Brussels - Belgium - Travel Story
Written by Dorothy Pan Saturday, 14 January 2012 06:52
Brussels, Belgium, Travel Story
City of History, Culture and Decadence
Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, is a beautiful city immersed in history, culture, and decadence. It has been the epicentre for international politics since the end of WWII, playing host to the European Union headquarters, major EU institutions, as well as NATO headquarters. Unfortunately, when Brussels became the capital city of Belgium in the 19th century the old town was destroyed to make way for new buildings – offices, schools, palaces, ministries, and army barracks. Today, only one magnificent historic square (The Grand Place) and four adjoining streets remain mostly in the original architecture.
In Search of Moules Frites, Chocolate & Beer
We had just 1 day in Brussels, but for the most part 1 day was all we needed. We didn’t have too much time to venture outside of The Grand Place, but seeing this stunning historic centre and the surrounding area gave us more than enough things to do, see, and of course, eat! The first thing on our agenda upon arriving was to look for a restaurant to sit and have lunch. Brussels is known for four gastronomic offerings: waffles, chocolate, moules frites (mussels and fries), and beer. We made it our mission to track down all four of these items in the short time that we had there. On our way to the Grand Place we walked through a narrow street lined with charming little restaurants. This, I thought, would be the perfect place to find a restaurant and stop for some moules frites. I’m happy to say that though the street looked like it was put together specifically for tourists, the food did not disappoint. I had a massive pot of mussels in a white wine sauce with a side of fries and a Kriek (cherry beer).
Though most people think of Germany when they think of great European beer, likely a result of the notoriety associated with Oktoberfest, Belgium has in my opinion the best selection of beers in the world. What's great about Belgian beer is that they have something for to satisfy all pallets. Though they are more well known for their wonderful trappist beers, with over 2,000 varieties available, they also have a number of fruity beers, for example, that will appeal to those with a sweet tooth who typically don't drink beer.
Marvelous Grand Place
After lunch we slowly made our way to The Grand Place, stopping every once in a while to admire the stunning atmosphere. After arriving at the historic square, it was easy to see why it is the single most significant tourist attraction in all of Brussels. Frankly, it could rival to be one of the most significant attractions in the world. I was completely taken aback by the magnificence of the square and its beautifully detailed architecture. We spent the afternoon hopping in and out of various shops and taking photos of the area. There was so much to take in; so many colours and details to capture. Our favourite stores, of course, were the ones specializing in the many beers of Brussels, and delightfully aromatic chocolates that this region is so famous for.
In Search of Mannequin Pis
While wandering down one of the adjoining streets to visit the famous Mannequin Pis (yes, it is literally a statue of a little boy peeing) we were suddenly hit with the wonderfully sweet smell of waffles! We followed our noses and ended up in front of a large Mannequin Pis replica holding his winky in one hand and a waffle in the other. Beside this amusing statue was a small waffle stand where we would eventually buy a waffle drizzled with dark chocolate and sprinkled with fresh strawberries…but not until after dinner of course.
More Great Food...
Another extra large pot of moules frites later, I was officially turned off of mussels, but only for a short while. After dinner we went in search of a bar that was written in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most beers in one place. 2000+ beers and hundreds on tap, the Delirium Café was definitely the coolest bar we had ever visited. Walking in, the first thing we saw was the massive line of taps that ran along the bar. Once we got over the initial shock (and awe) of the immense number of beers on draft, we looked around at the rest of the bar and were further impressed by the overall atmosphere. Seats built out of old beer tanks, tables built out of casks, and walls and ceilings adorned with old enamelled adverts, vintage posters, and whimsical neon walls and ceilings adorned with old enamelled adverts, vintage posters, and whimsical neon 
signs made up the ambience and it could not be more fun. We sat down and ordered a Delirium on tap (one of my travel partner’s favs) and a girly mango beer for me. I have to say, though I’m not particularly fond of beer, I found myself craving this one after I had the first glass. After enjoying our beers in this quirky little bar, we said goodbye to the pink elephants and made our way back to the waffle stand for dessert.
We took our waffle over to The Grand Place to enjoy it in the brilliance of the square at night. It’s beautiful during the day, but when it’s lit up at night it becomes magical. We snapped a few night shots and took in as much of this place as we could before heading back to the hotel to prepare for the end of our amazing trip and our journey home.
