1958 Brussels

My memories of Brussels (or Bruxelles) are from around 1958.  My grandmother Frieda was with us.  She was very elegant and sophisticated.  I always knew that secretly she was Princess Anastasia of the Russian Empire.  We (my parents, my sister, Frieda, and me) stayed in a wonderful hotel on La Grande Place.  

La Grande Place, Bruxelles

Because it was a weekend, they only had one room, a small one with two beds.  We had no choice, so we took it.  They brought us extra linens, pillows, and blankets and we made Frieda a bed in the bathtub.  I wanted to sleep in the bathtub but they said no.  I ended up sleeping with my dad and my sister slept with my mother.   I would have fit perfectly.  Unfortunately, Frieda was a good sport about it and told the story for years.  The image of Frieda, with her diamonds and veils, sleeping in a bathtub was something no one could have imagined.

I woke up the next day before dawn because it seeeds busy outside.  When I looked out the window I saw an amazing sight below.  The entire square was full of people and lights and flowers.  I will never forget it.  It was magical.  I stayed at the window until the sun came up and the others woke up and broke the spell.

Flowers in La Grande Place

We didn't realize it at the time, but every weekend there was a fantastic flower show in La Grande Place.