Anyway, you never cease to amaize me how you find so many interesting things about a place. You are more than a tour guide, you are a detective!

Tthe last time I was in Brussels it was 1969, my friend Christine and I were ending our backpack wanderings in Europe as it was time to go home and attend my brother’s wedding and get real jobs in the USA.

We hitched a ride out of someplace in Germany in the pouring rain and two Belgium tile salesman picked us up. They told us the were orphaned in world war II and were small boys living off scraps when their city was liberated by the Americans. (Not sure which Belgium city they were in at the time) but they credited some GIs who took them to a place where they were cared for by nuns for saving them from starving. Ever since then they said they look for ways to return the favor to Americans.

They drove us to Brussells treated us to a fabulous steak dinner “because we know Americans like beef steak” and took us to the YWCA were we planned to stay a couple of days until our charter flight left for the USA.

When we arrived at the Y they carried in our backpacks and told us to go upstairs and check to make sure our room was OK. We did as they suggested and when we returned to get our backpacks the lady at the desk told us our room was paid for and there was an envelope for us. In the envelope was some cash for “eating and touring Brussels” and it was signed, “thank you America”.

That is one of my favorite memories of people I have met in my travels, and I look forward to visiting Brussells again on my painting trip with you in September.

Sandy Delehanty

Anyway, you never cease to amaize me how you find so many interesting things about a place. You are more than a tour guide, you are a detective!

Tthe last time I was in Brussels it was 1969, my friend Christine and I were ending our backpack wanderings in Europe as it was time to go home and attend my brother’s wedding and get real jobs in the USA.

We hitched a ride out of someplace in Germany in the pouring rain and two Belgium tile salesman picked us up. They told us the were orphaned in world war II and were small boys living off scraps when their city was liberated by the Americans. (Not sure which Belgium city they were in at the time) but they credited some GIs who took them to a place where they were cared for by nuns for saving them from starving. Ever since then they said they look for ways to return the favor to Americans.

They drove us to Brussells treated us to a fabulous steak dinner “because we know Americans like beef steak” and took us to the YWCA were we planned to stay a couple of days until our charter flight left for the USA.

When we arrived at the Y they carried in our backpacks and told us to go upstairs and check to make sure our room was OK. We did as they suggested and when we returned to get our backpacks the lady at the desk told us our room was paid for and there was an envelope for us. In the envelope was some cash for “eating and touring Brussels” and it was signed, “thank you America”.

That is one of my favorite memories of people I have met in my travels, and I look forward to visiting Brussells again on my painting trip with you in September.

Sandy Delehanty