Day 1: Learning the Metric System
The morning started with a train ride from Amsterdam Centraal to Brussels-Midi. Our stomachs were growling, so we took the tram to Wolf: a food hall in the center of the city. I ordered tequeños and arepa de cholo. Jeff and I split salchipapas and I tried some dim sum – all of which was delicious!
Our first attraction was the Cathédrale Des Saints Michel et Gudule. We were amazed by the architecture and beautiful stained glass windows.
We found Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert: a shopping district full of chocolatiers, boutiques, jewelry stores and more! After sampling many Belgian chocolates, we made our way towards the city center.
Delirium Bar welcomed us with open arms. We were served what we call in America a “flight” of beer, but BIGGER! Turns out Brussels serves beer by the METER!
We finally made it to Grand Place: an open square surrounded by the most incredible buildings accented in gold, including City Hall. In awe of the magical place, we took photos and decided to grab a drink and enjoy the view. Le Paon – De Pauw Brasserie had the perfect spot. We ordered liters of beer and made friends with a couple from Illinois who sat next to us.
Next on the list was Manneken-Pis. This world-famous statue of a little boy urinating in the center of Brussels has become a mascot for the city.
Our last stop for the evening was Poechenellekelder, a laid back cafe bar. We enjoyed another Belgian beer and made our way back home for the night.
Day 2: The Atomium and Waffles
First on our list this morning was the Atomium. Shaped like a titanium crystal, it was built in 1958 for the Brussels World Fair. The structure is equipped with information, a restaurant, many viewing decks and laser light shows within each of its spheres!
For lunch we stopped at Nona and shared a salsaccia e peperoni pizza. Bellies full and batteries recharged we shopped until we dropped! I found a few cute clothing items from AZRA, we snagged special gifts from Bubbles At Home, Belgian chocolate treats from La Belgique Gourmande and a few souvenirs from various vendors.
We splurged for dessert at Los Churros & Waffles. Our pick was strawberries, chocolate syrup, whipped cream and Oreo crumble – DELICIOUS!
We made our way to Mont des Arts: a beautiful garden located next to the Royal Palace of Brussels. Golden hour was spent back at Grand Place, which has quickly become our favorite spot.
Day 3: Autoworld
We traveled to the east side of the city today. First on the agenda: Autoworld. We explored the museum full of over 250 European and American vintage automobiles. Jeff was like a kid in a candy store the entire time!
Just outside Autoworld was Parc du Cinquantenaire. People filled the lawn to read, enjoy the sunshine and even put their toes in the fountain.
Back in the city center we stopped at Brussels Grill to quench our thirst with a spritz. More visits to chocolatiers, souvenirs shops and boutiques lead us back to our favorite spot, Grand Place! The gold buildings sparkled under the night sky. It was a great way to end our time in Brussels.
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