The Grocery Store and Vet

I decided to go to the grocery store today, as we were running low on snacks in our miniature apartment.  I found it fascinating that as I was checking out, the cashier was sitting in a cozy chair and all she did was merely scan the items.  Oddly enough, you have to bring your own grocery sacks to store and then pack up your own groceries.  In the event that you don't have a sack, you must buy one! In certain grocery stores, you have to even weigh your own produce... which left us wondering... What are these cashiers getting paid to do??

On the walk home from the grocery store, I stopped to take this picture of the Ladeuzeplein, and the University Library.  There is a 75-foot needle with a bug on it, and they say this "perfectly captures the spirit of the city and university of Leuven."  I don't really know what that means... it's kinda creepy to me, but interesting at the same time.    

This evening we had to take Rylee to the vet.  What an experience! We're still not sure if we ever saw a doctor.  First of all, the hours that this vet hospital is open is from 9-10AM and 5-7:30PM! We showed up without an appointment and Mike went to talk to the "receptionist" while I waited in the waiting room with Rylee.  About 30 minutes later, this "receptionist" took us back to an examination room and had Mike pick up Rylee to put her on the exam table.  He then examined her while Mike held her.  We then were asked to go to a different building where this "receptionist" appeared with clippers and asked Mike to put her up on the exam table and hold her front, while I held her back legs.  He then proceeded to shave her belly and give her an ultrasound... never finding out what was actually wrong with her.  The "receptionist," well maybe "doctor," then sent us home with antibiotics for her.  Hopefully that will work! This is only after paying 42 euros with no documentation of Rylee's records and no receipt or documentation of service, but the medicine was free.  Maybe pets have socialized medicine too here in Belgium?

Below is a picture of Mike at a Thai Restaurant we ate at... I guess this was some sort of rice patty... didn't do much for me! The other picture is of the sunset while we were taking Rylee on her evening walk.