Well as we are now being linked to by Marvbloke.com, I thought it time to do another little guide, this time for the capital of Belgium and home of the EU, chocolate and beer – Brussels.
We went to Brussels for Valentines in 2004 and it is a trip I remember fondly as one where we made some major decisions, for it was in a bar on the Grand Place (more on this monumental square later) that my then fiancée and I decided to move back to Manchester!
There are a number of ways to get to Brussels, including budget and non-budgets flights, but I think that the best way is undoubtedly by Eurostar. It’s something a little different (standing in the bar with a beer whilst whizzing through northern France is great), but it is very quick and comfy and takes you closer to the heat of the city than the plane can, especially if you go budget as Charleroi, where Ryanair land, is a completely different place! The train is also relatively cheap and there are often good packages on offer including hotel and 1st class upgrade (which means champagne and a nice meal).
The best time to go for cheap deals, oddly, is the weekend or school holidays. This is because the eurocrats aren’t around and the hotels need the money! Check out these deals at lastminute.com which include travel on Eurostar and accommodation!
So onto 5 tips for what to see, do, eat and drink while you’re in Brussels;
La Grande Place –
The very heart of the city, this cobbled square makes a great place to begin your adventures. There are a number of bars and restaurants around the square, all a little touristy but great places to watch the world go by, while you plan your day. You’ll find that as you wander round town you’ll keep finding yourself back in the square and it makes a great reference point if you get lost!
Moules frites – If you only eat one thing in Belgium make sure its mussels and chips, a great combination which the Belgians do very, very well. The little hill with all the restaurants on between the Galleries Hubert and the Grand Place is a little overawing but the food is good.
And don’t forget to try chips and mayonnaise from one of the friteries on the street, mmmmm gorgeous, it’s the double frying you know!See the sights – Try the open top bus to get a quick intro to what’s what in Brussels and visit the domey thing that you see on all the postcards. And you just know you can’t leave town without seeing the Manakin Pis, that little weeing toddler is an emblem for the whole city!
Beer! – The Belgians feel they invented beer and they do make some mighty fine brews! Stella doesn’t figure and most will have tried Hoegarden at home so try a few Trappiste beers, a gueze (the champagne of the beer world – lovely) or a fruit (girl) beer.
Find a little place up a back street and pick a few from the menu and enjoy. Experiment!Chocolate! – Everyone knows the Belgians know a thing or two about chocolate. Visit one of the Godiva shops and pick a few to munch while you wander round town or hunt out one of then little places where they make the brown stuff on site. Try the chilli chocs and remember to bring me a bar or two back!!
posted by MrB @ 10:04 AM
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