Last weekend of November is when the Christmas markets start popping up all over Europe and for us a quick getaway to Brussels was in order.
We have barely been in London during the weekend in November as the All blacks northern tour had us jumping around the UK watching them defend their title as the best rugby team. This also meant a lot of booze has been had in November but with Belgium being the home of beer it was unlikely our trip was ever going to be short of alcohol.
We flew in although you can catch a short train trip on the Eurostar but it was waaaay cheaper to fly- just need to make sure we offset all this carbon we have been creating well traveling this year.
We have barely been in London during the weekend in November as the All blacks northern tour had us jumping around the UK watching them defend their title as the best rugby team. This also meant a lot of booze has been had in November but with Belgium being the home of beer it was unlikely our trip was ever going to be short of alcohol.
We flew in although you can catch a short train trip on the Eurostar but it was waaaay cheaper to fly- just need to make sure we offset all this carbon we have been creating well traveling this year.
The bus ride from the airport to our hotel (yes no hostel this week woohoo!) took longer then the short 40 min flight but we were greeted with a brisk but sunny day to explore Brussels. Having explored a few European capitals now we were surprised that Brussels, the home of the EU, had a old slow metro system, little use of bikes and everyone seemed to drive. After catching a rickety metro close to the centre of town we joined the masses of people checking out the Christmas markets. First stop some typical Belgium fare to get us through the afternoon- a large helping of beer battered chips covered in mayo and the most tasty sausage. |
After passing a lot of very big ugly buildings on the bus ride from the airport it was nice to walk amongst some of the old town. In the middle of the Grand Place a huge Xmas tree and nativity set was built complete with live animals. On the hour a light show was choreographed to some lovely music with bright lights dancing around the old buildings surrounding the square.
Wandering around the lanes and Xmas stalls that line the streets we found the ice rink but it was a bit too busy for our liking so we settled for some mulled wine instead. This didn't quite warm me up enough so it was about time for a pit stop at a bar to warm up and try some of the famous Belgium beer. Some friends of ours had just returned from their Europe trip and told us about a pub that had 2004 different beers on the menu so of course we found ourselves heading that way.
Wandering around the lanes and Xmas stalls that line the streets we found the ice rink but it was a bit too busy for our liking so we settled for some mulled wine instead. This didn't quite warm me up enough so it was about time for a pit stop at a bar to warm up and try some of the famous Belgium beer. Some friends of ours had just returned from their Europe trip and told us about a pub that had 2004 different beers on the menu so of course we found ourselves heading that way.
Belgiums like their beer strong. Our first pints each were 8 & 9% and we thought we would just have a taster of one of the 11% radlers to warm us up then be on our way. Turns out the taster came in a half pint glass so was a lot more then a taster. Both our beers were pretty good and we weren't quite ready to leave the toasty and vibrant atmosphere in the pub so Jake ordered another 3 'taster' size beers. from our barrel table we could see out a window into the little lane and observed that for a small street it had a continuous stream of people coming through and taking photos of something on the wall.
Downing the last of our drinks and feeling considerably warmer, at least on the inside, we ventured out to check out what was so interesting on the wall. Turns out it was a small fountain of a girl squatting complete with water squirting- we had a mature giggle, threw in our token 20cents to make a wish and headed back out to the Xmas markets. There was a lovely festive environment on the streets as we followed the streets full of Christmas lights to the main part of the markets. Although there was cute and quirky gifts to be purchases nothing really caught our fancy and we filled up on chocolate and fried apple doughnuts. Having been to the Xmas markets at Hyde park in London last year I was slightly disappointed that there wasn't more of a carnival section with games and rides but by then our tummies had started to grumble. It was time to find a place to taste some of the local cuisine. |
I had googled a few places on our way to Brussels, one of which was hidden away in some back streets away from the Main Street but close to where we were staying. A 20 min walk later down some very quiet streets we found it. We opened the doors to a warm cozy and bustling restaurant. Luckily some people had just left so we didn't wait long for a table. Sticking to the local theme Jake went for mussels and chips and I had a surprise Belgium dish. We were served a fresh loaf of bread with a simple chive dip. Jakes mussels came out pretty quick and for once they were actually of a pretty decent size. The girl on the table next to us also order but she must have ordered the large as a huge portion of mussels was served in what looked like a soup pot. Jake was definitely eyeing her plate up wishing he had gone for the large. My surprise dish ended up being stuffed artichokes rolled in ham and served with a creamy, cheesy mash over the top. This was all accompanied with more beer. |
Feeling the effects of all the rich food and strong beer we headed back to the hotel to call it a day.
