Brussels will Take Your Breath Away

I am attending a European social work research conference all week in Belgium, but in Leuven, a suburb of Brussels. I’ve never seen Brussels, so I opted to come a little early and just spend one day there. I didn’t do any research into what to do once I got here. I just figured I could look things up after I arrived or it would be obvious.

After a plane ride with an annoying guy in the center seat using both arm rests, leaning his arm against me, and fidgeting the whole ride, I was glad to arrive. I settled briefly into my airbnb and headed out. I realized, sadly that it is Monday and therefore all museums are closed – I’d really wanted to see the museum of musical instruments. It seemed at first that my flat was in a really boring part of town and perhaps there wasn’t much to see or do here afterall. Then I rounded the corner and landed myself in Grand Place.

This creepy building used to be a bakery

This is just wrong

It knocked my socks off.  Unfortunately, photos do it no justice. I’ve seen so many squares, but this one is different. It is grander. Bigger, taller, more ornate. More closed-in in some ways as well. I’m glad I saw this after Krakow and not before it!

I only had this afternoon and evening so opted to do a walking tour and then figured anything I wanted to go back to see, I could. I’m glad I did. Brussels is a beautiful, remarkable city. My guide said that second to one other, Brussels is the most multi-cultural city in the world, in terms of nationalities and languages spoken (Belgium as it is, is a trilingual country: French, Flemmish, German). I suppose you want to know which city was #1. Dubai. But let’s get on with Brussels.

Famous peeing boy

Naturally Belgium is known for its beer, chocolate, and waffles. So many waffle stands with every kind of topping you could possibly imagine. But my guide said that Belgians just eat them plain, a special kind made fresh that has little chunks of crystallized sugar in it and needs no topping. You must get them from a truck where they are made fresh as you order, she said.  Oh. My. God. She is right. This was hands-down the most amazing waffle I’ve ever had, and I ate it plain.

I was tired from traveling and walking and went back to my room after dinner. But I knew I had to head out one last time to see what Grand Place looked like after dark. It was magical, plain and simple. I thought it would be brightly lit, but it was more focused lighting on the main features of the buildings, making them look like super elaborate gingerbread houses. The square itself was completely unlit, but had enough ambient light from the surroundings. It was warm this evening so a lot of people were just enjoying the evening, many simply sitting on the curb. And oddly it was quiet and calm.

There was a beauty to the entirety of this experience that I cannot explain. I must return to Brussels! But for now, I’m often to Leuven where my conference is.