4th of July Celebration With the Eddy Merckx
Happy Fourth of July!
Our new ambassador, Howard Gutman, planned a big celebration on July 1st so everyone could participate. In honor of the up-coming Tour De France, he arranged a bike ride from the embassy to the Grande Place with Eddy Merckx leading the pack.
For those of you who do not recognize Belgian Eddy Merckx (and that would be me), many would say he is the greatest and most accomplished cyclist of all times. He won the Tour De France 5 times.
Here's Eddy (he told me to call him that) at the start with Ambassador Gutman.
D was between meetings and in a suit so we could not ride our bikes (like we have bikes) so we walked to the Grande Place and made it at the exact same time as the bicyclers.
Everyone then walked to the Manneken Pis were the Mayor of Brussels joined the group as they unveiled the new Manneen Pis outfit. (L to R: Eddy Merckz, Brussels Mayor Freddy Thielemans, cute bicyclist, wife of the Ambassador, and Ambassador Gutman).
The theme for the US and Belgium's partnership is "Our Future Together". The Manneken Pis always has a curtain before the big unveil.
TA-DA........
During the first few seconds of the unveil his little pisser shoots WAY out into the crowd. Which is good to know otherwise you could get drenched!
With the slogan "Yes We Can" on his hat and if you look closely he has both the US and the Belgian flag in his hand.
After the big event everyone went back to the embassy where there was a large tent set up with food and drinks and the Embassy/Nato band Article 5 played.
Doesn't he does look presidential ? I know his mom and mother-in-law both think so : )
We hope everyone had a fun 4th of July celebration too!
LOL! I am laughing so hard...I bit, hook, line, and sinker!!! You are too funny! In fact, I was about to email and find out how one applies for this type of job so I could hop aboard your magic carpet ride!
Posted by: Sue@MyArtsDesire | July 24, 2010 at 05:39 PM