What a GRAND place indeed. This weekend John and I explored none other than Brussels, Belgium. Known for all my favorite things (Chocolate, Waffles, and Fries) we were extremely excited for this trip. We left early on Friday and arrived around 10am. The flight alone was so beautiful, we went over the Swiss alps during sunrise- it was gorgeous.
We had a couple hours before checking into our airbnb so we wandered around the Center getting a feel for the area. We stumbled upon The Grand Place, a square voted to be one of the most beautiful in Europe. It was extravagant, the buildings supported detailed facades composed of statues, gold, and columns. The architecture was so beautiful and unique from anything I’d seen before.
From there we walked around the various shops, stopping for a breakfast of waffles and coffee. We found an indoor shopping mall with the most beautiful ceiling.
The city is at the same time old fashioned and modern, urban but clean. It was almost unreal how clean it is for the amount of tourists they receive. After checking into our airbnb we went back into the city center for more exploring. We found multiple vintage stores that were fun to look through. I love a good second hand find that’s inexpensive, good quality, and not too worn. I found this fun white leather jacket for €15! It checked every box on that list.
We also found the Manneken Pis on the first day. It’s a small statue that is adored by the city, and used as one of their main tourist symbols. Who knew a two foot tall boy peeing could be so iconic! When we found him the next day they had even dressed him up in a formal Belgian outfit.
Later that first day we stopped to eat at The Noodle Bar. We ate some handmade noodles with veggies and chicken. John and I were both glad for a change in flavor from pasta and pizza.
After eating, we saw a bar down the street filled with people testing beer flights. We gave it a try and were delighted with our first Belgian Beer experience. John and I both rated our beers throughout the trip, I’ll include a list of each of our favorites at the end.
Throughout the day we wandered through the city. The streets are definitely not on a grid, and you can walk down the same street from a different direction and see completely new things. I’ve fallen in love with the facades and the buildings. I’m thankful for the perfect weather as well. Clear skies, chilly air, but no clouds or rain in sight.
We were exhausted from waking up at 4am, so we grabbed an early dinner and called it a night. Day one was wonderful, and we fell in love with the city so quickly.
The next morning we woke up refreshed and ready to hit the city again. We contemplated visiting Ghent, but decided we didn’t want three days of travel in a row. I think we both hope to visit Belgium again, and maybe then we can see Ghent and Bruges. Instead, we spent the day shopping and exploring.
On the bus into the center we saw a farmers market and decided to hop off and explore. We found a spot with crepes and I ordered the chocolate with banana, John the chorizo. It was a yummy find. We walked through the market and saw first hand the large variety of cuisines. East African, Korean, Spanish, Mexican, Greek, a Kebab spot, and Indian food all in one corner of the farmers market!
After eating we hopped back on the bus towards the center to shop. Of course, a stop or two later we saw the Royal Palace of Brussels and had get off again. There is a park across the street where the trees are just starting to change colors. It was a gorgeous walk. We also snagged some pictures with the what I think is the capital of Brussels.
Once we got to the center we started our shopping and exploring again. John found two (2!) pairs of shoes, and if you know him you know how picky he can be. We also stopped throughout the day to taste various flights of beer. One of our favorite stops was at the Brussels Beer Project.
That day we meandered all the way from the center to the river. Of course stopping here and there along the way to eat, drink, and shop. After a long day of walking we headed back to the airbnb to kick our feet up before dinner.
We were recommended by our host to walk 500m down the street from the apartment in order to find a lively student scene at night. After struggling to find a place to eat dinner that satisfied both of us, we stumbled upon this place as a last ditch effort: l’improbable. It was not only an extravagant meal, it was delicious. We could not have asked for a better experience. We started with an artichoke appetizer, I had the filet and John the lobster. It was delicious.
On Sunday we woke up and packed our bags to leave. We had a couple more hours in the city center before we had to catch the train back to the airport. We took some more pictures of the sights, had a traditional waffle breakfast, found some french fries, bought some Belgian chocolate for the road and of course stopped at a bar for a last round of beers.
In Brussels many languages are spoken. Most people speak both French and Dutch, but the list does not end there. In general, we found them much more welcoming to English speakers than Italians. The people were friendly and helpful. The buildings were gorgeous, and not just in The Grand Place. Most, if not all, buildings have a tall facade that’s well decorated. It makes for a very picturesque scene. We also found that they had a delightful abundance of cuisines to try.
This weekend was so ridiculously fun. It was wonderful to explore a new place with new people. I hope to come back to Brussels someday to enjoy the food and the beauty of the city. This weekend has been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had and it has made me even more grateful for this semester abroad.
Highlights: facades, welcoming strangers, manneken pis, belgian beer, belgian chocolate(!!!), chilly weather, the waffles, excuse to eat abundance of french fries, thrifty finds, beautiful flights.
Favorite Beers (1st, 2nd, 3rd)
John: Grimberegen Brune, Brugge Triple, La Trappe
Tara: Waterloo, Ramee Blonde, Kwak
Stay tuned! In the coming months I’m taking you with me to London, Budapest, Paris, Munich, and Dublin. Let’s get ~international~
