People are snorting chocolate! Yes, they’re catapulting cocoa up their noses using a “Chocolate Shooter” device and the practice is spreading outside of Belgium — the chocolate capital of the world. I burst into laughter while touring the Chocolate Nation museum in Antwerp. The port city, about 30 miles north of Brussels, has a history with chocolate dating back to the 17th century and nowadays there is a chocolate shop on almost every street. But only one – The Chocolate Line – sells the snorting device that apparently enhances the “chocolate experience.”
In 2007, chocolatier Dominique Persoone engineered the sniffer for a Rolling Stones party that allowed guests to shoot chocolate into both of their nasal cavities. It has gained popularity over the last 15 years. The device sells online for € 45 and comes with snorting powder — a mix of cocoa and raspberry or mint and ginger – that you can sniff 300 times. In a 2015 interview with Reuters, Persoone said the chocolate goes to the brain and stays there for about 15 minutes. “Life is boring. Let’s have fun,” he said. “I just want to tease the customers. I’m not a bad boy promoting drugs. Not at all.”
The more you know, I guess?
The Grote Markt — Antwerp’s central square — is filled with breathtaking architecture. It’s a sight pulled straight from the pages of a storybook! I sat in the dark nibbling on fries from Frituur n°1 mesmerized by the intricate facades and in awe of the Cathedral of Our Lady lit up and towering over the square. This is also when I realized mayonnaise does not belong on fries — never!
Bike culture in Antwerp is unlike anything I have ever seen. It seemed like there were more people in the bike lanes than driving lanes. The infrastructure was nearly perfect with dedicated bike lanes down every major corridor and dedicated traffic lights that seemed to prioritize bicyclists over drivers. Everyone seemed to be riding bikes. A weekly bike pass costs € 9 and allows riders unlimited 30-minute rides. I biked everywhere, joining a city of bicyclists who truly respected the rules of the road. Cyclists waited at red lights even when no cars were on the road. “We wait” said one woman stopped next to me. “We follow the rules.” All I could think about were the scores of cyclists blowing stop signs and people riding scooters blowing red lights in the United States. I’m almost certain if I sat idle at an empty intersection in an American city the person next to me would ask, “what are you waiting for?” without even noticing the red light. The people of Antwerp were quite patient!
From London to Paris and now Antwerp, I continue to be amazed by Europe’s public and alternative transportation infrastructure and the high level of ridership. It’s something I first experienced in Switzerland last year from high-speed trains to cable cars. The service, thus far, has been reliable, frequent and safe. It makes me never want to own a car again!
Now, a moment to appreciate the gorgeous Antwerpen-Centraal railway station.
If you were wondering from my last blog post, I made it to Antwerp just in time to see Quinn XCII in concert a second time. I could hear him singing on stage as I walked inside the small venue. I was late. Of course I pedaled there! I was excited to give my name at the door. I surely thought I was on some VIP list. “Move over, people, the groupie has arrived!” Well, sadly, there was no such moment. No one was manning the door. No one was checking tickets. No one was searching bags. I trailed five other people and walked through the doors without any questions to find an even smaller crowd than the night before in Paris – maybe 100 people. Y’all, literally anyone could have gotten into this concert for free. I still was excited to be there! As I stood in the middle of the crowd by myself surrounded by people speaking numerous languages, mostly Dutch, I thought about the power of music: its ability to convey messages, express feelings, share thoughts, make us feel something and bring us together. How special! Music — much like life — is like a box of chocolates. Even if you know the genre or the artist, you never know exactly what lyrics you’ll get, what words will hold greater weight, how you’ll feel, how you’ll relate or how a song might change your mood, perspective or emotions.
I’ve listened to more music on this trip than ever before. My noise-canceling AirPods have gone from a material possession to best friend status — just like the hilarious personal connection I feel with my two travel bags. You have to attach yourself to something, right!? For me, it’s been music. I love discovering new artists, analyzing lyrics and finding messages from songs even if they are different than the message the artist/writer intended. I feel like there’s something to gain from every song, even if it’s just an energy or embracing a fleeting feeling. If life is life a box of chocolates — an assortment of wins, losses, celebrations, failures, love, heartbreak — I’m glad we have music to help us feel, understand, escape, cope, learn and enjoy.
QUESTION: What role does music play in your life? Comment below!
Song Choice: All I Know So Far/P!nk
This song is a powerful roadmap to life. P!nk sings about living “like your life is on the line” and having strength through inevitable adversity. Live fearlessly, be yourself and make mistakes. I like to remind myself often that life is a series of waves — we have to appreciate the ups and downs — and this song puts it perfectly: “This darkness comes and goes” and “when the storm’s out, you’ll run in the rain.”
The Coffee Break 
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