A proper Brussels welcome?
Brussels was very easy to get to by train, and Kathy and I used it as a stop-over destination on our way to Paris. We emerged from the train station and our first surprise greeted us from right smack in the middle of the sidewalk. I didn’t realize what it was till I saw a guy with his back to me standing on one side of it (there were four sides). It was a public urinal – in use! I guess they had a problem with people urinating in the streets, and this is how they solved it. I hope this trend doesn’t catch on.
Coming out of the dark
We walked maybe 50 yards to our hotel, dropped everything, and took off to see Atomium before it got to be dark. We didn’t arrive in time to go to the 335 feet to the top where there is a restaurant and panoramic views of the city, but I was impressed nonetheless.
Atomium in Brussels from the World’s Fair 1958
Atomium was built for the World’s Fair in Brussels in 1958, and is actually a model of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. (I have another photo of it as the backdrop in the menu on the left of this page.) Had we arrived earlier, we may not have been around to see our second surprise – that Atomium lights up when darkness falls. There are small lights all along it that look like little stars at night.
The mile-high pit stop
We took the train back to the center of Brussels and went out to have dinner. I hate to be dwell on urination as a theme, but the bathrooms always seem to be upstairs in older European buildings. Do they need the help of gravity to work properly? I think this restaurant in Brussels wins the award for the biggest nose-bleed though. Kathy had to climb 6 flights of stairs that circled the entire dining area below to reach the throne! She said the air was much thinner up there…
The naked clothes horse
Brussels Manneken Pis statue in action
Apparently when you come to Brussels, you must see the Manneken Pis statue. At least this is what everyone we talked to about Brussels is impressed with and was excited for us to see. We were on our way to nowhere, curiosity as our guide, when we turned a corner and voilà! – making him surprise number three. I didn’t see what all the fuss was about…some 2 ft tall statue peeing. (Maybe this encouraged the peeing in the streets they were trying to combat????) And they dress him up like that stupid goose we have in the states with an outfit for every season (my mom has one of these). You can see his 700 or so ensembles on display in the museum, which we thankfully skipped. And there’s even an event schedule posted for him where you can see him in some of these outfits.
He was costume-less, but it had to be 65 degrees so I doubt he was cold. Besides…his little pecker would have retreated like a turtle in its shell if it were too cold, right? I can’t believe Kathy wants a silver charm of this little guy! That reminds me…she made sure to pick up a WC (water closet) plaque to hang up so you’ll know right where to go and don’t end up peeing in HER street when you come to visit.
Saving the best for last
By far the most awe-inspiring moment and the last surprise of our trip also happened quite by accident when we were strolling along in the historic part of town later that evening. We went down this narrow street that opened upon the Grand-Place, a beautifully illuminated town square.
City Hall of Brussels in Grand-Place
It was majestic, really. Easily one of the most picturesque places on this earth – and we had no idea it even existed. Wealthy merchants had homes along this square, and they adorned them with gold.
Guildhalls on Grand-Place Brussels
The Museum of the city of Brussels flanks one side and City Hall the opposite. Cafe tables overlook the square, and a few shops (of course several for Belgian chocolate!) were still open. Everyone it seems gravitates here just to take in the view…especially on such a beautiful night. We spent over an hour just admiring it all. Pictures don’t do it justice – I’ve never seen anything like it.
July 17, 2016
The clock in Brussels
In retrospect, I wish we had spent more time here. I loved it and hope to return in the future. I neglected to mention the surprise clock! It is built into a building that spans the street with figurines set into it. It also chimes! Again, it just appeared out of nowhere…surprise number five.