The Job Story - 13

We completed our work two days before the scheduled date. Taking a sign-off from the client, the other three left early to join others in the project in new location. I, on the other hand was supposed to return back to India after Herentals. As the work was done, I contacted other colleagues in other cities through email. I did not have a mobile then and land line and email were my only communication medium.

I had my last weekend in Belgium and surprisingly I had no work and free to explore. I decided to contact my friends and wanted to see the city of Brussels because it was the only famous city we knew by name and also it was closer that we could get back to our base. I traveled to Leuven to meet my friend and we were both supposed to visit Brussels.

On a Saturday morning eager to look as much as possible in Brussels, I took a train to Leuven and pick up a friend from there. He was supposed to meet me at the Leuven station. An hour wait on the station and he was still not there. I had the choice of either going to the hotel and searching for him in turn losing almost half a day or going alone to Brussels. Except for the train that takes me to Brussels, I had no idea as to what to do there. A friend in foreign company does help even though you are both confused. I still waited for another 15 minutes before choosing to go alone.

This was the first time I choose to be alone to see a city not only in Europe but the first time in my whole life. I did not meet the friend till I came back to India and I learnt that he had overslept that day. I was supposed to stay with him for a day and probably see another city close by. Hence I carried extra clothes with me.

With that heavy baggage I got down at Brussels central station at around noon. I had already lost half a day and I was determined to make the most of it. Taking a cue from Antwerp, I had guessed that there are city tours available in Europe. Fortunately I did find one. Its fun to watch a city alone.

The pamphlet handed to me by the tour bus operator described many tourist spots in Brussels. I did not have time for museums so the best was to see the best spots. I choose Atomium.

Atomium is to Brussels what Eiffel Tower is to Paris. Its is a big Aluminum structure with nine steel sphere representing the Iron crystal. Its a gigantic structure that takes you 102 feet above the surface and you can see the whole of Brussels from there. I took video going up, in the sphere and from the top with my own running commentary. I had seen people making videos when they go on a sightseeing tour but they do it silently. People become bored faster by the silent treatment. I tried to add my flavor in the video. People still sleep after seeing these videos but a little late.

Atomium was my first world monument and that will always remain special. I remember when I sat in front of the structure on the green grass, I saw a wedding and the bride and groom posed in front of the gigantic structure. I still have the video somewhere.

From the top of Atomium, I saw another attraction, Mini Europe. Mini Europe is a small park of miniature models of the famous monuments in Europe. What better way to see all the famous monuments of Europe from one place. I went on clicking photos and taking videos.

Mini Europe is like a small boy’s fantasy. I don’t know if other boys played it but when I was small, I would play with my toy cars, planes and trains. I would imagine a whole world around these toys where plane would take up like rockets and make crash landings. Mini Europe has these small boats in small rivers and big boats at sea and an airport and planes and it even has a mini space station where a rocket is launched every few minutes. I sat alone in front of the rocket and actually took a video and yes completely with my running commentary and countdown included.

I was so engrossed in Mini Europe that I did not realize that it was already evening and I had only seen two spots. I rushed out only to find that the tour bus service was in its last laps. It was my first trip alone and in a foreign land and I was worried about being safe. So I decided that it was enough of Brussels. I still took photos of the streets and then boarded a train to Herantals.

Coming back, the train was almost empty. Strong winds blew outside. I had gained some confidence by taking the Brussels trip alone and decided to see another city on Sunday. With no medium of sending email, I was all alone and did not expect company. As I came back to hotel, the sky had changed dramatically. The wind was blowing quite strongly now. I decided to call it a day and retired to my room.

I don’t fancy eating alone in a restaurant alone so I ordered room service and watched a movie. It was my second night alone on the hotel and the silent hotel gave me the creeps in the night. I lay awake long into the night, switching channels and watching unidentifiable Flemish stuff.

The next day, I could not wake up early!

======================

Job Story Archives