I must admit that arriving in Brussels Belgium four days after another terrorist attack – this time at a main train station here was a definite reason for concern. These feelings were very much reinforced when our train pulled into Brussels Midi train station. For the first time in our travels around Europe we were met with completely empty station platforms. Alighting the train and the first people we see are heavily armed guards patrolling said platforms. Adventuring further into the station and all we can see are vast empty waiting rooms. It doesn’t take much to guess that we hightail it out of there as quick as we can.
Exiting the station we fire up Google maps and proceed to head towards the old city center of Brussels. We find the streets filthy and compared to other European cities – mainly deserted (although it is a Saturday afternoon). The architecture appears to be grey concrete and glass high-rise. The first high rises we have seen in weeks. While Europe has revealed more than its fair share of homeless – here there appear more. Groups of what look like foreign nationals sit smoking or kicking a soccer ball. Its easy to see why Brussels is considered the main European recruiting region for ISIS.
As can so often happen with travelling your circumstances can change quickly. Arriving at our hotel metres from the Brussels Grand Place we are very surprised to be ushered into a world of opulence and grandeur. I have no idea how it happened but our hotel here is beautiful. A former diplomatic residence we can only settle in and accept its luxuries.
Having few preconceptions of Brussels our main aim in visiting here was to sample the chocolates and try to take a tour to nearby Bruges. With only two nights and three days to do this – we immediately freshen up and hit the cobblestone streets of Brussels old town. We had wanted chocolate and Brussels certainly provides. Shop after shop selling amazing (often handmade) chocolates with enticing over the top window displays. And as austere as the new parts of Brussels are, the old town is spellbinding. Its central square (Grand Place) surrounded by opulent guildhalls, the incredible decorative city hall and the Maison du Roi. Any wonder it’s considered one of the most beautiful places of the world. One can only puzzle (and lament) at the contrast between old and new builds.
Next morning and its up early and after a hearty breakfast its off on a pre-booked tour to Ghent and Bruges. This time we are one of those annoying tour groups found everywhere in Europe! Both places live up to their hype. Ghent, with tourists surprisingly thin on the ground has been described as Europe’s best kept secret. With its fabulous canalside architecture, wealth of quirky bars and some of Belgium’s most fascinating museums – it only going to become more popular.
Bruges the fairy tale medieval Capital and largest city of the province of Western Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Built in a period of great wealth then largely forgotten from the 15th – 19th century, escaping virtually unscathed from both world wars – Bruges today is a major tourist destination. With its picturesque cobbled lanes, meandering canals (on which we motored), medieval architecture and love of the opulent it’s no wonder its full of those annoying tour groups. On an aside – we found being part of a group less annoying than encountering these groups.
Our final evening in Brussels saw us eating cheesy mushroom crepes in the town place as we people watched. We were amused by the number of bucks and their entourage we encountered. Brussels must obviously be the place to come for that final wild night before settling down to marriage.
After another Eurostar breakneck streak under the English Channel we are now back in England. We are settling into English life in our lovely little terrace house. The Thames is not far away and we often find ourselves wondering along it. Yesterday we did some touring in our little hire VW Golf before settling in front of the little BBQ we bought. Next week we begin to tackle the sights of London!
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