Sunday we had a lovely sleep in- our first in what feels like years but more likely has only been a month. After filling up on the all you can eat buffet breakfast we wrapped up in all our layers and stepped out into the freezing day (except Jake was still wearing shorts, the nut). As we walked past all the closed shops Jake commented on how much of a ghost town it seemed. It didn't improve much later in the day either.
We wandered through some of the city parks which were full of runners but with winter apon us and no leaves on the trees there was little else to see. The outside of the royal palace kept in line with grayness of the rest of the city with the golden gates being the most decorative.
Sunday we had a lovely sleep in- our first in what feels like years but more likely has only been a month. After filling up on the all you can eat buffet breakfast we wrapped up in all our layers and stepped out into the freezing day (except Jake was still wearing shorts, the nut). As we walked past all the closed shops Jake commented on how much of a ghost town it seemed. It didn't improve much later in the day either.
We wandered through some of the city parks which were full of runners but with winter apon us and no leaves on the trees there was little else to see. The outside of the royal palace kept in line with grayness of the rest of the city with the golden gates being the most decorative.
We stopped in at Mason Dandoys Tea Room for some lunchtime waffles and I left wishing we had found the place the day before as the waffles here are to die for. If you come here avoid the 1euro waffles they sell on the street and go for the real deal here. They serve two types , Brussels and Lieges. We both went for the Brussels waffle, a lighter fluffier version then the American type you can get at home from the supermarkets. It was drizzled with another of Belgium's famous food- chocolate. It was heavenly.
Escaping the cozy tea room before we indulged some more and ordered another Waffle, we followed the tourist stream to another little statue Manneken Pis or little man of pee. It literally is a little bronze statue of a boy peeing into a fountain and has been around since the 1600's. There are several legends to the statue all pretty much revolving around the boy in some situation saving a war, fire etc by urinating. Quite strange what becomes famous in a city. Apparently sometimes the fountain is hooked up to a keg and you can get Manneken beer from the statue. Not on this occasion though so we settled for another pub and a few pints before we walked off all the goodness of the weekend through some more of the City parks.
Escaping the cozy tea room before we indulged some more and ordered another Waffle, we followed the tourist stream to another little statue Manneken Pis or little man of pee. It literally is a little bronze statue of a boy peeing into a fountain and has been around since the 1600's. There are several legends to the statue all pretty much revolving around the boy in some situation saving a war, fire etc by urinating. Quite strange what becomes famous in a city. Apparently sometimes the fountain is hooked up to a keg and you can get Manneken beer from the statue. Not on this occasion though so we settled for another pub and a few pints before we walked off all the goodness of the weekend through some more of the City parks.
A visit to Brussels is not complete of course with out a trip to the EU Parliament. Being a Sunday, like everywhere else in the city, the EU quarter was closed and eerily quiet. It is made up of some quite impressive buildings and I am sure it would be quite interesting to go do the tour inside.
We continued our walk to the museums housed at the Parc du Cinquantenaire. There is a stunning centre piece arch way that links the u-shaped buildings where several of the cities museums can be found including the royal military museum and the auto museum. By now it was time to head back to catch our bus to the airport so we just admired the architecture and laughed as a bridal party froze taking wedding photos in the parks esplanade.
We continued our walk to the museums housed at the Parc du Cinquantenaire. There is a stunning centre piece arch way that links the u-shaped buildings where several of the cities museums can be found including the royal military museum and the auto museum. By now it was time to head back to catch our bus to the airport so we just admired the architecture and laughed as a bridal party froze taking wedding photos in the parks esplanade.