Thank you.....string players....

I never thought I'd say this, but I would like to thank the string players in YOA for whining...Due to our rigorous rehearsal schedule (9:00am-12:00pm rehearsal, 1:00pm-3:00 sectional, 3:30-4:30 chamber rehearsal, 6:00pm-9:00pm rehearsal), many of the string players have started raising concern about their cases of tendinitis flaring up, sore muscles, and feeling sick. Us brass kids....we're fine. But regardless, the string players raising concern granted us an afternoon free of sectionals and chamber rehearsals....free time for all!

So a group of us took the local train down to the Grote Markt, or Grand'Place, a historic market place surrounded by buildings built from 1402-1695. The cobblestone courtyard is surrounded on all sides by monumental buildings of all sorts, quite spectacular.

We then headed over to St. Michaels Cathedral. It was originally a small church constructed sometime during the beginning of the 11th century, which the foundations for can still be viewed by going down into the crypt. There is a massive organ in the cathedral, but I forgot how many pipes it holds....There's also a handcarved pulpit depicting the fall of Adam and Eve that is quite elaborate. The cathedral is now used for important ceremonies, marrages of royal parties, ect. You don't see a cathedral like this in the states...

All in all, a good trip half day trip! Got to see a lot of Brussels' historic side and at the same time enjoyed a chocolate banana belgian waffle from the street corner. It was tasty.