Ixelles and the Brussels Children's Museum

So the various neighborhoods here are called 'communes' and we are officially in Ixelles. While it is still a part of the city of Brussels it is some how a different political entity...for example, we had to register with the Ixelles office that deals with immigrants rather than there just being a general office for the whole city.
While I'm not entirely sure if this is really more cost effective or efficient it does mean that there are 'commune' services meant for those in this particular neighborhood. I realized that this was a good thing when Jojo and I were out mailing some postcards (one of her stay home days within the first few weeks of our arrival) and we took the long way home i.e. instead of heading directly back down the block to get to our street we went all the way around the block. While I wasn't really expecting to find anything I was pleasantly surprised when I spotted a window behind which looked like a lot of books and a nice children's area. Although there was absolutely NO sign stating that it was a library, after taking a peek in the first set of entrance doors I correctly deduced that it was a library, that of Ixelles! While the children's section (in a separate room from the adult section) is only open when school children would be able to attend i.e. late afternoon/early evenings and weekends, it is really great that it is literally right around the corner!
I returned later with Jojo thinking that it would be open but there was a brochure or sign that hadn't been properly updated and it turned out that the children's section wouldn't be open until later that afternoon. I did sign myself up for a card but I still have to pay almost 8 Euro (for the year although I won't be here that long) if I want to check anything out--I still have to go back and take a better look around and see if it would be worth it i.e. there are some English language books and there may be Cd's or even DVDs!
We returned yet again that day once Amelia was home from school and with Dan's presence we were able to sign both of the girls up for library cards which are free although there is a 10 book limit per child. While my sister (a children's librarian in Wisconsin) I guess was aware that European libraries are not as well funded or supported as U.S. equivalents, I was completely shocked when both the adult and children's librarians started writing out everything by hand for the library cards! The check out system will be familiar to those of you used the library about 15 or 20 years ago (or think of your elementary school library check out system) where there is a slip of paper in the book that is stamped with the due date and there is another slip that is pulled out and put in an envelope with your name on it and filed away until you return the items!! While I knew that the girls and I enjoyed a very nice public library system in Madison I had no idea just how good we really had it!! Not only is there an electronic check-out system in place (now with self check out machines as well) with the ability to check up on your account online and renew books but I am also able to check out mp3 books to download onto my player with my Madison library card--as am I still currently doing while here in Belgium!! While I still can't fully believe it, I am trying to get over the fact that a large, even capital city like Brussels doesn't have better technology for its public services!
Another community location that the girls and I visited within the last couple of weeks is the pool! While it isn't too far away, with shorter legs doing the walking, the bus (2 buses really) is our mode of transportation. The first time we went when I hadn't been there before, the bus that was supposed to drop us off right near the pool was unfortunately taking a different route for some reason and so we got off at the temporary stop and had to ask directions to the pool. Evidently the Ixelles pool isn't a frequented hot spot as the first two people (adults) I found didn't know where it was but then I asked some younger looking kids and they directly me exactly where I needed to go!!
It is a very large indoor space with a shallow end where the girls and I hung out in which was roped off from a deeper section and there was still space for those who wanted to do laps! It was only a few Euros for Jojo and I to get in (Amelia was free). All around the perimeter of the pool were little individual changing rooms...a bit tight for an adult and two kids but we eventually got changed and out to the pool area where we where promptly informed by the lifeguard that "bonnets" were required. As we didn't have swim caps, he generously went to a little closet and pulled out some for us to wear for the time being--although they were very loose, it was a heck of a lot better than not getting to swim! They must be obsessed with hair or obsessed with not wanting to get in the pool as men aren't allowed to wear swim trunks--speedos or form fitting swim shorts only!
We all returned last week as the girls were out of school and went swimming Wednesday morning-this time armed with new swim caps! I think that they worked out nicely even though Amelia is very particular about her hair and didn't want it tucked up under cap (only a bit was sticking out as it isn't very long)!
After we returned home and had a lunch and Amelia had a nap, we headed out to the Brussels Children's museum where we were scheduled (thanks to Naomi being the middle person) to meet one of Jojo's school friends Ellen (and her mom and little sister as well). Like the children's section of the library, the children's museum has very limited hours as though children who aren't enrolled in school yet wouldn't want to go--I find it quite strange. As a result, when it is open, I have been told that it is typically quite packed! Sarah, Ellen's mom, arrived a bit earlier than the girls and I did and said that they were initially turning people away! As she had arranged to me us there (and hadn't written down my cell number) she didn't want to just leave, she hung out a bit and then the women at the front desk finally let them in as some people had left and/or they looked cute/pitiful enough to be let in!
We didn't find Ellen and her crew until about a half hour after our arrival due to the fact that I had also failed to write down Sarah's cell phone number and I didn't realize that there would be 3 different floors to explore--and of course Ellen was on the top floor! Anyways, we finally connected and the girls had a great time playing before Ellen and her family had to leave. The current theme (as I guess it changes periodically) was Red. As such the create your own story room had pictures/scenes from stories with red in their title like "Little Red Riding Hood" and there was an area on health and what read mean in terms of your body (i.e. blood) and a red cross play ambulance. I was impressed by the number of things to do as well as the extent to which they made the red theme work with all their areas of exploration! As a bonus, the girls also were able to get their faces painted which we did just in time. We kept seeing kids with their faces painted walking around but didn't see where it was happening, but near the end of our visit (15 minutes before closing time) we finally spotted the room where there was a very patient young woman putting various designs on cheeks and noses and foreheads (as some wanted to look like a lion). Jojo wanted a butterfly and a ladybug but I couldn't remember the word (if I ever knew it) for ladybug so she got a butterfly instead which she seems satisfied by and Amelia quickly followed suit.
I think that everyone enjoyed themselves despite there being lots of people and we didn't really explore everything so it will have to be someplace that we return to at some point!