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Intro
24 Oct, 2009. Brussels is our second trip to Europe after Paris last year. It is quite a small city and you can visit most of the tourist spot in a day or two, suitable for a short weekend break, taking morning train to there and leaving by evening the next day. But, instead of two days, we spent three days there, ended up with quite a lot of free time and visited the same place again and again. Though, I prefer this as we can take our time to walk around, doesn’t need to rush here and there, quite relax in slow phase.
It was a 3D 2N trip to Brussels, everything booked through EuroStar (room & hotel). We depart from London St Pancras at 7.53am (GMT+0) and arrived at 10.56am (GMT+1), the journey took about 2 hours.
Upon arrived, we walk around the station for awhile and bought a map from a shop. The entire trip route is base on that. We didn’t have any route plan at Brussels until we reach here. Reason being, we did some search and found that there isn’t too many places to visit and an ad-hoc “follows the mood” trip would be sufficient, we made up our own Brussels tourist sights and route during the trip itself.
To the hotel
After purchase the city map, we start to walk to our hotel using my hotel map (printed and brought along from London), about 15 – 20 minutes later, we still doesn’t manage to find it. We checked with a local there, oppss, it was my mistake, EuroStar is stopping at Gare Du Midi station but I mistakenly thought it stop at Noord Station, no wonder I can’t find the hotel with that map (I thought I’m at Noord station while I’m actually at Midi station, what a shame mistake).
We then walk back to Midi station, bought our 3 days pass (€9.5 each, total to €19) which has unlimited access to metro, bus, and tram, then take the Metro from Midi to Noord. The station doesn’t seems to have staff working or checking the entrance, although we have the ticket, but it doesn’t seems like a requirement to use it as we sees everyone just walk pass the gate without scanning it. Wifey insist we slot in the card at the machine to be safe, I did it then. Upon arrived at Noord station, it took us awhile to find the exit towards our hotel (Hilton Brussels City Hotel) and 3 minutes to the hotel itself.
Checked in at 1.00pm and let our luggage in the room, never expect the room to be this nice given 2 nights only cost £118.
Day 1
We took the Metro from Noord to Bourse station and started out unplanned trip by first visiting the city centre. Upon exit from the station, about 20 meters away is the Stock Exchange (marked A in the map), the building itself looks nice from outside, we stopped for some photos then continue to the Grand Place (B, 2.40pm) which is about 250 meters from there. The surrounding buildings include Town Hall, City Belgian Brewers Museum, and Museum of Chocolate & Cacao. We didn’t enter into any of that but just enjoying the grand view from outside.
Next, heading towards the Grote Market (C, 2.58pm, ~150m away), on the way, we stopped for the famous waffle (ours with ice-cream & banana) which cost us €4.50, it taste good (be reminded, the waffle we have the next day somewhere else is not nice, be wise to choose which shop to get your waffle). Spent some time around Grote Market then continue to Royal Galleries of St. Hubert (D, 3.06pm). We went into some of the chocolate shop there looking for souvenir but not intend to buy yet, will get it the next day or so.
Towards the left, it’s Boucher Beenhouwers straat (E, 3.30pm), seafood restaurant is all along the street. But I guess this place is targeting tourist as their price tag is somewhat high. Even though we’re aware of this, but we’re just too hungry, we stopped at one of the restaurant and have our late lunch there. It cost us €50 (together with tips) for a plate of starter (shrimp & fries), 2 mains (fish & mussels) and a drinks.
After the meal, we walk to Manneken Pis (F, 4.35pm). Took a few photos shot, we started to feel tire and sleepy as we only have an hour sleep the day earlier. We decided to return to hotel take a short rest and go out again around 7 or 8pm. While on the way to Bourse station, we stopped by at a “human statue” to take photos. OK, as usual, they’ll ask you to give some money, this is expected and alright, but what’s not right is they ask you to pay a fixed amount they want (€2). Wifey helped take the photo for me, it was her turn after that. Here’s where the unexpected things happen, he ask for $$$ again, the paid amount is per person, wow, that’s not any good, while in London, the paid amount is for both person but it’s not the case here. This time I took out €1 but don’t let him see it, drop the coin into the box and left. Learnt a lesson from this Vincent Van Gogh “statue”.
