Eurodan in English

And then there were 25

Belgium celebrated enlargement as only Belgium can, with large portions of food and surrealism, although not always at the same time.

On the eve of enlargement, we watched the choir sing (inexplicably) Carmina Burana and the inescapable Ode to Joy, listened to the Belgian Prime Minister making a speech (Flemish, French and dodgy English), felt the heavens open and watched as the hot air balloons were inflated, only to be promptly deflated when someone realised that the prevailing winds would blow them all directly into the flight path of Brussels National Airport. Then the amassed dignitaries and politicians were all led away from the stage by the childrens' choir. I haven't seen them since.

And then the Big Day came, and the European district turned into a sort of European Union Enlargement version of gay pride. We wandered around a big, sunny park, collecting leaflets, waving flags and eating. The Estonian porridge was a big hit, apparently, although I ended up with something Danish.

It was fabulous, of course - and quite moving at times. I was even interviewed by Polish television (and have probably single-handedly destroyed the reputation of the Commission's language services by claiming to be an interpreter and then speaking truly pidgin Polish).

Still - all in all it was a weekend where everyone had fun, tried out new snack food, watched fireworks, listened to Beethoven and saw live link-ups to politicians crossing borders at midnight.

Except for viewers in the UK, who had their own programme. Snooker, I believe.

Posted by Eurodan at May 2, 2004 10:33 PM