Brussels, Belgium

Welcome to Brussels, Belgium!
Bienvenu à Bruxelles, la Belgique

The building in the background is National Basilica van Koekelberg
It is the fifth largest church in the world.

Just down the street from our hotel

Palais du Roi

 Beautiful statues located in the park across from the Peoples
 Palace

Royal Palace
Palais Royal

The official palace of the King of the Belgium wherever they do not use this as their home... His still works out of there though.

Palace of Justice

Looking towards City centre

Old England
Musical Instruments Museum

Love the characteristics of the buildings

Looking up towards Palace of Justice

I see a Belgium waffle truck, to the left!!!
city view in the background....

OMG this looks yummy!

And no, they are not both mine!

Looking towards the heart of the City

A little hidden treasure

Equestrian statue of King Albert

Open air market




Built in 1847, this gorgeous, glass roofed
arcade in the centre of town, lined with cafes,
 theatres and luxury stores has the distinction
 of being the first shopping arcade in Europe.

Gallerie Saint Hubert

Another view of Gallerie Saint Hubert

Mime

For a Sunday late afternoon, it sure was busy!

The Grand Place or Grote Markt in Dutch is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe with architecture from 3 different eras (Baroque, Gothic and Louis XIV) making their marks on the square giving it an eclectic flavour. This eclectic quality earned the Grand Place a listing as one of the Sites of World Heritage by UNESCO in 1998.

Grand Place

Grand Place

The Bruxelles Grand Place was a market place where traders and citizens sold and bought food. All the streets surrounding the square are named after foods like chicken (poulet), herbs (herbes), cheese (fromage), etc. Most of the buildings were rebuilt or restored after the bombardment of Brussels by France in 1695

Grand Place

Grand Place

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I made a new friend!

Vincent Van Gogh hitting on me! :)

Manneken Pis (the Peeing Boy)
The peeing boy is a tiny bronze fountain statue. One would not normally call this art piece ‘majestic’, but the locals have so many stories and ways of celebrating festivals with the little peeing boy that even the toughest critic would leave with fondness for the bronze doll.

There are over 700 costumes for this fellow for all events of the year and from countries around the world.

Funny experience in Brussels! After Philippe and l had walked around sightseeing we decided to stop at a local pub for a drink.... Entered the bar, sat at a table and in doing so, l noticed l was the only female in the bar.......When the bartender came to the table l asked if it was ok that l was in there as it appears to be only "Men" in this bar and he assured me that l was........... it was a "Gay" bar!!! Can't say Philippe was so safe though!!!!!!!! As we enjoyed our drinks l got a few chuckles at the men checking him out Especially the older gentleman that took a shining to Philippe's head, gave him a few taps on top,........... for good luck maybe??? HAHAAHAHAHA,!!!!!!

 Gallerie Saint Hubert la nuit

Just off the beaten path from the Square you will come across of section that is all restaurants... Be prepared to be solicited or even enticed  by staff of each restaurant to eat at their establishment... Offers of wonderful food, free drinks etc will be offered to you... We finally caved in one at 5th restaurant, l was starving by this time!! :) The food was wonderful and cheap... Kir Aperitif (champagne with liqueur), l'entre (appetizer) l'principal (main dish), demi-litre bouteille (1/2 bottle of wine, which turned out to be more like 3/4 of a bottle), dessert and a dessert drink...... all for less then 70.00, including tip....

The Cathedral of Saints Michel and Gudule


I enjoyed our stay in Brussels even though it was a short. If l had a choice between Brugges or Brussels to return to, Brugges would win hands down!

So after dropping Phiippe off at the airport l had to drive for the first time since my arrival. I won't suggest doing a 5.5 hr drive as your first outing cause you might want to do some local driving first! :) Took me a half an hour just to get in the right direction  to get out of Brussels but once l did, it wasn't too bad. In saying that though l was honked at twice by truck drivers, not really sure why but l will guess at that maybe l wasn't going fast enough for them and l wasn't even in the fast lane, go figure. I knew better then to get into that lane because you can have someone up your ass in seconds in the speed they drive in that particular lane, anywhere from 130-160 kms and l am not kidding!!!!
The car and l made it in one piece and no speeding tickets that l am aware of either! :) One thing l have to say about the cars here, they sure in heck get great gas mileage, over 1000 kms on  tank and a half of gas (small tank as well). Mind you, they need to now that the price of gas is over 2.00 litre Canadian! Belgium was more expensive, it was 1.76 euro for premium gas compared to Beaumont Le Roger at 1.66 euro... We need cars like these back home!
This concludes the trip to Belgium, now to get ready for ROME!!!

