Timeline: October 30 – November 3, 2015. SFO-PHL-CDG-BRU (VX, AA)Writing this, I did not realize that three years has passed when I went to Belgium, but I remember it like it was yesterday. It left such an impression on me that after a few more travels to Europe since then, I still consider it as my favorite country in Europe. As a matter of fact, since the US did not qualify for the World Cup, (bandwagon alert) I am rooting for Belgium to win the whole thing, even if I was actually in Munich during the first week of the World Cup. (I did buy a Bayern Munchen baseball cap though)Planning for this trip, I asked a pilot that I work with what he thought of my idea of going to his home country. With a smile on his face, he told me all I needed to know and made sure I watched the movie In Bruges, released in 2008, starring Colin Farrell. After seeing the movie, I was sold and grabbed my wife and three of my closest friends/co-workers and told them, ok bitches, were going to Belgium. Brussels and Bruge here we come!
Brussels to me is just amazing, the architecture, the food and the people. I actually saw people who looked like me. It is so diverse that we even managed to stumble upon an Asian grocery store, which was perfect since we rented an apartment/loft right in front of the Galeries Royales Saint Hubert through Airbnb. (home cooked meal in vacation? yes please!) To be honest, pardon my ignorance but I really did not expect Brussels to be diverse! Brussels is busy but not too crazy. It had a good number of tourists but not too many where there were really not many lines to get in to the tourist spots. A capital city which is quirky yet dignified.
WAFFLES+BEER+CHOCOLATES+MUSSELS AND FRIES = MIND BLOWN
Visiting Belgium has helped me with my lifestyle choices. Because of Belgium, I have sworn off Belgian Waffles. Not because it is high in sugar or cholesterol, but I am now a Belgian Waffle snob. I will never ever have a Belgian waffle ever again, unless its in Belgium. Those Belgian Waffles are airy, crisp, and dusted with just the right amount of sugar, unlike those we usually get at breakfast places in the US, which are heavy AF. It makes you wonder what the kind of fucking batter we use to make our waffles. In Belgium, waffles are sold in street corners for a euro or so and often accompanied with beer, no big deal and no open container laws.And yes beer. I am not a wine drinker, nor someone who does cocktails or liquor. I’m just not sophisticated enough for those. If you like beer, Belgium is beer heaven. There are so much beer in Belgium that when a bar tender tried to explain what kind of beer they carry, we just said its okay stop talking, we trust you and keep it coming.
Brussels is the chocolate capital in the world. Chocolate shops are to Belgium where Starbucks is to Seattle. There’s one anywhere you look. Any kind of chocolate, and when I say any, I mean any. Despite the pushy, irritating, and hella annoying vendors hawking their restaurants in your face, you just gotta have to suck it up, be a tourist and try mussels and fries. They serve it piping hot in a bucket/pot for you to engorge yourself like a bubble frog. It’s so good you’ll be sick to your stomach in a good way.
Some of the places we hit in Brussels are the Grand Palace (voted in 2010 as the most beautiful square in the world), Manneken Pis, (a statue of a boy taking a piss) Mini Europe, (miniature version of Europe) the Royal Palace, Brussels Town Hall, Church of our Blessed Lady of Sablon, and a few museums. All beautiful sights that architectural freaks would get excited about. I wanted to sound all cultured and shit and tell you how the mix use of painted glass, and steel exudes the pinnacle of art noveau, blah blah but i’ll leave that to the experts. For the untrained eye like mine, it was spectacular. We even had the time to squeeze in a little gambling on the side, as my friend won 900 euros in one of the slot machines in the Grand Casino Brussels Viage.Bruges, (admittedly touristy) is about an hour ride over from Brussels, through their rail system. On your way over, you get to enjoy the Belgian countryside. No matter how beautiful it is though, it does not prepare you for what awaits you in Bruges.You get off the train to walk towards the center of Brugges and you feel like you have been transported into a page of a coloring book. Red brick houses seamlessly blending with cobblestone roads, quaint streets, old houses, little stone bridges, truly so much to see. I won’t blame you if you get side tracked from looking around and basking in the scenery, as we did as well.The Bruges canal tour is a must-do. (buy tickets at the several landing stages) Reasonably priced, the half-hour ride takes you around the city through the beautiful canals where you can see Bruges in a different lens. Tour guides are informative, entertaining and funny.
Since I was still all into the movie In Bruges, I had to go and make sure we saw the Belfry of Bruges. This video below is not me, but you get the drift.
They were not kidding when they mentioned that the stairs to go up to the tower was narrow. It was a steep, 366 step climb up a spiral staircase, a challenge for someone in good shape and a herculean effort for someone who had one two many cheeseburgers. Once on top, enjoy the view of the whole city, take a few good breaths, cause what goes up…yes must come down. It is the most cardio I have ever done in my entire life.We spent the whole day walking around Brugges to see other places where the movie was shot, and some of the little churches and museums the town had to offer. Little cafes, chocolate and souvenir shops are scattered around the little town that will satisfy your shopping needs.As small as Belgium is, it is one of those countries I would not mind visiting over and over. I wish I was able to go to other cities like Antwerp, Liege and most specially Ghent. There is just so much to see, so many layers to peel and discover. The combination of its spectacular sights, food to please anyone, historical significance, intricate architecture and its warm and diverse people, makes it yes, my favorite European city to visit.
EXIT SEAT BRIEFINGS:
- FRIES WITH MAYO
- Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union
- Beer making in Brussels was added to UNESCO‘s “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” list
- Wanna cook adobo or stir fry in Brussels? head over to Kam Yuen Supermarket
Fly safe and be kind to your flight attendants!
Stewardude 