Brussels and not the Sprouts
Landing in Brussels around noon we still hadn't booked a hotel. Thats just how we decided (ended up) doing it this trip, everything last minute. Anyways we stepped outside into the main square of Brussels and you could already observe the culture. Brick roads and cathedrals could be seen all around and just peaking over the tops of the trees. The closest was the Cathedral of St.Michael and St. Gudula, a Roman Catholic church in the heart of Brussels. Though it wasn't a cathedral for long, gaining the status in 1962, this massive stone structure, has the gothic look that was favored in that time. Truthfully we didn't get to see inside until the next day before we boarded our train to Maastricht. Back to what I was saying, we finally found a place to stay the night about 3 kilometers from the brewery, Brewdog, where we decided to have lunch. In Brussels the language is mostly french, so we were greeted with a kind ‘Bonjour’. I had this wonderful vegan burger with ‘friet’ or fries, and a nice bottle of water, for an extra charge of course. In Europe they do not have access to fresh water like we do in the US, so the water they do have, they sell.
Not a fan of the cabbage wrap but the fries were the bomb...v
Finishing up we gathered our things and began our trek through the winding roads of downtown, with only the tourist map to guide us. Unfortunately our international service did not apply to Brussels, but it did in Iceland?? Puzzling, but we dealt. Our hotel was right next to the Congress Column, a monument constructed when the constitution was written by the national congress from 1830-1831, and was opened in 1859.
The apartment complex, Comptoir Royal, where we stayed was very affordable compared to other places we were looking at. We booked last minute so we got a pretty good deal, a plan I would recommend if you are willing to risk getting a deal or not. Anyways this spot was a nice little walk away from the square where all of the cute little boutiques, chocolate shops, and waffles stands could be found. The waffles were one thing I couldn't pass up, I mean the smell just followed you as you walked down the cobblestone streets. And of course I had to add nutella and powdered sugar, how could I not!
MMMMMMMM, no one told me I had chocolate all over my face after this
Making our way to the central square or the Grand-Place or Grote-Markt of Brussels we were greeted by massive guildhalls and edifices. The Town Hall and the Museum of Brussels were also part of the square. Snapping some family pictures marked our first destination on our 12 day tour.
FAM
Another populate site to see was the small bronze statue Manneken Pis, or Peeing Boy. There are a few stories as to how the statue came about. One is that a little boy stopped to pee on the side of the road and a witch turned him into a statue to teach him a lesson and to set an example. Before we saw the sculpture we saw a couple replicas, which game me the impression that it would be bigger than it actually was. I mean the thing was life size, which makes sense, but it was very little. Still a funny thing to see though.
Really little, little, little, boy peeing
After some shopping and window browsing we stopped at another brewery ‘Au Brasseur’, where my sister and parents ordered some ‘beertjes’, and we were given a musical performance by a man and his accordion. Wandering the streets there were many small street musicians from a guitarist to a trio of violinists. All wonderful players which added to the ambiance of the city. The stops we saw were about the only major tourist destinations and spots we were recommended to see. Though we wanted to see it all the jet lag was starting to catch up to us, after catching only a few hours of sleep on the red eye flight. Jet lag which meant that we would fall asleep early and wake up early, and also not have an appetite from a disrupted eating schedule, be warned.
'La Corne' recommended by the waiter who said, "Young kids like the strong beer"
In the morning we packed up and headed towards the train station, stopping by the cathedral I had mentioned earlier, and managing to just catch the next train to Maastricht by 4 minutes. Lucky again. That wraps it up for our second day in Brussels, Belgium.
