Week 10: Belgium

Belgium: beer, chocolate and waffles. What more could you want?

We stayed in Brussels and took day trips to both Bruges and Antwerp. Brussels left us a little uninspired, our hotel was on the grunge end of the main street that runs from the train station to the city center. After walking past many corner stores and kebab huts we were a little unsure, but found our first treasure in the form of a Belgian beer shop. We got chatting with the very nice shop assistant who recommended and explained a number of different Belgian beer styles including Trappist (brewed by monks in an Abbey), White, and Quadruple fermented beers, and a number of other famous varieties. We left with a hefty nine beers from the unbelievable range, later adding four more. She also told us about the famous Belgian Pub, Delirium, where they have over beers on offer that you can read about  in their menu the size of a magazine!

The following day we explored the city center and once we found the main square we saw what Brussels has to offer: impressive chocolate shops in every direction, so many pubs and waffle stands, and some pretty architecture to boot. The pretty center is quite small and easy to see in a single day. Another highlight of Brussels were the comic book stores scattered around the place; tin tin and the smurfs both having been created in Belgium. The street art was cool, and their most famous statue of a little boy "pissing" into a fountain was paid hommage to in every form - from chocolate fountains to bottle openers. In Brussels we found a great coffee shop (such a relief after the lack of options in Paris), where beans from all over the world were available. We visited three times, each time choosing a different bean: Australia, Kenya and Burundi for Matt (latte), and India, Nicaragua, and Papua New Guinea for Ally (espresso). We voted our favourite to be Burundi: "strong and delicate, complexand fragrant". They also had "the worlds best  coffee beans", but unfortunately we had to leave that one for next time. At 9 euros for an espresso it was a little bit beyond our budget... (the truth is we were running late for a train so we had to pass!)

One of the many beer shops - so much variety!

A few words about Belgian Waffles. They are delicious. While the decadent chocolate and cream covered fruit stacked dessert waffles are an indulgent treat, you are doing Beligum a serious misjustice if you don't try some plain or "naturle" waffles as well. For 1 euro each they're cheap and oh my so tasty - and unlike their decadent alternatives, they don't leave you feeling ill afterwards :p

Oh yeah, and you can get beer with your McDonald's in Belgium ;) (equivalent to any of the coke varieties, at no extra cost!)

Engineering related chocolate is a big thing in Belgium!

So many selections, would have tried so many more if we had the chance!

   

 

We spent a day in Bruges that was graciously filled with sunshine. Bruges is a 45 minute train ride of Brussels and well worth the trip. The roads were small and mostly cobbled, the buildings are colourful and unique with a funky Belgium shape, the people are the friendliest we've met so far - everyone happy to offer help and chat in English. The calm and old-world vibe was encouraged by the horse drawn carts that took tourists around the city, while many locals used bicycles. The chocolate? The greatest. Decorated Easter eggs, giant roosters, hand-decorated chocolates in all varieties, wrenches and spanners and other tools, truffles galore and perfect Belgian seashells. We enjoyed chocolate and seashells while sitting by the river in the sunshine - what a perfect day!

 

      

Our last day in Belgium was spent in Antwerp. In the Dutch speaking Northern city, eveeeeeryone rides bikes. Like Brussels, the city center is easily explored in a day. Unfortunately we didn't quite get a full day in Antwerp, but we were satisfied with what we got to see!

What..? What is this..?!

Nothing in here looked remotely Australian!

Thank you Belgium, for the indulgence. Bruges was wonderful in particular. We are now in Amsterdam, let's hope our experience here isn't as full on as the train ride might have been....