Taking the same Metro from Bourse to Noord and reach hotel around 5.30pm. Take a short nap after wash-up but this short nap has become a super long nap. We slept till the next day morning, wow, that’s a good sleep.
Day 2
We woke up early in the morning and start to plan our proper route for day 2. Took out the map and listing down all the places visited on day 1 and to visit on the rest of the two days, these has become our own Brussels tourist map.
Day 1 (unplanned):
A) Stock Exchange
B) Grand Place
C) Grote Market
D) Royal Galleries of St. Hubert
E) Boucher Beenhouwers straat
F) Manneken Pis
Day 2 (planned):
G) Botanical Garden
H) The Congress Column
I) St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral
J) Palace of the Nation (Parliament)
K) Brussels Park
L) Royal Palace
M) Coudenberg Museum
N) Musical Instrument Museum
O) Church St.-Jacques-sur-Coudenberg
P) Museum of Ancient & Modern Art
Q) The Church of Notre-Damedu Sablon
R) The Law Courts
S) Kunstberg / Mont des Arts
T) Atomium
U) Mini Europe
Day 3 (planned):
V) European Commission
W) Cinquantenaire Park
X) Museum of the Army & Military History
Y) Royal Museum of Art & History, Autoworld, Aviation
Around 8.00am, we started our day 2 journey, this time with a proper Brussels tour route we worked out. Botanical Garden (G) is just a few minutes away from our hotel, we walk there but unfortunately it’s not opened yet as we arrived there too early (8.29am). Although we never go in, but we can see the whole view of the garden from outside as we’re on the hill, the garden located down there.
We then continue to The Congress Column (H, 8.45am), spending some time taking photos then heading towards St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral (I, 9.06am). Again, due to too early, it’s not open for access yet, we stay for awhile out there to take photos with the no obstruction view, there’re only two of us, no one else there, we decided to come here again the next day to enter into the church. Next, we walk to Palace of the Nation (Parliament) (J, 9.32am), then passing through Brussels Park (K, 9.37am) to Royal Palace (L, 9.56am). The next destination suppose to be Coudenberg Museum (M), Musical Instrument Museum (N), Church St.-Jacques-sur-Coudenberg (O, 10.10am), and Museum of Ancient & Modern Art (P). We only enter into the church but not the other 3 museums in the list. Two not opened yet and one having long queue (Ancient & Modern Art Museum). Looking at the long queue and our interest, we decided to skip it.
Continue from the list, it is The Church of Notre-Damedu Sablon (Q, 10.30am) and The Law Courts (R). We take a short view in the church and came out then skip walking towards The Law Court due to we can see it from the church, looks like under maintenance, not nice for photos.
We then walk to Kunstberg / Mont des Arts (S, 10.58am) as planned. I’m glad that I bought the monopod, it has been one of the tool we use most during the trip for taking photos for ourselves. It’s late in the morning and we haven’t had our breakfast yet, both of us feel hungry and start looking for food. We remember a small restaurant with a long queue yesterday, it’s then become our target today, after searching for 10 – 15 minutes, we found it. Had our brunch there which cost us €17.50 for 2 mains and drinks. While searching for the restaurant, we passed by Manneken Pis again, but today it has been put on with fireman costume, there’re lots of firemen around Grand Place as well with the fire truck, not sure what’s the event or day there.
