Tags
architecture, Beer, Belgium, Brussels, churches, drink, entertainment, food, travel
Over Christmas, my sister and I talked a lot about how organizing a holiday around food was a completely reasonable thing to do. I decided to treat my long weekend in Belgium as a test case and I can tell you that, while my cheeks are fuller than they were four days ago, it was an absolutely brilliant time and I can’t wait to eat my way through somewhere else.
We spent two days in Brussels and two days in Ghent. Brussels is a city that reveals itself slowly; I think living there is probably much more fun than visiting – which is saying something, because visiting was great. Above, photos from the Comic Book Museum, a Victor Horta Art Nouveau staircase, Cathedrale de Saint-Michele-et-Gudules, a waffle, the Carillon Brewery and the Delirium Tremens Bar.
snacks & adventure 
Sounds fun!
Belgium is a much maligned place. Which is a shame – because it is a culinary, beery, historical, cycling heaven. Have fun!
Who is it maligned by? I’ve heard people say that Brussels is boring, but I haven’t heard people hating on the whole country…?
‘Maligned’ doesn’t mean ‘hate’ it means to be critical and sadly a lot of people labour under the misapprehension that it’s boring or strange (it’s a stock joke for British comedians/media). I’m glad that your discovering that assessment is really quite unfair!
One of the best trips that I’ve ever been involved with was the Tour of Flanders in 2009 (amateur version). An amazing time. I’d been several times before and many times since.
“hating on” means being dismissive or critical – not actually hating. I think there might be an American-British translation issue there.
Well done on the Tour of Flanders! That sounds incredible, and I wish I had the fortitude to keep doing an athletic event like that year after year.
Thanks! I’ll know the next time I hear that phrase 🙂
Glad you’re both enjoying Europe. Continue to have fun!
Could this be the rocketship from “Tintin”? 🙂
Oh yes. The comic book museum (Centre de la Bande Dessinee, in French) was pretty much my first port of call in Brussels. We also went to the Tintin museum in Louvain la Neuve – the building was amazing and the museum did a pretty great job telling the story of Tintin in social & historical context, but the town (and the museum’s relationship to it) was weird, and kind of creepy. It was so empty!
ps I love your email address.
Got excited seeing the picture on your blog (love the images and attention to detail!). I am quite the “Tintin” and visiting the museum is on my to-do list at some point.
ps. email address corresponds to my old blog.