Back in Brussels for the last full day of our trip, we visited the American Embassy so I could visualize the neighborhood for my Book Two project. And to buy some chocolate to take home!
Of all the embassies, the American one had the most visible security, with blockades set up in front of the entry preventing anyone from parking too close. Security was so tight, in fact, I didn’t want to take any pictures for fear of being carted away for questioning.
Embassy Row is a tree-lined boulevard, although I’m pretty sure none of the buildings housing embassies today were in existence back in the First World War. Certainly the American Embassy is a newer building. In my research I’d learned our Embassy during the Great War also served as the Ambassador’s residence. All I knew was that it was in a neighborhood of other Embassies, just as it is today. The home the American Ambassador lives in today is not far from the Embassy, but it was purchased in 1959 so I knew it wasn’t the same house.
A couple of other things were important for my Book Two, since it’s set in Brussels. My research had referred to “upper town” and “lower town” and I wanted to get a visual for that. I knew the Palais de Justice was in upper town. So after we left the Embassy we walked to the Palais de Justice, which was actually undergoing a major renovation. But we were able to go inside, and it was wonderful. High ceilings, wonderful woodwork and pillars, wide staircases. It’s still the hall of justice, so there was all kinds of legal business being carried on.
Near there, we took some snapshots of “lower town” from this upper town spot. This was taken just down the street from the Palais de Justice.
We also passed by another spot I wanted to see: the Royal Palace.
The Palace is still the home of the King of the Belgians, and has a lovely garden in the front. Part of the palace is normally opened to the public, but on the day we were there it was closed. We did, however, see a motorcade complete with police squad cars and hear their unique-to-Europe siren. By the time we rounded the corner the motorcade was emptied of whoever had been delivered to the Palace.
How can anyone choose? You’d never know those samples are actually made from plastic. I wanted to try one of each of the real thing… but settled for one with strawberries and chocolate and smooth whipped cream.
So, we ended the trip both eager to get home and sad to leave such a wonderful place.
We said good-bye to the fancy homes and the beautiful gardens…
And the next morning found our way to the airport just as the sun rose. My head was full of all kinds of visuals, now knowing the landscape, the distances between places I knew I’d be using, the church sizes and facades and a better understanding of some of the horrors of how the Great War was fought.
So there you have it, the travelogue of our research trip. For us, it was perfect. We had a purpose, an agenda, and kept busy. And we walked! So much I didn’t even gain any weight, despite eating more than my share of Belgian chocolate and French pastries.
While I’ve been sharing the pictures and details of my research trip here on this blog, I’ve progressed all the way to the end of the first draft of my current work-in-progress. For the days ahead, I’ll be posting blog entries three days a week instead of five, and returning to the topics related more directly to writing. I’ll share how some of the research helped my writing process, how it felt to finish this first draft, and then, once the editing process begins, I’ll share some of how that goes as well. I also plan to address cover design and marketing plans, both pre- and post-release.
So stay tuned, there is plenty more to talk about as it relates to this first book of my WWI series. And thanks to all who’ve been visiting so far!
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