Home Sweet DC: "I actually live here"

I have to admit all moving parts of getting settled into a new place have disrupted my writing routine. I actually feel guilty of not being so diligent about my new adventures. What has been going on so far? With Hans being on a ship somewhere in the Atlantic, I have been acquainted with the DC Metro. My daily commute is pretty painless, straight on the Yellow Line. I even enjoy reading the Washington Post Express I get for free at the steps of the metro entrance. The guy is unusually perky for doing this at 7am. Again, people are not perky (or optimistic for that matter) in the Kingdom.
I'm starting to become more acquainted with the neighborhood, trying the some of the local eateries such as Bacio and Big Bear Cafe. I've been to Bacio twice so far. It's no Mama Roma, but the prices are reasonable, good menu, and great service. I can see myself using my once a week pizza quota there, especially the LeDroit Park pizza. I was excited to show Anna, my first visitor from Brussels, my neighborhood.  We went to Big Bear for a late breakfast and the place was completely packed on a sunny Saturday morning.  The bagel sandwiches (how I missed thee) are delish and so is the coffee. We are still surprised on how we got a table as it was so crowded, but it gave me a snapshot of my new neighborhood (and inhabitants). It got me even more excited to live in this neighborhood although I miss Ixelles terribly.
I have to say my dining highlight so far has not been in my neighborhood, but close enough: Mio Restaurant.  Living in Brussels, I sometimes felt as the only Puertorican in the village until I discovered my compatriots who lived in Holland. The closest thing I came to Puertorican food was the fried plantains I used to get from the Congolese food stand at Place du Chatelain.  I was excited to hear there was a real Puertorican restaurant and even more so when I heard one of my favorite childhood TV chefs, Giovanna Huyke is the executive chef of the restaurant Mio. I have been here for less than a month, but been there twice. I cannot resist the delicious menu of fried snapper, plantains, pastelon, and my favorite, lechon (roasted pork). I was completely starstruck when Giovanna came to our table to say hello!

With Giovanna Huyke at Mio

It has been a strange transition being back. I had been accustomed to long sejours in the US but on the back of my mind, always knew I was returning to Brussels. After a few weeks it has sunk in: I live here. It was even more apparent when I got the keys to my house and spent enough at Crate and Barrel to have to pack my lunch for the next few months and deny my nieces and nephews Christmas gifts (I'm kidding about the latter).  Now I look forward to decorate my new home, invite guests over, and see where this new life takes me.