After my previous post As we travel to Brussels, Belgium, some of my friends and well wishers got a bit worried about my traveling at this time. When all minds were preoccupied with Coronavirus. What Next?, how was I managing to be cool and keeping ourselves safe . I had to assure them that I was safe and sound at home and that this trip was prior to the pandemic that we all are currently fighting together. It was our earlier holiday in Brussels.

With a lot of us probably home quarantined either due to regulations or choice, it’s the time to wish collectively for a normal world soon and self regulate ourselves by social distancing, following all precautions and government directives. And keep washing our hands repeatedly.

Time also to catch up on doing things that we have always wanted to, but did not find the time for. And look back at the good times. Like this holiday of ours in Brussels, living at home and having fun of a different kind.

Our first day here was a completely relaxing day after reaching here in the morning from Prague to stay with my wife’s brother and his wife for a few days. Since we all slept very late after a lovely home cooked dinner and a night stroll around the neighborhood, we took it a little cool this morning. More relaxation, good coffee, nice shower, a great breakfast later, we are now ready to set out. To experience the city of Brussels.

A little about the city

Brussels, the capital of Belgium grew from a small rural settlement on the river Senne to become an important city in Europe. Since the end of the Second World War, it has been a major center for international politics and home to numerous international organizations, politicians, diplomats and civil servants. Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union, as it hosts a number of principal EU institutions.

As the economic capital of Belgium and one of the top financial centers of Western Europe, it is classified as an Alpha global city. Brussels is also a hub for rail, road and air traffic, sometimes earning the name “Crossroads of Europe”. The Brussels Metro, the only rapid transit system in Belgium, along with buses and trams provide easy means to move around in the city.

Let’s go around

We first took a bus from Eburonenstraat and then tram 7 to reach our first destination, Atomium. You could also avail the line 6 of the metro and get down at the last stop. From there it is just a short walk away.

The Atomium was designed by a Belgian engineer André Waterkeyn and built in 1958 for the Brussels World’s Fair. The Atomium Bruxelles is the only structure left standing after the event ended. World’s fair (or World Expo) is an international event which began as a technology exhibition and later progressed towards national propagation. The Atomium represents a single unit of iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. There are 9 spheres representing atoms which are connected by tubes with escalators and lifts. Each sphere is about the size of a large apartment.

The entry fee is Euro 12 for adults and tickets can also be booked online. Not all Atomium spheres though can be visited. The three outer spheres that are below the top one cannot be. The rest of the spheres contain various attractions and can be accessed by escalators. In the top sphere there is a restaurant with panoramic view. Using the telescopes that are in the top sphere you can see all the way to the city of Antwerps and even see its cathedral and port. This Atomium restaurant is reachable by an elevator from the bottom of the structure.

Other attractions around is Bruparck, the Mini-Europe theme park with miniatures of European buildings, subtropical water park, cinemas and restaurants. There is also the Chinese Pavilion and Japanese Tower, which makes the Heysel area a complete day trip in itself.

Brussels City Center

Let’s now move towards the city center where most of the action lies. Brussels is known for its historical and architectural landmarks; some of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Due to its long tradition of Belgian comics, Brussels is also hailed as a capital of the comic strip. And who does not love Tintin. Come let’s buy a few mementos.

We are now in the heart of town at Grand Place. The Grand Place or Grote Market is the central square of Brussels, the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels. It is also considered as one of the most beautiful squares in Europe and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. It is surrounded by opulent guildhalls and two larger edifices, the city’s Town Hall and the King’s House or Breadhouse building containing the Brussels City Museum. The square measures 223 by 361 ft. Let’s go around.

Manneken Pis is a landmark 61 cm bronze fountain sculpture in the centre of Brussels, depicting a naked little boy urinating into the fountain’s basin. It was designed by Jerome Duquesnoy the Elder and put in place in 1618 or 1619. The current statue is a replica which dates from 1965.

Maison Dandoy is a well known outlet for Belgian Waffles, a specialty of Belgium. So it was time for us to try out different varieties. We had to wait for some time to place our order, as the queue was quite long. But were lucky to manage a table outside and four chairs as soon as they served us. Mouthwatering delicacy you cannot afford to miss while in Brussels.

The Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries are an ensemble of glazed shopping arcades designed and built by architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaer between 1846 and 1847. They precede other famous 19th-century European shopping arcades such as the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan (Italy) and The Passage in St Petersburg (Russia). Like them, they have twin regular facades with glazed arched shopfronts separated by pilasters and two upper floors, all in an Italianate Cinquecento style, under an arched glass-paned roof with a delicate cast-iron framework. A lovely place to spend some time shopping the best brands.

Belgian Chocolates

‘We must now visit the chocolate shops’, I told Shu my sister-in-law. ‘Of course Jiju. Come let’s go and take your pick’, she replied. And we got going.

Belgian chocolate industry is an important part of the Belgium’s economy and culture since early nineteenth century. Although the raw materials used in chocolate production do not originate in Belgium; most cocoa is produced in Africa, Central America, and South America. Nonetheless, the country has an association with the product since the early 17th century. The industry expanded massively in the 19th century, gaining an international reputation and together with the Swiss, became one of the most important producers in Europe. And they are very nice and with a variety that made us indulge. Time to pay and move out before we get distracted again.

We watched the raindrops and enjoyed the cool breeze till the rains stopped. And then we started planning for the evening. Where should we head for dinner?

Brussels. A city known for its cuisine and gastronomy. But the prospect of a second consecutive night with wonderful home cooked Indian food for dinner, tilted the balance. We were happy to head back home. For your holiday in Brussels also check out this wonderful 2 days in Brussels guide to ensure you have a wonderful time exploring the city. And if you plan to be in Belgium for a while, here are the top things to do in Belgium + travel tips.

You would love Brussels for sure. PIN it for a  visit later