Lost in Brussels : December 2012
Tight on budget but still wanting to maximize my opportunity to move around, my boyfriend drove me all the way to the heart of Belgium: Bruxelles (Brussels), home of the greatest beer, fries, waffles, comics and librairies (bookstores).
It wasn’t the best time to sight-see because it was cold and raining. It sucks out all the fun but that didn’t stop us !
After an hour of finding an underground parking, we walked the streets of Brussels. At the sight of Pizza Hut, the first and only Pizza Hut I saw in five months of my stay here in Europe, I need not think. Right away we had our lunch there. So much for missing out on the local cuisine !
Then the search for Central Station was on. It took us another hour to find it since the beautiful country of Belgium does not have enough signs to let you know where you are or where you are going. That explains why I had this post entitled 'Lost in Brussels'.
On our quest to finding the Central Station where a franchise of Starbucks is located, we stopped by at a lot of bookstores. Belgium is home of the famous comics Tintin and to other comic books. That explains the number of bookstores and cartoon-themed walls like this one.
Interesting story, while I was in line at the caisse (cashier) to pay for the postcards I wanted to take home, I heard the woman said “Ça fait cinq euro septante” which astonishes me ! In France, they read 5,70 as cinq euro soixante-dix. It’s the first time I ever heard a person say septante in real life! I’ve only heard about it on our compréhension orale in French classes and now I have first hand experience!
Brussels is also home of the famous Manneken Pis. My boyfriend warned me before hand that this is one of the most disappointing landmarks in Europe because of its size. It is ridiculously small. I prepared myself to what would probably be the most disappointing thing I will see in my life. It wasn’t enough a preparation. It’s even smaller than I expected. Plus you can’t barely notice it since it is located in a small corner of a crowded street. Still, if you’re already in Belgium you still don’t want to miss this. And since you’re already there you might as well just pass by to have the experience !
Replicas are even bigger than the real thing ! LIke this yummy chocolate replica holding a yummy Belgian waffle ! Good enough to eat <3
After what felt like hours and hours of walking and searching, we finally spotted the central station. We stopped by for “coffee" to keep ourselves warm and then headed shortly to the city center.
Darkness descends upon us quite early on winter so at 18h, Christmas lights filled the place. It was magical. Plus we were lucky to catch the lights and sounds presentation at the Grand Place.
One whole day spent well. It was now time to head back, find our parking and more importantly find our way back to France.After this trip, I figured this out:You know you’ve crossed the French-Belgian border and have reached French soil when there is the absence of streetlights and abundance of panneaux (street signs). What Belgium lacks in street signs, they make up for street lights.