Brussels

I am writing this from the Hello Hostel lounge in Brussels surrounded by pretentious posers, oh, I mean other “world travelers.” There was a soccer match on, but it’s over now. This is the only place we can get internet, so,…whatever. Current count: Mullets: 9, Manpris: 4

            This morning, we went back to Kings Cross/St. Pancras to catch the chunnel under the English channel to Belgium. The ride was uneventful, except for me struggling with my luggage, which I started treating like a disorderly baby. There was a brief stop in Calais, so I guess we can technically say we were in France.

            We arrived in Belgium at 12:30. And so began our great Brussels adventure. When we got here, we changed money and bought tickets to Amsterdam (our next big stop). Then, it was time to find our way to our hostel via the metro. Now, Brussels is…confusing. We had gotten used to London, and now we had to deal with not one, but two, foreign languages, and most streets have two names, one in Dutch and one in French, which may or may not appear together, and may or may not appear on a map. So, we were standing by the metro map like two lost little lambs when this wonderful American tourist/angel asked, “Where are you going?” And the heavens opened up, and the Lord said, “Thou shalt reach thou destination.” He had been in Brussels for ten days, and helped us sort out the metro. We got out around Elisabeth Park (by the Basilisk), and then wandered around a bit because, not only are the street names in two languages, but streets that are portrayed as straight on the map are often curvy. We finally found our hostel and checked in. The room, as expected, is small, with a mirror that is hilariously too high for me to see into (again). And Kyle and I are bunk bed buddies! The key is weird, and we have to turn it sometimes 6 times before the door unlocks. The whole place reminds me a lot of dorm life.

            We then start to explore the city, and did pretty well navigating. The streets are much more narrow and winding than London, and practically everywhere is cobblestoned. It is slower moving and dirtier, but “at least they know how to walk,” said Kyle. There is also Tin Tin stuff everywhere, even people wearing Tin Tin shirts.

            As part of our whirlwind tour, we saw the Grand Place and market (incredible, mind-blowing square surrounded by ornate buildings). “This place is insane,” said Kyle. “In a good way.” We also saw the Cathedrale St. Michel (beautiful), outside of which Kyle and I had a real Belgian waffle, as well as the Galeries St. Hubert (a market with many shops selling Belgian specialties like lace and chocolate). Additionally, we found the Manneken-Pis (the original peeing boy statue). For some undetermined reason, there was a guy in a diaper in a wading pool outside of it. Whatever.

            More Brussels sight seeing included: the Notre Dame au Sablon, Parliament, the Palais d’egmont, the Palais de Justice (which was under construction, but has an awesome view of the city, including the Atomium), and the Place Royale and grounds (beautiful). Brussels has a lot of small, pretty parks scattered throughout the city, and lots of alleys you can get lost down.

            We had an early dinner
at L’Auberge des Chapeliers, a French-style café. We ate outside, and had a very accommodating waiter (he actually went to calm a screaming child down the street). I ordered mussels, and Kyle had escargot, which he let me try (“I figured this is the closest we’re getting to France.”). Our drinks were served in mini glass bottles with matching glasses, as per the European way. Kyle got his special escargot tools, and went after those slippery little suckers. When we traded plates, I noticed the snails getting a lot of second glances, and more than that from a group of Japanese tourists. The whole experience was really fantastic.

            So, now we are in the lounge. Tomorrow, more Belgium!