Brussels Old and New

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Paula and Harry took us for a tour around Brussels. Paula had made up an itinerary which allowed us to walk to a good variety of sites without collapsing, and she built in a stop at the quint historic pub connected to the TOON marionette theatre where she introduced us to the local red beer. Later we walked across to the other side of the river to have dinner at a restaurant in a Project sponsored by the government. Their son-in-law Simon had initiated and developed a huge garden in the unused space between two long buildings, and Harry had helped get things going by reassembling a secondhand greenhouse for it. The garden now supplies fresh vegetables to both the restaurant and the Food Hub shop within the Project.

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Photos

Beautiful floral display
Our captivating first sight of Brussels after getting off the train from Leuven.

Giant clock with emerging statues
At 3pm the bells played a lovely tune and the character next to the number 3 emerged.

The King's Palace
Way back in 1967, a girl I was travelling with mistook this building for a museum. When she went to the front door a maid informed her that the King was not at home!! Nowadays there are armed guards out the front.

Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
Built 1847, 100 metres long and with a glass roof, said to be the oldest arcade in Europe.

With our hosts Paula and Harry
Red beer at TOON cafe, the home of the famous marionette theatre.

Manneken Pis, the little boy having a pee, the symbol of Brussels
A large crowd was gathered taking his photo.

A chocolate version of Manneken Pis, bigger than the original!
The chocolatier and many Belgian waffle shops were in the immediate vicinity, filling the air with a warm sugary smell.

Manneken Pis at TOON Theatre
Here the famous fellow wears a checkered suit.

Central Market square
The magnificent gilded buildings for the old trade guilds.

Central Market Square, another side of the quadrangle.
Even more elaborately decorated buildings

Neptune?
Courtyard statuary

Harry with the Project's first green house which he painstakingly reassembled.
It all came in pieces like a huge puzzle.

The big newer greenhouse
Sprouting the spring vegetables for use in the Project's restaurant.

Making sustainable use of vacant space between two huge buildings.
Transforming city space into food production.

Contented volunteers
The hens manufacturing fertilizer for the Project's gardens.

Comments

[michelleandkev]

The King's not home!
What a great story and, let's face it, it does look like a museum! I love the garden which makes use of the space. You look to be having a wonderful time. M xx