NICO | GALOPPO || journal

Champagne

Nico — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:09:29 +0000

It’s no secret that we’re in a little bit of an economic bubble right now (have you heard?), but that doesn’t keep Belgians from drinking Champagne. In 2007, they were the only ones in the world to increase their consumption of Champagne. And not by just a little bit, a hefty 7%. Joie de vivre, anyone?

Don’t vote.

Nico — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:18:54 +0000

Don’t do it. Don’t vote.

On the road: Past the parks.

Nico — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:49:16 +0000

We’re in Jackson, WY. We spent the last 2 days in the Badlands (South Dakota) and in the Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Parks (both Wyoming). Cowboy-country. Seriously.

Internet connectivity was non-existent, but we had a great time nevertheless. I’ll have to catch up writing about the experience later, but for now, I’ve put up some more pictures on the flickr set. Tomorrow, we’re heading to Portland as fast as we can, taking I-84 past Idaho Falls and Boise, ID. I don’t expect to reach the final destination yet, but we’re hoping to get pretty close.

On the road: Corn on the cob at Bob’s

Nico — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 05:57:17 +0000

What do you do when you’re heading West on I-90 out of Chicago, and after a long day of driving you’re in the-middle-of-nowhere — also known as South Dakota — and in urgent need of some honest food? You stop at Bob’s in Sioux Falls for the friendliest dinner you’ve had in a long time.

In this tiny but authentic twelve-seat diner, you take a seat at the bar and put in your order of ribs, buffalo burger and sides. Better yet, if you happen to be there in the summer when the corn is so sweet that it could be dessert, you make sure that you add a few cobs slathered with butter to your order. And while you wait, you watch the locals and talk to owner Ben-Bob as he fixes dinner in front of you.

On this Saturday evening, owner Ben-Bob and son couldn’t be any more helpful with tips about the area for visitors like us and we had a really friendly conversation, even though they couldn’t be any more busy because most of their staff had taken off for Labor Day weekend! He even signed my copy of Road Food. In the incredibly unlikely event that I ever make it out to Sioux Falls for breakfast, lunch or dinner again, I’ll make sure to stop at Bob’s again!

On the road: Williamsburg to Chicago

Nico — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:40:22 +0000

Thursday, day 4 of our trip already. We made it to Chicago. We visited the Air and Space museum near Dulles Airport. I got to see Paul and Kate and spent a great evening in Pittsburgh. Both of us have been enjoying our time on the road. I just uploaded the best shots of our trip so far to the flickr set. I’m exhausted, too tired to write a proper report. But check out the pictures, I believe they tell a story on its own!

Tomorrow, Chicago is at our feet to discover, and hopefully I’ll meet up with Russ.

On the road: Carrboro-PDX day 1

Nico — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:46:28 +0000

We’re on the road! I write this from a Comfort Suites room in Leesburg, VA. My dad and I are on a 10 day cross-country adventure from Carrboro, NC to Portland, OR. Yep, my North Carolina adventure was brought to an end after a very eventful 5 years in the South. It’s off to discover the Pacific Northwest for me now.

It came to no surprise that packing day was one of the hottest and most humid in a couple of weeks. Apart from taking a few pints of bodily liquids, loading the truck didn’t bring much surprises. We were on our way to Williamsburg, VA to pick up more stuff even before noon. Packing turned into a game of 3D tetris and plenty more flowing of bodily juices at Bruce and Eleanor’s, but the reward was worth it: perfectly juicy lamb, sweet sweet corn sides from the South, deviled crab and a chocolate and ginger feast for dessert. We couldn’t have any better hosts for the night. Thanks B&E!

Pictures of our trip will be available in this flickr set.

Today involved airplanes, but more about that tomorrow. We’re off to Pittsburgh tomorrow, meeting up with Paul!

Expensive Phones

Nico — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:57:59 +0000

Yep. That’s why we have them. That’s why we pay the exorbitant monthly data plan. To tell our friends that we’re using it.

Note: I fully plan to buy one myself, once my plan becomes eligible. To my own defense: I’m already paying for the plan, so why not have a shiny phone, right?

Flanders (national) day

Nico — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 01:36:37 +0000

Flanders (the region in Belgium) celebrated its official holiday last ~~Thursday~~ Friday. I saw this today. Cross-cultural emancipation. Beautiful!

Bill Smith

Nico — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:08:00 +0000

Riding my bike home tonight, I spotted the famed Bill Smith (of Crook’s Corner) picking some fruit in the bushes near the old railroad tracks. Must have been some kind of berry, most probably for some very tasty concoction that he’s going to serve at his restaurant. Caught in the act, but with his credentials, I trust that he is making good use of his self-harvested crops.

Perhaps not that bad after all…

Nico — Sat, 31 May 2008 11:30:00 +0000

As the sun was setting over Carrboro’s pink-yellow sky, that evening when I walked home from a refreshing run and carrying my bounty home from a visit to WSM, I was passing by the abandoned farmer’s market municipal lot. The sound of Mexican schlagers slowly caught my attention, as if it was some mood-setting music in a movie that I was watching. At the lot, a group of Mexican teenagers were being taught, in open air and in public for any passer-by’s enjoyment, their first steps in ballroom dancing. Someone’s father clearly was the instructor in charge. Prom night season must be closeby…

Continuing my stroll, walking around the back side of the local fire department, I almost got hit by a baseball. Buffed firemen were killing time playing a game of America’s favorite summer sport. Except for one guy; he was washing the bright-red fire truck, giving it even more shine than those sparkling fire trucks already have… On the parking lot of my home, as he was walking in opposite direction, one of my neighbors told me what I already knew: “It sure is a perfect evening, isn’t it?” I couldn’t agree more. My first (and last) summer in North Carolina is perhaps not going to be that bad after all…