One word: AAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!
Anybody want to sponsor a poor Mainer’s trip to Eutope to see her favorite singer??? Or will I have to be content, watching his latest concert DVD???

Are you going? Can I sleep on your couch? On the floor?? I don’t snore. OMG…how am I going to work today?

Seems like he shaved the mustache – thank God! I have a real aversion for mustaches. He’s a great entertainer, that’s for sure.

carol ann, awwww!! i don’t think i’m going if you go you’d probably spend the least if you fly directly into brussels. if i did go i’d take a train there from france probably.

elisabeth, i’m a moustachaphone too but i gave francis some leeway because i love him. however, i’m a more severe beardaphobe (actually i HATE beards of all kinds!!! ick!!).

Well, my DH has a beard, and I prefer HIM that way, but I’ll take FC anyway I can – tee hee! :>
So, if I call the ticket number above, can I charge the tickets? I don’t speak French, will they understand it in English OK?

i’ve often found that usually in belgium, people speak english, french, german and flemish – but i don’t know about everyone try ‘em and i’ll bet that if the person in the ticket office answering the phones doesn’t speak english, they’d be able to find someone for you in the ofc that does. let us know what happens!

I GOT ‘EM!!!!
Next step – convince the DH that either he needs to go (after all, as I found out, Brussels is the “City of Beer”, and he’s really into microbrews & such), or let me go, with his blessings (and an extra ticket!!!)

WHOOOO HOOOOOO!!! congrats. …you’ll have an extra ticket possibly????

OK, they’re in the “Corbeille”, section, A9 & 11.
I asked the ticket dude for the best available, ‘cuz I was coming from a long way! Now… any ideas of a good inexpensive place to stay?
I can’t believe I did this!

you might find a good deal in a package with your flight (that would include your hotel with the flight). check travelocity or expedia or some other budget travel sites. or you can go get a travel book on belgium. i’ve been to brussels only a few times and it has been a long time since the last trip. you’re going to have a blast.

Maybe DH won’t want to come, and I will have an extra ticket! Sure, this is probably a “foolish, impulsive” thing to do, but y’know what? I’m in my 7th years of remission from leukemia, and I didn’t make it thru just to sit on my butt & whine! (“Wine”, maybe…perhaps some of Monsieur Cabrel’s?).
And here’s my next big scheme – Why are we (those of us in the USA) so reluctant to listen to artists who sing in a language other than English? Francis Cabrel is a prime example of who we (ME!) should be embracing! I could write a piece about it, perhaps get an interview with him (yeah, and the Easter Bunny is really Santa Claus in a fat rabbit suit!), and sell it to a stateside music publication. I’ve got my Thinking Cap on.
I still want to visit France, though. How long is it by train from where you are?

Bonsoir,

PretzelBug : vous devriez pouvoir trouver les horaires et les tarifs de train entre Bruxelles et Paris à cette adresse => http://www.thalys.com/

C’est le TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) qui relie les deux villes.

Amitiés

Didier

Merci. I don’t know where we’ll/I’ll (DH still isn’t thrilled) be staying. But at least he agreed to get tickets for the show (he didn’t know I had already bought them a few hours earlier!) and that if “we” don’t go (haha), we can probably sell them on Ebay. I may as well sell my soul on Ebay!

I guess it’s time to learn some French, or at least as much as I can during the next 2 months. I didn’t do well with it, back in high school, and the way were taught back then…well, let’s just say that I’m all set if I need to ask anyone where the library is! Any good online sites (free; I need to save my money, now!) to learn from? Any suggestions as to what is absolutely necessary to know to survive? Any suggestions about how to keep from jumping out of my skin until June 23???

The deed is done. Plane & hotel reservations made. When DH told his mom about the trip, he started with “Remember when Eileen (his younger sister) used to follow the Ramones all over the place…?” He’s still not sure if he wants to go to the show. Some of my co-workers think I’ve completely lost it, others applaud it, and the few I’ve let listen to my “Samedi Soir Sur La Terre” want me to take them along! BUT HE’S MINE! ALL MINE!! (Whoa, calm down, girl.) I assured them that when he comes to Canada, we can all get tickets, and drive up to Montreal together, for a “girls’ night out”!

Please alert re: any Francis Cabrel or Maurance concerts in Europe. thank you.