CHRISTMAS IN BRUSSELS

by YouShouldGoHere
April 2, 2016
in Drink Here, Eat Here, Go Here
0

[BRUSSELS] — Trying to do a Mileage Run at the end of the year to top off the tanks, I found a cheap flight to Brussels, perfectly timed between Christmas and New Years, back by the end of the year.

The sad terrorist attacks had just occurred and I wanted to show my support but not letting those acts change our world. Plus, my hunch was right that the airfares and upgrades would be cheap with a lot of cancellations. I left on Christmas Day, went to Brussels, a day trip to Antwerp at some of my Instagram followers on-the-ground suggestions, then shot over to Prague for a couple of days.

After all these years going to Europe, I’d never gone to either country, so I was excited. And I was ready to eat. And drink some nice beer. Not much of a story here, mostly just a slide show, so click on the pics bellow and you can get a feel for Belgium at Christmas time.

: Have been in Brussels for 11 minutes now. So far, so good…

: The queen jewels of Brussels is its incredible Grand Place, one of the prettiest town squares in Europe.

: The queen jewels of Brussels is its incredible Grand Place, one of the prettiest town squares in Europe.

: Take a walk up the hill to Sablon, a cool area with cafes, bars and shops.

: This statue looks like one of those street perfotmers imitating a statue.

: Having a fresh Leffe in the Cafe Leffe. That’s kinda like driving a Park Avenue down Park Avenue.

: Moon. Light.

: At Christmas, Brussels blows it all out, with one of the coolest light displays I’ve ever seen. A million colored LEDs choreographed to a delightful classical contract. People come, stop in awe and stare with their mouths open.

: Map store humor.

: Stairs are cool. I could stare at stairs all day. (Unless they were boring stairs; then I’d just worry about who has to clean them.) Delete Comment

: There’s a reason this little place is crowded and people wait an hour out in the cold. Best meal I had in Belgium. Hot tub-worthy Carbonnade, killer beer list and super friendly owners. Not sure about you, but eating out alone whilst traveling solo can suck. Especially at small popular places, where understandably, nobody wants to waste a Table for One, when it could be two. The sweet and helpful woman who owns it did the most gracious thing. Despite only 20 seats and crowds on wait, when my turn came up they sat me at a four-top by the window — best seat in the house — even though four people came in right behind me and had to wait. I protested that I’d wait for a smaller table or crawl up in the corner, or take an end table by the door. “Oh nonono, it is cold there, people never shut the door enough. Thees is better.” I insisted. “Okay, maybe if I find someone sympathique, I sit them here. Which saison would you prefer?” Eventually came along a delightful, beer-loving Dutch couple and we shared stories. There is a Santa Claus. Her name is Cecile.