Brussels
Trip Start
Jul 05, 2008
1
12
25
Trip End
Aug 17, 2008
Brussels,
Belgium
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Tuesday 29/7/08 - Wednesday 30/7/08
Tour: "Board the EUROSTAR TRAIN to Brussels, headquarters of the European Union. Your orientation tour focuses on GRAND'PLACE with its baroque guild houses and famous Manneken Pis. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel."
Our tour guide Nik is Dutch! Married to a Swiss girl, speaking at least Dutch, French, German, English and Italian (and weīre only a few days into the trip)!
First stop was the Eurostar station in London, to go under the Channel and arrive in Brussels.
Brussels held the World Exhibition in 1958, and to celebrate erected a huge "Atomium" with nine aluminium atoms representing the nine provinces of Belgium.
Belgium has a monarchy - King Albert and Queen Paola - and they preside over a country divided between North and South (and you thought Canberra was bad!) - between the Flemish and the French Belgians. Their palaces and other buildings are beautiful though.
We wandered through beautiful arcades, saw beautiful chocolate, and stumbled over cobblestone streets into the Grand Place - which truly is grand. While paying attention to my wallet at all times, I had a great time looking through a lace shop and a beer museum before rejoining the group to view Manneken Pis - Google or Wikipedia it if you have not seen it as I havenīt been able to upload photos for a few entries now.
Although Tin Tin and the Smurfs are natives of Belgium, I couldnīt find much in the way of local merchandise in the City Centre. Unfortunately the tour didnīt really allow for wandering far from the group so I didnīt get a closer look - but maybe next time.
After that quick taste of Belgium, it was an early start next mornong to head to Holland...
