Brussels is dirty, in more than one way…

So our first impression of Brussels was a tired blurrrrrrrrrrrrr. We barely slept Thursday night due to our 6 a.m. flight so we just lollygagged in Brussels until our 7pm train to Bruges. However, arriving back from Bruges Sunday night at 10 pm left us with a terrible second impression of this city.

Looking at a map we realized that we’re probably a 10-15 minute walk from the Nord train station to our hotel. All was going well until we walked straight into the Red Light District. (Who knew Brussels had one! Rick Steves did not mention anything about this.) Women wearing lingerie were just hanging out in storefront windows, smoking a cigarette underneath some red neon lights. It was time to turn around and catch a cab. I wish I snuck a picture in, but it seemed rude.

In the end our hotel wasn’t in this exact neighborhood, but knowing this exists a couple streets down, doesn’t make us feel so safe. Our hotel room is nice and big through. We’ve got pretty skylights and a bathtub for a bubble bath (no shower though).

The old town of Brussels now isn’t so bad. The town square is beautiful with all its gilded architecture. The beer, gaufre (waffles), chocolates, and frites (French fries with mayo) are all great.

gaufre!

chocolate! Godiva man making chocolate covered strawberries!


I think we just miss the quaintness, tranquility of Bruges and its bikes. :(



On a side note:

The mascot of Brussels is Mannequin Pis. It's a little boy peeing! It apparently symbolizes the city's irreverence and love of the good life :) hence a little boy urinating.... The city commisioned it show the joie de vivre of living in Brussels. I mean... idk if life in Brussels is that great, but apparently, happy people eat, drink.... and drink... and then pee. Sometimes he's even dressed up in costumes given to him as gifts from all over the world.

The Magritte Museum:

Brussels likes student discounts. Actually, they like letting art students into museums for free! :) Anyway, this museum was amazing. If you know the work by Rene Magritte of a pipe with the words "This is not a pipe" then you know who this artist is.