Do you like world-class French Fries? What about Waffles? Maybe some mind blowing Chocolate is your thing? How about about large Mussels that are melt-in-your-mouth tender? Would you care to wash all of these down with some of the best Beer on the planet? Oh, and would you like to consume all of these surrounded by the most beautiful Baroque architecture you can find in one place? If you say yes, then meet me in Brussels!
I first decided I wanted to visit Belgium, and specifically Brussels, when I began to read Agatha Christie’s Poirot mysteries. I loved that “little Belgian man with the egg-shaped head”. I already was very fond of waffles and french fries, but the Poirot books moved Belgian up the list of places I wanted to visit! Later, I came to really like beer. OK, I REALLY LOVE good beer and that moved Belgium up the list of places I had to go.
Oh, did I mention Pieter Bruegel the Elder? He has been an artist I’ve loved since I first encountered his paintings as an art history student. And guess what? He’s here too!
So after reading this post you are probably wondering why you are not on a plane to Brussels this very moment. Well, maybe it is because Brussels is also a bit weird. Why you ask? Well, despite the amazing art and architecture, food that is nearly perfect, and some of the best drinks on the planet, they also claim as their most important attraction a statue of a little boy peeing in a fountain. His official title is Mannekin Pis and he has over 700 outfits. BUT, Brussels is also sensitive to equality so around 30 years ago they added a little girl peeing (Jeanneke Pis). Both these little statues are mobbed by tourists to nearly the same degree as the Mona Lisa is in the Louvre.
Anyway, Sarah found us a hotel in the heart of the old part of Brussels and we had a blast. Sarah and I had a short “date” at the famous Delirium bar which is really a city a block. We walked, ate, drank, and took in the beauty of the city. We REALLY want to come back and we hope to do so with some of our beer/foodie friends from Plymouth.
