sunrise over Brussels

This shot was out of the hotel window, the rest of the day was just a whirl. The big building with the dome surrounded by scaffold is the Law Courts

the morning news in Brussels from Mr Chunn, my Cambodian taxi driver, was the chaos on the roads was due to a bus and tram strike. Nothing to do with pay but because a judge on Monday sentenced a man to just 1 year in prison for killing a ticket collector. The reason for the sentence was that it was a fight and he didn't intend murder. Tensions were understandably high as actually the man was released from court because he had already spent the time in custody.

The other news was that the PM of Belgium (an Italian from the French side) had been to China and bought back the gift of 2 pandas on loan to Belgium for 1 year. They had arrived this morning and he has instructed that they are housed in what is mainly a bird sanctuary in his home French region, snubbing the big zoo in Flemish Antwerp. Further driving the 2 sides apart!! By the way this PM was elected after the Country had had no government for a record 50 weeks because they couldn't agree how to share power. (no one really cared there was no government)

Belgium is a funny place