Trip Day 35 – Brussels

Brussels is a city which wakes up late, I think this is due to the fact that the sun is not up until 8.30 so by 9.30 when I venture out into the cool, overcast day the shop keepers are still opening there shops. I find a local coffee shop and breakfast is, in true Belgium style, chocolate and almond croissant, kreikflap (cheery pastry) and a coffee. it all works out at about 6 euro which is cheaper the 26 euro at the hotel. I suppose it is because of Brussels and its eu nations standing but there are a lot of Romanian gypsy’s begging on the street, in fact they walk up to you while you are sitting having your coffee and shake there cup in your face, I was talking to a local over a beer and he told me that they can apply for money from the Belgium state and they will get assistance but the catch is once they get settled and have a job they have to pay the money back, all I can say is begging must pay well.

After breakfast I head over to the grand place which is the old market place of Brussels, the buildings are elaborately decorated with gold gilding and stone carvings, it is a large square, next it is off to St Michaels Cathedral, it is a short walk from the square and is an impressive building, it has some of the best wooden carvings I have seen so far, and the stone work is excellent as well, after a busy morning walking around it is nice to sit in such a large peaceful space and listen to the way the sound echoes off the stone pillars and arches.

After the grandeur off the cathedral it is off to find Brussels most well know statue, the manneken pis, which is surrounded by crowds, luckily there is a bar across from the statue so I decide it is time to acquaint myself with some of the fine Belgium beers, after getting a taste for these new brews I can say that the manneken pis had a crowd all after noon. I am finding I have a taste for Kriek beer, very refreshing, but you need to set a steady pace as most of the beers are 8% or higher.

After a nice afternoon of beer tasting and friend making I head out in search of the famous Brussels Moules, or Mussels, armed with the local knowledge of which area had the best mussels it is a short walk to find my meal, The chief mussels that I order are served in a cream sauce with onions and baby prawns with fries on the side, and they are delicious.