This morning we spent more than three hours viewing the J’avais 20 ans en Bastogne exhibit at the Musée en Piconrue. Senior citizens were interviewed by teens about their experience as children during WWII. Their taped recollections were the basis for the three floors of exhibit rooms. Off all the museums we visited in Bastogne, this was my favorite—not only about the military but the effects of the war on the citizens; it made the hellishness more real.
After lunch we visited the 101st Airborne Museum. Dennis’ father was in the 101st during the Battle of the Bulge. It was amazing to see the size of the 81mm mortar that he transported. We found nothing personal but did get a feel for the snow and cold during that winter battle.
We tried to find the bus stop to go the shopping center to buy clothes for Dennis’ interview tomorrow. We asked several people about the stop’s location. At least, someone told us that we were actually at the stop—it was just unidentified. Would you have known it was here? (photo right)
The cost of living is very high in Belgium. Clothing, food, restaurants, hotels are all very expensive. Bastogne is a tourist town, so I can understand the elevated prices. Even though we went to a “mall” in a neighboring town 10 km (6 mi) away, the prices were less but still much dearer than in the U.S. I don’t know how the average person can afford living here.
Tomorrow, Michel de Trez will pick us up at 9:15 to take us to La Gleize where Dennis will be filmed for the Belgium TV. It should be an exciting day for him.
