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After my stop in The Netherlands, we took the Thalys speedy train to Belgium. It’s really cool to be in another country in just a couple of hours and I was a bit curious about Belgium, one of the founding members of the European Union and homeland of Hergé, author of The Adventures of Tintin. The street art welcomed us with graffiti drawings all around the train station.

We arrived on a weekend and for our surprise the city was almost deserted. Most of the shops were closed.  After the lively Amsterdam, Brussels was a bit disappointing, specially coz it’s the capital. I’ve heard that you actually need to spend more time in the city to discover it’s gems, so I think another visit is pending. Many people live in the outskirts of Brussels and come to the city just for work. I guess that’s why the city looks so empty during weekends.

Overall, it is really impressive that Belgium continues to work like a normal country even without an official government for more than a year. Something like this will never be possible in under development countries.

What I like more about Belgium is the mix of old and new. Many new modern buildings with offices for rent are all across the city. Brussels seems to have a great real estate offer. This shows the contrast with the beautiful churches and classic buildings. Some of them were under renovation.

Going to the center of the city is another experience. There’s a quite and surprising spot, the  Place D’Espagne or Spain Square. A Don Quijote and Sancho Panza statue was there! Ah, they have been chasing my thoughts since Holland lol.

The Grand Place is small but really beautiful. The classic buildings make you feel cozy, and small. I enjoyed spending the time there sitting and watching the huge Town Hall, the Guildhalls and the paintings. The sculptures all around are just amazing. One needs really a lot of time to watch them carefully and discover the stories behind them.

The street ahead is full with waffles and handmade chocolate shops. Of course we tried them. Entering these shops was fantastic. You can find chocolates in all the shapes and colours you can imagine.  The chocolates we brought back home were simply delicious. There was also a small flea market nearby but we could not find many interesting things there.

I was forgetting a small detail. Well that’s because it’s small… The Manneken Pis. There’s really a whole industry behind this little guy. You can find chocolates, key rings, small statues, etc. all around the place. There are also many stories and legends as of why this tiny statue of a kid peeing is so famous. Some say that this boy saved the city by peeing on a burning fuse. Others that he was lost and finally found peeing on a corner. Anyhow, when you actually find his fountain, it’s so small that makes you wonder how this tiny guy can catch so much attention.

And after finishing the antique we went for a dramatic change to the modern Brussels by visiting the Atomium. This huge monument was created on the occasion of a World’s Fair and after that remained as part of the city. The beautiful atomic structure gives a kind of scientific scenery. I love open spaces and so this place was a perfect spot to sit and relax.

There’s something about Brussels, and yes, you need a little time to discover it.