If this is Belgium, there must be chocolate

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Brussels is the next stop after Amsterdam. The one sunny day, I was able to wander around the area of the Grand Place, the main historic square. (translation:tourist area) Just happened upon an empty seat at a crowded outdoor cafe, so I ordered one of their versions of the specialty. I received a warm Belgium waffle topped with a scoop of the sweetest vanilla ice cream, sliced strawberries and chocolate sauce drizzled all over. The weather was warm enough that instead of a cup of hot filtered coffee, I sipped a tall iced coffee, and sat facing the sunshine. Can you visualize that? It wasn't until after my waffle was half eaten that I thought about a photo! In fact I didn't think of the camera, until I noticed several people were approaching the guy sitting across from me, asking for an autograph and a photo with him. The chef came out of a nearby restaurant for the opportunity to pose with this guy. A little British couple finally leaned over and asked him if he was famous! He politely said may be, and they got a photo with an autograph. When they were leaving I asked them who he was, and the three of us still don't know who he is. Is there a show in the states called 'Prison Break'? He is the director or something. Anyway the British couple was fun to talk with, they had taken the Eurostar over for the day, and were as excited to be a tourist as I am!

The following day the weather took an abrupt change, into fog and falling temperatures, so we bundled up for our walk between the Upper and Lower Towns with our guide Daniel. He is a 'local' living his life here, a gentleman, whose first language is French. Among other things interesting about the city is that there are two official languages, French and Dutch, or Flemish. Street signs, traffic and public notices, newspapers, tv channels, all in at least these two languages.

Besides being the capital of Belgium, Brussels is also the European Union's host city. I assume y'all know all about it, but I must admit I wasn't sure I did. The EU is a political and economic partnership consisting of 27 independent sovereign countries, of which Poland is one. If you have been following our blog on life in Krakow, you might know that Keith's passport book was was stamped full, and in need of more pages. Since the establishment of the EU, fewer countries require border control to actually stamp the passports, so I have mostly Polish stamps. But he has traveled more over the last few years, and has a variety of countries' stamps. And Poland still uses their own currency, which I can't correctly type in on this keyboard because it is not in the Polish alphabet. In another couple of years they will convert to the Euro like 15 other countries in the European Union.

Brussels was originally a fortress founded a thousand years ago, on the banks of a river which is now bricked over! The subway travels where the river used to flow. We took the Metro to the Upper Town. Here it's not the medieval atmosphere of the Grand Place, but more business-like, with big granite buildings and landscaped city parks. People up here walk in a hurry, instead of the strolling pace, down by the squares. In the Hall of Justice, we stepped into the huge gathering lobby where the lawyers meet with their prospective clients, they were there in their black robes and white neck ties. Built by King Leopold II at the end of the 1800's, the dome is a jaw dropping 340 feet high! Supposedly the architect went crazy, while designing it.


In the area of the Grand Place, is Saint-Hubert Gallery an arcade from 1847. This was the begining of the shopping malls. Was built for the upper class to have a place to shop, dine and attend theatre. French writer Victor Hugo stayed in this neighborhood for a short time, Les Miserables was published here in 1862. A lover of his lived in the apartments above the arcade. So as Daniel tells it, Hugo's loves were here in Brussels. I love hearing the way guides tell stories! And the gallery still has great window shopping.

We went to the Leonardo da Vinci expo at the Basilica of Koekelberg. Built to scale models of his inventions were exhibited, along with reproductions of mauscripts, and videos of regions he lived in. Details of his famous works were displayed. We enjoyed seeing the video of Milan, it had been our first trip after arriving here in Poland. The Basilica is a huge structure, sitting way up on a hill, but all we could see from there was fog.

Our first night in town we stayed at a little place that proved to be too little. While Keith was at work the next day, I moved us across the square to another hotel. I've become a hotel 'critic', and have decided I would rather have a nice public area, and while in our room, another place to sit than just the bed.

Brussels has the cosmopolitan atmosphere, with great little shops, and cafes. And also comes with warnings about pick-pockets, and the 'gypsy' women with babies who beg and possibly pick your pocket. Daniel tells us that the city has outlawed them from carrying their babies in shawls. In some cases the 'babies' were really hiding places for their hands. I want to comment on that practice, as we see it most places. But I don't want to seem harsh. I have to imagine their motivation for exploiting the compassion of strangers towards their children. He also talks about the growth of the city, now with only ten percent original citizens. Along our route there was a lot of scaffolding, and road detours, and because of the freezing cold we would like to give it another visit.

We look forward to spring in Europe. Most of what we've experienced so far has come with cold dreary skies, we are crazy about the clear sunny days when we get them.
These old European cities will be spectacular in warmer seasons.

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Photos

restaurant row
We snacked on 'french fries', but ate no mussels in Brussels

rabbit and pheasant
the restaurants along Rue des Bouchers have beautiful displays of their foods, but I'm not sure what is in the blue spray bottle, [i]just now noticed it[/i]

ceiling in the Palace of Justice
top of the dome is 340 feet up

stained glass
14th century Sablon church

Basilica of Koekelberg
construction began in 1905 and completed 1971, interrupted for WWI and funding delays

we must have just missed the Manneken Pis dressed as Elvis
this is a plastic Manneken at the gift shop across from the real fountain. He gets dressed for different occasions. The schedule is below him

Elvis Presley day
for the little peeing fountain to be dressed up like the King, in honor of his birthday. We saw him nekkid

street corner of Manneken-Pis
fountain from 1619. Watching people here was pretty entertaining. Some 'creative' photos were taken..The little fountain is in the corner at the right

Statue of Mayor and his dog
a batchelor, his companion was his dog

Keith seated at the restaurant
the night before cold weather returns, we ate outside, under a heater. The next night at a recommended place where you enter through the kitchen

Town Hall spire in the fog

Place D'Espagne
viewed from our first room (actually sitting on the bed), this is just off the Grand Place. These children were swarming all over the Mayor's statue!

the Moon Hotel
our first choice, but see the steps inside the door? Those lead straight up to the tiny room.

Comments

[Peter Smith]

I Just remembered..........
I just recalled that the name for the inclined tram in Heidelberg was the bergbahn(or should that be a "u" instead of an "e",) I always have trouble with that.I think a view od the memorial cemetary at Normandy from WWII would certainly be a worthwhile trip. I saw a film on channel 10, PBS re barging through France on the back canals and rivers. It was fascinating. The people rode a barge with a boat behind it. of (they lived in the barge but drove the boat) Very quaint and charming with all the people they met on their travels. They went through the bourdeaux region, drank LOTS of wine, through Paris(I think they may have started there, I forget now)They ended up going into a main German seaport fdrom the river they were on. I'm thinking it was the Seine and tributaries thereof. I take the tape out every few years and let it take me back to a really great place and time in my life. Ya'll take care, enjoy yourselves, travel a lot, and keep healthy. Peter

[Lib Sheets]

from your mother
Just so you know I have read "PART" of your blog. I did not know you could write so well!!! I am happy that your and Keith are getting to see so much of the world. It is amazing to see how beautiful the rest of the world is. Go to go. Love you both,Mother

[Denise]

just surfing . . .
Hi, I'm just surfing the net. Planning a trip including Belgium for 2009. Enjoyed your commentary and pictures. Wish I was going sooner. Thanks. Denise