Getaway in Belgium

 


After having travelled through Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki, I am on my way to the land of good waffles and French fries, Belgium.

I booked my stay for 4 days, from Monday 24th to Friday 27th May 2022.

I took the train at Gare du Nord on Tuesday 24 May at 12. 43 pm and arrived in Brussels at 2. 05 pm.




Day 1


My hotel was located a 37-minute walk from the Brussels-Midi train station. I took the metro to Madou station located about 5 min walk from the hotel (there were 8 stations).

After I checked in and put my things in my room, I headed towards the city centre.
I started with the Column and the Congress Square located just 5 minutes from the hotel.
A little further on was the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula.







Then I looked for the famous Manneken Pis and his two companions Jeanneke Pis (the sister) and Zinneke Pis (the dog), less known but deserving to be mentioned and photographed.





JI then went to rue Charles Buls which gave access to the famous Grand Place, a very beautiful place with its beautiful buildings.





On Charles Buls Street, I stopped by Maison Dandoy to have a waffle and a green tea with matcha. The waffle, accompanied by a whipped cream, was really delicious. The tea was also good but so hot that I burned my tongue drinking it.
For the record, Maison Dandoy is famous for its waffles. Founded in 1829, it is the oldest biscuit factory in Brussels.


Not far from there are the Galeries Royales St-Hubert where you can also taste waffles because the mother house of Maison Dandoy is located there. Various boutiques but also theatres are set up in these galleries consisting of the Queen’s Gallery, the King’s Gallery and the Princes' Gallery.





I continued my walk to the Horta Gallery with various exhibitions and then the Spanish Place just across the street.






I ended my day with a cone of fries at the Café Georgette, which is supposed to serve the best Belgian fries, but I was disappointed. I think it wasn’t the real coffee shop because it was kind of French fries house and the people who served the french fries were not Belgian. I haven’t found the true taste of good Belgian fries at all. Nevertheless, the portions were very generous.



Day 2


On the second day, I went for a walk in the Jardin de Bruxelles and then I went for a tour of the Belgian Comic Strip Centre, a very interesting visit for all comic strip lovers or for those who want to learn more about this universe.





















After this visit, I went to the Mont des Arts and then to the Place Royale, not far from where the Museum of Musical Instruments is located.




I then took a train ticket to Bruges where I spent the rest of the day.
I thought the Grand-Place was pretty, but I didn’t get any more enthusiastic than that.



















On my way back to Brussels, I stumbled upon the shooting of an old movie not far from my hotel.






Day 3


For my last full day in Belgium, I took a ticket to Ghent which I really enjoyed.
The city centre was about a 30-minute walk from Ghent-Saint-Pierre Station.




The main spots that I saw were: the Post Office 1898, the Belfry, the Church of Saint-Nicholas, the Town Hall, the Cathedral of Saint-Bavon, the Castle of the Counts, the Castle of Gérard the Devil and the House of the Back Sickle.













I also walked down the graffiti street where I was able to admire the work of a graffiti artist in action.



I searched, with quite a few difficulties but successfully, for the Manneken Pis of Ghent called Nestor and its sisters Luna and Lena.



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