If I had to choose one word to describe Brussels it would be rich – rich diversity, rich chocolate, rich ornamentation, rich architecture!
Architecture Highlights:
- La Maison Autrique, designed by Victor Horta in 1893 - touchstone of Art Nouveau
- Église Sainte-Marie, Byzantine-style church down the street from our hostel
- La Grand Place (central square of Brussels), City Hall, Guildhalls, and the Broodhuis/ Maison du roi (King’s House)
- Passage du Nord, a covered shopping side street
- Basilique Nationale du Sacré-Cœur, the largest building in Art Deco style in the world, absolutely gorgeous detailing and materials
- Atomium, the main pavilion and icon of the World Fair of Brussels in 1958
- Triumphal Arch, planned for the 1880 world exhibition to commemorate Belgium’s 50th anniversary of independence
Memorable Moments:
- Sharing 6 candy bars between my friends and “taste testing” the different flavors
- Sketching on the curb at Grand Palais for two hours, listening to the concert’s music and being surrounded by all the people, activity, and joy of the square
- A procession of men in formal military attire parading through the Grand Place
- Going to dinner with my friend’s aunt and uncle followed by a glass of Delerium Tremens: the 2011 World’s Best Beer
- Just after waking up, my friend saying from her bed “Guys, today we feast like Kings.”
- Extremely hungry walking to the center of town : Me - “The detailing on these buildings looks like waffles.” My friend - “All these building look like waffles!”
- Getting to the airport an hour and a half early for us not be able to find the correct bus terminal (Note: Buses do not always pick you up from where you are dropped off). Fortunately, catching the eye of the bus driver by waving our tickets in the air as he pulled down the street.
