in Australia that I'll post soon, simply because I have nowhere else to talk about my single heel hiking adventure downunder.

Today's post however, is about a very serious matter --- they don't make ski boots in high heels. This is a situation I intend to remedy.

Having been a ballroom dance major in college (while taking my pre-med classes of course), I never took the chance to go skiing on "the greatest snow on earth," not willing to risk an injury. So last year I ventured with friends to try snowboarding. Which after one really rough first run, was a lot of fun. But that meant I still hadn't been skiing.

Tuesday, only hours after getting off a plane that was supposed to get in the night before, and working on only 3 hours of sleep acquired in a noisy Sheraton somewhere in Atlanta, I went skiing for the first time --- in the dark --- on fake snow.

I thought my first down snowboarding was rough. Skiing was so much worse. At least the first run. The main issue ... my feet were locked into these horrible flat boots, in a hyper-the-other-direction angle than my feet are used to. I'm sure these were good boots -- for someone else. The pain from stretching my Achilles in that direction was blinding and I nearly got sick all over the slope at the end.

After much pleading with Alan to just let me die, I scooted off to the side, sans the skis and with my feet freed from their bondage, while he went on a few solo runs.

The nausea subsided and I was ready to go at it again. This time, the pain was at half mast, and I was soon doing runs without falls --- and the biggest accomplishment of all ... getting off the lift without crashing.

The secret to skiing ... throw a little hip into it. I think I was so mesmerized by the grace of snow bunnies riding down the hill effortlessly, that I failed to recognize the mechanics of what it took to ski. Once I realized it was more of a salsa than a waltz, life was good, or, um, at least better.

The only thing missing from this tango --I know WAY too many ballroom references -- was a nice pair of heels. I'm convinced, however, that they would make a champion out of this beginner skier.

The 3 heel rating is in anticipation of what will be, as well as a shout out to my darling friend Kimmi who so fittingly called ski boots the "high heels of the slopes".

We chose Brighton because as far as we could see, it was either Wolf Mountain or Brighton for night skiing/boarding (4pm-9pm) and since my favorite equipment rental (Canyon Sports) is downtown, we chose Brighton. The resort is quite a drive from the canyon mouth - about 19 miles. And the lodge does lack a lot of the amenities found in places like Snowbird and Canyons. However, night skiing is great for no crowds and the staff is great, too. Now, does anyone know where I can find a great "Ski SL,UT" t-shirt?

The Unmarked Trail --- 3 Heels

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” ~Emerson

I wanted to have a 3 heel hike and I thought a hike to The Living Room would be that hike. And it would have been, if the path had led to The Living Room. However, since the trails above the Hospital aren't marked, I ended up traversing, in 2.5 inch heels, a trail that was more like a 1 heel hike.

The Living Room is a valley overlook point that sits up above the University of Utah and is so named because visitors have moved the sandstones atop the mountain into furniture so that weary travelers, or those looking to swap a television view for a spectacular sunset, can sit in comfort for a great show.

But that wonderful experience eluded me. Following directions found on the Internet, I parked at the trail head right next to the Huntsman Center. The name of the trail head: TRAIL HEAD. I then made my way through the foliage and found myself in a sea of trails going every which way. Some all fed into one location, others ducked down other chasms, into foliage, down service roads. I guessed, and guessed wrong.

Unable to even spot what peak I was aiming for, I ended up on the south side of the mountain. I was climbing higher and higher, taking in great views of This Is The Place Park, and getting some incredible views of the East to West grid. Soon I was coming up the mountain directly from the south heading north and then the path split. North was straight up and I most definitely did not have the equipment to scale the terrain. To the East the trail dropped sharply into a gully, to the West, a similar path, with a less severe grade. I chose to go West.

At first I thought the path would loop back to where I had started, and it would, but only after three intense hills. Climbing steep hills in heels, as I've said before, is much easier than coming down steep hills in heels. Easier if the terrain is fairly solid, but quite dangerous if the terrain has broken debris, especially when that debris are flat pieces of rock.

Fortunately, because of the position of the trail, a small "creek bed" had formed in the middle of the trail, which I was able to wedge my left heel into while I took a step forward with my right. I literally inched my way down each of those three hills. I seriously worried that my heels would break, that I would find an even more slick surface on the next ridge, and that ultimately, I would be unable to get back at all let alone before the sunset.

2 hours 15 minutes, I was back to the TRAIL HEAD. No scratches, heels in tact, but completely deflated and disappointed. However, now looking at some of the incredible shots, it was a great hike. And while it was 3 heel possible, walking into the unknown, unmarked trail, unprepared is not a great experience.

Apparel: Skinny Jeans, Navy Boatneck Top
Shoes: Camel Leather Guess 2.5 inch Stilettos

DIRECTIONS: Park at the Trail head just past the Huntsman Center above Research Campus. Wander.

I'm starting to think about investing in a camelback pack in order to be better prepared for some of the longer trails, or, um, the unmarked excursions.