Fernseher duell zwischen Muttie und Herr Vanity Fair

Verdammt! I missed the long awaited the Tv duel between incumbent Merkel and challenger Steinmeyer. Heard it was funny!

The seriousness of thinking

Brussels: Food and Beer paradise

The trip to the Grote Markt was fruitful. Got a good view of Brussels as a food paradise. The beer is awesome too. The Grote Markt itself is a square enclosed with medieval buildings, a bit like if you put the Munich Rathaus on all four sides; about the same size. But the real treasures lie in the alleyways around the square. Foodies would revel, beer afficionadoes would be more than delighted. Sat yesterday for a long time in an empty bar that is run by a guy from Amsterdam. The beer was delicious, at 8% a wee bit strong though. Saw some action with this random drunk guy bothering the bar guy and eventually the police stepping in to remove him from the ground zero. Had a hearty chat with the barman and his immediate family, ate some sandwiches and then rounded off the trip with Frites and Chicken. The Frites are definitely different, definitely a lot more delicious than the other non-Belgian ones I have had before. And the Andalousian sauce did tickle my taste buds.
In one of the alleyways was the Greek quarter with a riot of kebap/gyros places. Fast food incorporated!
Oh and somewhere nearby is a clothes store called Mr. Ego. Eccentric but interesting clothing, definitely wearable!
Fascinated by the area!!!

Flowers

are supposed to be a form of surrender, oder?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yqM--IMkX4&feature=related

Brussels hopelessness

Did an interesting thing today. After checking in to a hotel in west Brussels, decided to head off for a few cold fresh to clear my head still numb from the morning misadventure(now that stays within me!!!). The place was an immigrant quarter, relatively shady, places could surely be shadier(my judgement comes from daytime humdrum though not the juicier nightlife). So I walked into this bar adjoining a kebap place. The bar is empty, the tables are poorly positioned and the bar counter is extremely uncomfortable to settle down at. I ask for a beer and the bargirl (a Romanian with incredible French) obliges me, all the while completing the formalities in French. So I sit down with my first 250 ml beer (haven't had that small a beer in a long time I guess) and try to engage the girl in a conversation to drive away the boredom. But it turns out that she or for that matter most people in the area do not speak any English, just Francaise! Good one, mate! So after downing two quick ones, I decide to place myself next to the semi-French window(with no tables next to it surprisingly), which opens onto the big crossing, where the monotony of people seems to be far more interesting. The immigrant quarter, did I not say? People in all sorts of attires, all non-native, going about their business. Fascinating experience, must say!
Oh and I also checked out a Tintin shop with a archive edition of Tintin in the Land of the Soviets! 20 Euros! Pointless!
I have a run down impression of Brussels till now. Let's see whether that changes with the Grote Markt visit tomorrow! However,I quite liked Rue Charles Martel and Rue du Taciturne, cosily pretty with a nice Florist!
About the misadventure from the morning, I can only say, "Rise above it Arnab!" And oh, I am really proud I went that extra mile! Bankrupt now.

Mittelerde!!!

Just read that Germany's starke Mitte just got weaker and needs SPD to support them to still remain standing :P

image courtesy http://www.albania.de/alb

Politicking Angie!!!

SPD is digging its own grave and the CDU/CSU combine is getting every little bit stronger!!! Ypsilanti with her madness and now Ulla Schmidt with her alleged car "madness". CDU just keeps raising allegations, Steinmeier remains impeccably lip-sealed and FDP cashes on hoping to replace SPD in the next coalition government.

Berlin, Berlin!!!