“To travel is to discover that everybody is wrong about other countries.”
~ Aldous Huxley
Before visiting Brussels we never even considered it. Not because we didn’t want to but because it wasn’t among the most famous places to visit. The reason we visited Brussels is that it was in route to Bruges which was in our tour itinerary. For this trip, which included Amsterdam, Bruges, and Paris, we did a guided tour because we took my beautiful mother with us. We thought it would be easier for her to keep up the pace if it were on a guided tour and not independently since we tend to walk a lot, make many stops, and sleep little.
On our way to Bruges, we made a couple of stops in Brussels. Our first stop was at the St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral. Why is it that Catholic churches are always one of the most beautiful structures? It was buzzing with tourists too. This cathedral took about 300 years to complete. It is a beautiful church so full of history.
We also visited the iconic monument of the Atomium. The Atomium was supposed to be a temporary structure. It was built in 1958 for the World Fair of Brussels. It became popular and now is a landmark in the Laeken area of Brussels. I didn’t even know it existed until we arrived.
Here’s a short video courtesy of Thomas and Cengiz aka The Travellers, enjoy!
According to the Atomium’s official website, “It symbolized the democratic will to maintain peace among all the nations, faith in progress, both technical and scientific and, finally, an optimistic vision of the future of a modern, new, super-technological world for a better life for mankind.” I really do like it’s meaning and can see why it captured people’s heart. It is an interesting structure and I’m glad I got to see it. Unfortunately, it was a shortstop – just enough to capture a photo or two – so we missed the opportunity to enjoy an interior tour of the Atomium. But I’m not worried. It just means we have to visit Brussels again.
Another one of Brussel’s iconic landmark’s is the Mannekin Pis Fountain. It is a small bronze sculpture (about 2 ft tall) of a naked boy pissing. Unlike the Atomium, I knew about the famous Mannekin Pis Fountain. However, I expected a big life-size boy fountain, not a 24 inch one. What amazed me more than the fountain was the amount of tourist anxiously waiting to get a photograph of the famous fountain. Well, that includes us too.
The Grand Place is the central square of Brussels where the city town hall, the king’s house, and Museum Van de Stat Brussels are located. It is a popular gathering place in the city, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one can see why. The square is cobblestone and surrounded by magnificent guildhalls, shops, and restaurants. The restaurants have outdoor seating which allows one to enjoy a meal while taking in all the beauty of the majestic buildings. Every now and then one will spot a horse and carriage available for rides. Such a pretty place.
We came across an odd structure on Rue de Sables, right across from the Gaston La Gaffe statue. It was a container standing upright tilted onto one corner. I believe the tour guide mentioned it was commemorating the 60 years of art celebration. We were curious enough to get a snapshot of it and forgot to get a snapshot of the Gaston La Gaffe statue. Here goes another reason to return to Brussels.
Our visit to Brussels was short. But Brussels is, indeed, a beautiful city. And the short tour was just enough to convince us that Brussels is a place worth visiting.
