Brussels (pop 992,000, founded 11th century) is a melting pot of cultures. Apart from the age old rivalry between the Dutch based Flemish and French based Walloons, we noticed many Africans (Belgian colony of Congo), Turkish and Lebanese. Belgium is one third the size of Greece (30,000 sq km) with the same population of 10.2 million. Brussels claims that it invented "pomme frites" to go with its mussels and has the best beer and chocolates in the world! It certainly has the grandest plaza we have seen in Europe (first two photos)! The Manneken Pis (third photo) now has a girlfriend! She is called "Jeanneken Pis" and yes, she is also releaving herself (European Union Laws would not allow us to broadcast photos)! Paul and I have been to Brussels before and new sites we saw on this occasion included: the only operating brewery in Brussels (this beer is made the traditional way - open air fermentation), the chocolate musuem (saw how pralines are made, PS: the Belgians have confirmed that white chocolate is not really chocolate but cocoa butter!), the 1857 "Neuhaus" chocolate shop (invented the praline or filled chocolate) and the Cathedral of Sts Michel & Gudule (where the old monarchs are buried and the official parish of the Belgian Royal Family). Total distance travelled so far: 19,058km.
Ahhh Belgium, yes i love that country, beer and chocolate.
ReplyDeleteAtleast let sydney have a taste, Lucky Ducks!
"Chimay Bros" and "Delirium" are the best beers in the world, along with Warsteiner from Deutschland.
ReplyDeleteBut Delirium has the award for best beer on the planet. Very tasty beer, but very expensive! Hope you enjoy the rest of Belgium!
Looks that there has been a change in the weather.
ReplyDeleteAt least it has prevented John fron being half naked as usual!
Lucky for both of you that you are now in sunny Greece.
What would belgium be w/o choc, beer & rain????
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