Weekend
6: September 20th – September 21st 2014
Saturday, September 20th
We
took not the first, but the second train to Brussels at 6:30 this morning. We
were able to see the sun rise on the train ride to Brussels, Belgium. Once we
got to Brussels we hopped on the next little train to get to Bruges, a super
cute medieval town near the coast of northwest Belgium. We stored our backpacks
at the train station and took a bus right into the city center. Once we got to Bruges
(~9:30 in the morning) we walked around the Markt (main square) and realized
that nothing was open until 10AM at least…so
we got some breakfast!
After a nice warm café
au lait (and orange juice for Stuart), we started to wander around the city.
This tiny cute city was really fun to just wander (and get lost multiple
times). The next thing we did was go to the Historium history museum to get some
free wifi and a free map from the tourist office. By then it was time for
chocolate. After that we did some more wandering. As it was Saturday morning,
there were a lot of little flea market type tents selling all sorts of chatchkie,
but we were in search of chocolate. There were chocolate shops all over the
place, but we found a really good one for a nice little treat.
After our
chocolate fix (for the hour) we went to the Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed
(Basilica of the Holy Blood). Legend has it that the relic that is housed in
this Basilica (a vile of old blood) is some of Jesus’ blood. It was carried through
the crusades and every so often it turns from liquid to solid then to liquid
again. Regardless of the legend that is associated with the relic, it was a
very awe inspiring experience. The church was well decorated too!
After the basilica
we went on a boat tour of the canal. People call Bruge the Venice of the North.
It really is too! It was a nice canal ride up and down the town. (Pictures
explain better than words.)
Then, it was time
for lunch. So what did we do…we got some frites!!! (French fries! Which aren’t
really French, they were invented in Belgium! Get your facts straight America!)
Frites are served with mayo here in Europe so I (Stevie) got a curry-mayo sauce
and Rachel and Stuart…well, they got ketchup.
To walk off our
hot delicious frites, we climbed up the bell tower (Belfort or Belfry) in the
main town square. It was 366 steps and had a really neat clock and mechanical bell
ringing system inside.
After that we went
back to the Historium for a small beer tasting (Duvel) and got to see the town
square from above. After the tasting we wandered the town a little bit more,
got some more chocolate (bacon and wasabi flavored chocolates!), got a super
delicious waffle (wafel!) in the Belgian fashion – not the lighter more square
Brussel fashion waffle that we all know as Sunday morning breakfast. These waffles
tasted like crescent dough pressed in an iron with sugar so they were hot,
buttery, and sugary. Of course we had to add whipped cream and more chocolate on
top of our waffle too (no regrets!).
Back to Brussels for
the evening! We got back and ate at some touristic restaurant near the center
square of the town. Not too exciting. But then – we got some more chocolate
(ginger and cinnamon flavors for Stevie and a s’more type chocolate for Stuart).
Sunday, September 21st
We
all got up and went to the Cathedrale des Saints Michel et Gudule (<anyone
know of Saint Gudule?)
to see it and celebrate mass there in French and Dutch. Belgium has three parts
to it, the French speaking part, the Dutch speaking part (like the
Netherlands/Holland), and the German speaking part. Most of the country speaks
French AND Dutch and the news channels are offered in both.
After mass we met
up with a friend of mine (Stevie’s) that I met in Spain. She was in one of my
classes and in a group project with me. Marjolaine was able to show us the city
(it’s not very big, but it is the seat of European Union!!!). Brussels is one
of the most popular conference spots for Europe.
First we walked to
get some breakfast then to St. Catherine’s church. Today was a day without cars
in Brussels so the bus, metro, and trams were all FREE!!! There were a TON of
flea market shack things and mini festivals going on throughout the city.
Outside of St. Catherine’s was a medieval themed little festival thing with
people dressed in their middle aged garb.
After seeing the church
we went into an old market building turned into a bar/exhibition area. Then we
wandered to try and see the Manneken Pis. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds
like. Legend has it that when Brussels was at war (they were in a lot of wars),
a little boy came up to a bomb and peed on it thus saving the city from destruction.
So, there’s a tiny little statue downtown Brussels commemorating the little
boy. This statue has clothes made for it and when he’s done wearing them; the
clothes are put in the city’s main museum on their main square, the Grand
Place. There was an unveiling of his clothing and way too many people to wait
for him to be unveiled, so we left.
We wandered
through the city then got some typical Belgian lunch. Meatballs and fries for
Stuart, beef stew and fries for Stevie. After that we went to Delirium, which
has the 2004 Guinness Book of World Records record for the most beer held there
(2004 types of beer counted in 2004). The beer menu was like a telephone book!
Stuart got a cherry flavored lambic
and Stevie got a mango flavored beer. We’re not beer drinkers, but these beers
were made in Belgium, so it counts!
After that we went
back to Manneken Pis to get a picture, then we walked through a gallery type
mall. We then went to the Museum of Musical Instruments. This building was SO
COOL! The museum was neat because we had an audio guide that played the old instruments
as we walked by them. We only got to be in the museum for an hour as it was
closing, but we saw traditional instruments of the world, instruments of the
west, then an exhibit on Adolphe
Sax (guess what he invented).
After the museum
we walked around by the King’s Palace and saw the festival that was happening near
the big park by the Palace and got a free Belgian apple. We kept walking in
that neighborhood which had a lot of antique stores and old buildings. We made
our way up a hill to see the Palais Justice. The building was huge and had a
great view of the city and the Atomium. Built
for an exhibition, the Atomium replicates the crystalline structure that iron
forms naturally (times 165 billion in size), as the statue is made of iron (stainless
steel).
We made our way
back to the Grand Place after observing a very bizarre beach party happening
outside the Palais Justice. The party was apparently for the birthday of the European
lottery. There was free champagne, bananas, jet skis, sand, and cabanas on
roundabout in front of the justice building. Quite entertaining.
On our way to the
Grand Place we got some more chocolates (as souvenirs and free tasters!) and of
course, another waffle, but this time with ice cream. Marjolaine had to leave
us then, but she was a very good tour guide and showed us all over Brussels!
After that we moseyed over to the train station then made our way home.
Best. Weekend. Yet. J
On the agenda for this coming weekend: Paris (including a comedy show?,
shopping!?, more exploring of different neighborhoods!)
A bientôt! (See ya or talk to you soon!),
Stevie and Stuart
Love the statue posing!
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