BRU 🇧🇪🍻🍟

Jul 17, 2014
5 min read

I flew into Brussels early, too early. From Brussels took a cab that should've been a train because check-in was so ridiculously late. Didn't they know the previous night I was up all night laughing between joints & stuffing my face with bun cha gio and pho in Amsterdam in very good company? I was ready for a kip, but I roamed around the city anyway. I walked in circles, but the good kind. The ones that characterize European cities. Not as concentric as Moscow, but curved, narrow streets and irregular adjacent streets. The main attraction, of course, was the city square. The buildings were more beautifully designed than anywhere I have ever been. I have not been to every great city that ever was and will be. However, I think it is safe to say Bruxelles' (both French and Dutch are spoken, so you'll see it spelled Bruxelles & Brussels.) city square also known as the Grand Place has got to be the most beautiful city square hands down. It did so much for me aesthetically.

The Grand Place ✨☀️

The intricate designs were centuries old but had been a golden yellow eggshell white. I'm not sure if it was the sun kissing these buildings or their natural hue. Below is Town Hall's highest point at 315 ft./96 m. It is a beautiful Gothic styled building. It's located in the Grand Place amidst the buildings photographed here, above.

Town Hall's highest point 😎

It isn't the highest point in Bruxelles. It is the Tour du Midi (it's Dutch name is Zuidertoren) with it's highest point at 486 ft./148 m. Translated it means "South Tower." Not photographed in this post because it is a modern building, much less interesting, and much less old.

I loved that medieval feel of the streets: narrow, small, curved & cobblestoned.

In addition to the beautiful architecture of The Grand Place, the churches were beautiful as well. They were so old that I was fake afraid to run my fingers along the pews, let alone the walls adorned with ancient art. Some churches worth noting are the Église Sainte-Catherine (50 Place Sainte-Catherine) Another church I read about was the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. I hesitated going & heading straight to lunch, but I love a great ol' church with gorgeous high ceilings and/or stained glass. I picked up a waffle from a very European food truck & headed that way.

The Cathedral did not disappoint. Of course, it was a huge tourist attraction & you guys know I hate the clutter, but beautiful it was. High vault ceilings, old gothic statues and religious symbols, and my favorite: the stained glass windows.

The place was swarmed with people. While I was in a happy touristy-like state, I decided to head to check out the giant atom a woman I spoke to told me about. I hopped on the 5, and then the 6 (if it wasn't so easy I would've headed straight to the bar & given up.) Its official name is the Atomium. It was built ages ago. Apparently for the World Fair, when it arrived in Brussels. Pretty sick, huh?

Science + Art meet up for this piece.

I headed back towards the apartahotel for a kip (a nap). I was starving when I woke up and as of late, I was "feeling Frenchy." I ducked (no pun intended 🤣) into a place I chose for the decor. The handwritten menu, the prefixed lunch menu (30€), dark wallpaper, colanders & a disco ball hanging low, purple Gypsy table feeling tablecloths. Les Connes was located at 6 Rue des Teinturiers, 1000. I ordered had some sort of prawn appetizer a duck confit as my main dish. Both were very lovely. Very delicious. In addition to having great wine and food, the owners spoke with us about our dishes. I thought that was very intricate, something they did not need to do. It was an authentic & amazing vibe thy were giving in that large square. Fine food & cold beers, (myyyyy faveeeee) people laughing and the sun shining 😎. I think large squares are a pivotal European experience. I believe the old world valued the idea of centering a community... a place where people could gather, interact with each other, and EDIT!!!Ok, take Rockville Centre for example. RVC is full of cute little streets, places where people could hang out & say what they liked. I you're from anywhere I'm from... you know how it happens. It's a Christmas tree lighting or something along the lines. The next day was characterized by an intense day trip to Bruges... I wanted mussels. To be specific moules frites. A dish very popular in Belgium. My mother always told me when I was growing up "one day you're palate will change. You'll see" Like most other things, she was right. 19 proved mussels, 20 proved onions (love ya Molly) whole as well as almonds, 21 proved red wine.

I like to dip the fries in the broth until all the mussles were gone, and then pour the rest over my fries and eat them with a fork. If there is any bread or crostini, chances are I saved some broth for that too. 😜

The yellow tool on the side is some time given, if its not you can use a partially opend mussle shell.

I usually steer clear of tourist attractions. They are usually packed, and over priced for a waitstaff that is rushed, short, and rude. In the residential neighborhood of Ixelles, a hotel goer, informed me of this gem of a restaurant. He pointed me and my date(don't be so surprised) in the right direction. Le Chou de Bruxelles had 20 different broths for your mussels to bathe in. I chose the saffron, white wine, garlic, and butter option. I ordered a bottle of pricey Sauvignon Blanc though our waiter tried to pair my dish with some 9% Moscato 😒. Hands down the best meal I had recently. I managed to remember to take a photo of the popular meal at a spot I hit right before the departure flight back to Amsterdam. Walking pass what I called Embassy Block. There was the French, the German, a Spanish one. The kicker: you have to cross the street, sorry 4 lane highway to walk past the American Embassy. Nothing rude and hostile about Americans at all right?😂😂😂 Day 2 brought along a quick breakfast with an adorable Dutchman named something my American English wouldn't allow me to pronounce. But you bet I can pronounce stroopwafel though! 😍. Stroopwafel is only the best thing to pair with your morning cuppa or coffee.

A thin layer of caramel in between two thin waffle cookie. A must have when in any Dutch city. The beautiful blonde informed me of the René Mageitte museum & I almost died. Of course! Just like Van Gough had blessed me from beyond the grave in his Amsterdam Museum;

Magritte was native to Belgium, of course there was a museum. I nearly knocked over the table standing up demanding we head in that direction immediately. Sitting down, I sipped my cappuccino & chilled out. I had realized what time it was haha 😜. A couple of hours later, I was in love. The museum was spectacular. A proper homage to the greatest surrealist to have ever lived.

Like all other museums I've been too... people love taking photos with the paintings or photos. 🤔. I never understood it. The art itself is what the artist intended, I don't believe that's what they had in mind for their pieces: big heads in the way of a masterpiece. My rant is now over, but still.

Check these out...

The Lovers, 1928.

I love how strange his art is. How it may make sense or not at all to you. The second photo is hands down one of my favorite paintings in the whole. Wide. World. What does it say to you? To me... it says look at these lovers.... Shrouded in guilt, or love, or fame, or shame. However the love each other nonetheless as far as lovers go.

Au Revoir 💘