Next in the list for the day is Atomium (T) and Mini Europe (U), it’s quite far away from city centre, has to go by Metro. We checked the Metro map and plan to take Metro from Bourse to Midi, then from Midi to Heysel station. Here’s where the funny thing happen, we took the right line to Midi station but the wrong line to Heysel. During the interchange at Midi (1.23pm), we look at the signboard, it shows Heysel is reachable by Line 6 and 51. After waiting for few minutes, Line 51 reached, we took it and after awhile, it went out over ground, all the next station is stopped doesn’t seems right to us, then we checked the map again, Line 51 doesn’t exist in the Metro map, it’s a tram line, not the Metro line we wanted to get on. Although we’re on the wrong line, but we don’t mind as we know it will reach there, just take longer time, we take this chance to look around the city and the unexplored area.
The tram arrived there around 2pm, it’s the last station of the line, but the station itself doesn’t name “Heysel” it named “Stadion” as there’s a stadium next to it. Atomium and Mini Europe are located on the left of the stadium (a little behind). It takes a few minutes to walk there. The ticket counter and Atomium is separated, we have to queue up for the tickets at another office/room and then another long queue for the entrance. The Atomium tickets cost us €9 each (total to €18) and about half hour queue. We reached top level (~3.00pm) and view almost the whole Brussels from the top level (accessible only by the lift), then take the lift down to the ground floor again and take the elevator to the rest of the level. It’s a bit disappointing as there’s really nothing much to see in there, it doesn’t seems worth the ticket price. Anyway, it’s just one time cost, leave it then.
Next, Mini Europe (~3.49pm), entrance ticket cost us €12.9 each (total to €25.80) and no queue time. We go straight in, walk around and take some photos, left by around 5.53pm. On our view, Mini Europe visit worth much more than Atomium, we should have skip it.
We then take the Metro back to Bourse station, took some photos at Grand Place again, but this time with the night view and lights. Then get our souvenirs and have our dinner (~8.00pm) at Boucher Beenhouwers straat again which cost us €50 (again). This time I’m looking for the fried mussels, but not sure is communication problem (language) or we actually being cheated, before enter the restaurant, I asked whether they have friend mussels, the waiter say yes. But after sitting down and making order, they don’t have it. But we’re too hungry, doesn’t feel like leaving and find another one, so we order something else and had it there.
On the way back, wifey was frighten by a teenage from behind. The kid, in a group keeps laughing and walks off. This is the second time, the first time was yesterday, frighten by the waiter outside the restaurant, these two incidents leave a bad impression towards Brussels people, especially on the same night, while exiting the Metro station using the escalator, there’s another group of youngster about 20 – 30 meters away was teasing wifey, that’s quite far and they still can do so, that’s very uneducated.
Reach hotel around 10.15pm.
Day 3
Continue with the last four destinations on our list. Around 10.55am we arrived at the European Commission (V), this building was built like a “X” shape. We didn’t stay long here and walk to towards the Cinquantenaire Park (W, 11.07am), we spent more time at this park as we’re photographing here and there, playing around. We then reach the Museum of the Army & Military History (X, 11.56am) but it’s closed for maintenance. Walking to the opposite side for Royal Museum of Art & History, Autoworld, & Aviation (Y, 12.01am) and take a peek, don’t think it worth going in as there isn’t really much to see. We then left and back to St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral which we doesn’t manage to go in yesterday. The church is huge and the architecture is so nice. It’s about 1.48pm when we left there, we back to around Grote Market and Grand Place again. This time just walking around the places here and there to kill time, explore few other streets there that we didn’t visit yesterday.
We left and reach City 2 shopping complex around 2.30pm, it’s located nearby our hotel. Spending some time along the shopping street and have a waffle again, then back to hotel to collect our luggage. We took a short rest at hotel lobby then went to Midi station and wait for our train. While waiting, we had some dessert at Haagen-Daz. It’s quite a long wait as our EuroStar train time is 6.59pm and we arrived about 2 hours earlier. After the long wait, finally, we begin our return journey. There goes our 3D 2N trip to Brussels, relax and visited most of the place, but unpleasantly frighten twice and feel cheated on dinner, but overall is OK.
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