Leuven: A Look Back

I've officially been back in Canada for two full weeks; so, I feel it's appropriate to reminisce a little and share some more about the city I lived in the last 5 months. People ask me "how it feels to be back" or "how I'm adjusting", which I can't really answer because I feel like I just left a place I called home but also like I was never there in the first place. I'm sure others who have lived or studied abroad can relate to what I'm saying. 

For this post, I'm going to post some pictures and little memories featuring my favourite places in Leuven and my last days living there. This serves as more of a walk down memory lane for myself, but I hope you enjoy as well.

Starting with the squares

The two main squares in Leuven are the Oude Markt (the Old Market Square) and the Grote Markt (the Great Market Square). 

The Oude Markt

The longest bar in the world

Many late nights in the Oude Markt have created some of my favourite memories abroad. Those who know me know I'm not usually one for going out on a regular basis, but when in Leuven...

Shoutout to the crew favourites Cafe Belge and Eclipse.

The sight of this place on a Friday morning (Thursdays being the night for students to go out) was much different than how you'll see it in these pictures. Imagine puddles of beer, piles of cans, and some vomit here and there. Oh charming little Leuven.

The Oude Markt was all decked out for the Euro Cup the weeks before I left. The colours of Belgium could be seen everywhere and televisions were set up outside for football fans.

The Grote Markt

Featuring Leuven's Old Town Hall

Sint-Pieterskerk 

Left: Old Town Hall / Right: Sint-Pieterskerk

The above photo was my "few minutes from home" walking point when returning from the train station after my many trips around Belgium and Europe. It's crazy to think that buildings like these were the norm in my daily life at one point.

The Old Town Hall

Missing the markets

Fridays and Saturdays were never dull with bustling markets only a few minutes walk away.

Fridays on Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein, Herbert Hooverplein, and Leopold Vanderkelenstraat

The Friday markets were the biggest by far, stretching across two squares and down one street. This market sold everything from fresh fruits and veggies, flowers, and pastries to rotisserie chicken, clothes, and jewelry.

Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein 

Herbert Hooverplein 

Saturdays on Brusselsestraat

Unfortunately, the usual market was closed down on my final Saturday in Leuven, so I didn't get many pictures of it (I had to pull from a previous older post) - but what is pictured are the most important aspects, anyways. 

Smaller than the Friday market, but very close to my residence

The best spring rolls ever

A big special shoutout to my favourite waffles in all of Belgium. I will miss these like no other. These hot and tasty waffles had me out of bed every Saturday morning with no grumbling.

Dear Waffle Guy, 

I wish you a lifetime of success and happiness, because your waffles are the bomb.

Sincerely,

Alexandra

Pictured below is a surprise market that happened on Martelarenplein square in place of said Saturday market that was MIA during my final Saturday, along with a clothing street sale.

Green getaways of Leuven

From the botanical garden to walking shortcuts, there were spaces to escape into nature even among the city's rows of buildings and cobblestone.

Kruidtuin, Leuven's oldest botanical gardens

In 1738 the University created this botanical garden for medical students, but now it is used for scientific research and acts as a green oasis for the public in the centre of the city.

My favourite shortcut

When walking to some of my classes this little green space called Van Dalepark was the perfect shortcut for (a) avoiding more pedestrians and bikes and (b) avoiding Ramberg.

Ramberg: the dreaded incline that is much more difficult to trudge than it looks

There was a lovely "420" spray painted on the side of this wall where I often passed a group of young kids doing nothing at all suspicious with leaves.

The student favourite

On sunny days in Leuven you'd find students lounging on the grass in Sint-Donatuspark.

The beautiful Béguinage

My last walk through Leuven's little walled city within a city. To see more, visit my post here.

If this is University, then I could get used to it

It's safe to say that KU Leuven offered me a much different University experience than UBCO back home, which I guess is the entire point of study abroad. So mission accomplished. The struggles of academia persisted overseas, but the setting made it slightly more bearable.

Home to my psychology of culture and society lecture

The University Library

Fons Sapientiae 

De Universiteit 

Aan de Stad 

1425-1975 

Fountain of Wisdom 

The University 

The City 

1425-1975

The statue represents a university student who pours wisdom into his head by reading a book

Perpetual "treat yoself" day

My motto for all of study abroad was definitely "treat yoself" (Parks and Rec shoutout). My mentality was basically, "I won't be back here again - I won't experience this again - hence, buy the waffle, drink the beer, and splurge on that 4 euro latte".

A very close second to Waffle Guy at the Saturday market 

Warm and doughy with a crispy, caramelized outer crust 

Quetzal Chocoladebar: home to the chocolatiest chocolate treats

Koffie Onan was hands down my favourite place to sit with a latte to read, study, or relax. I'll miss this cafe and it's free earl grey chocolate squares a lot.

My final spiced maple latte and earl grey dark chocolate

And of course, the chocolate shops. There was a chocolate shop (or frite shop) every few meters in Leuven. Between gourmet chocolates, frites (fries), waffles, and coffee let's just say my bank account was very unhappy but my tummy was very happy.

 Definitely the most beautiful old school chocolate shop in Leuven

 Dille & Kamille: a plants, homeware, and stationary trinket shop that's just as cute inside as it is outside

City sights

I couldn't fit these pictures into any particular category, so I'm just throwing them together as "city sights", because that's pretty much what they are - the things I saw while walking from place to place on a daily basis. 

I don't want this post to become drawn out and sappy, so I'll keep the ending brief. I'll miss living in Leuven so so much. I'd love to do it all over again. That said, I am happy to be home. I feel like living abroad has helped me appreciate home so much more, and being back home has made me appreciate my travels so much more - like a reinforcing cycle. I'm incredibly grateful for all the conditions, situations, and support that made studying abroad possible for me, because I know that for many this kind of experience can only be a dream. I hope to return to Leuven some day - but if not, then I'm happy to have experienced it in such a positive way with no stone left unturned. 

Thank you for following along with my blog over the months and meeting my enthusiasm. Hope you enjoyed! 

- Alexandra