Brugge, Belgium

On the road to Brugge and Brussels, Belgium!

Notre voyage à Brugge et Bruxelles, la Belgique

Just a quick note, if you double click on the picture, it will open up to a slide of all pics, click on each one and they will enlarge for you for better viewing. Have meant to tell you that for a while now! :)

Made a stop in Calais, France
Arrêté dans Calias, la France

Touching the water of the English Channel.
Directly across from where l am, is England!
Contact de l'eau de English Channel.
L'Angleterre est à travers de moi.

Driviing along the highway we came upon this
Canadian Cemetery. We had to stop to
pay our respects to those who we lost.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

There is a total of 729 men and women buried here,
 594 are Canadians......
729 hommes et femmes ont enterré ici, 594 sont des Canadiens ......

As we walked along looking at the
tombstones, l found this one.
Draper is my father's family name,
who knows, could be a distant
relation of ours.....

Two Royal Canadian Air Force
Officers that fly together, died together,
buried together......

As l signed the guest book, l noticed that we had just
missed someone from Kingston, ON who had
been there the same day as us. People from
different parts of the world have visited this memorial.
Each one leaving behind kind words for those how lay within
the cemetery.
Lest we forget!

Can't believe l am in Belgium!

Welcome to Bruges (Brugge) Belgium!
Bienvenu à Bruges (Brugge) la Belgique

Canal that runs along in front of our hotel..
Le canal qui fonctionne(court) le long
du front de notre hôtel

Our hotel (Notre hôtel)

Every where you go, there is a canal!

Hans Memling
1430 – 1494
was a German-born painter who moved to
Flanders and worked in the tradition of
 Early Netherlandish painting,
 becoming one of the leading artists
 from the 1460s until the end of his life

Jan Van Eyck
1390-1441
Was a German-born painter who moved to Flanders and worked in the tradition of Early Netherlandish painting, becoming one of the leading artists from the 1460s until the end of his life

This was the "Toll House"
One of the oldest Brick Houses in
Bruges. It is where tolls
 on imported goods was payed in the
middle ages.

The Belfry, located at the Markt

The Markt, no it isn't a spelling error!

The Gable Roof (steps)structure you will
 see throughout Brugge. 

The Markt

Can't be in Belgium without having a taste
of their beer and fries!

Another view of the Markt
Vue du Markt

Narrow streets throughout..
Rues étroites

Belgium is the place to be to take care of
that sweet tooth! Best chocolate in the world!
Yummy!

Who says candy has to be for kids,
they are not afraid of displaying it either!

For just over a Canadian dollar you can get any
one of those chocolates!

Hotel de Ville

 Basilius church and the Chapel of the Holy Blood.
 Its three-arched façade date from 1534

To get to the chapel you have
 to accend the stone staircase
with the low ceilings...

Main altar of the Basilica of the Holy Blood,
l sneaked this picture as we were not
suppose to take any......

The chapel of Saint Basil, located below
Basilica of the Holy Blood.

Brugge Square
Brugge Place

This building is situated in the Brugge Square

Some many beautiful views of the canals
that run through Brugge..

Chocolate everywhere you go!
Chocolat partout!

Wonderful fountain with amazing
statues on it...

This picture doesn't do the building justice.
All the windows are leaded green glass..

As you walk the streets you will come
across statues throughout the city...
Beautiful pieces of art...

One way to see Brugge!

Oude Griffie, the Old Recorder's House,
which is now the Information Center.

Fishing anyone???
Pêche de quelqu'un ?

Blind Donkey Alley

La préparation de prendre le tour de bateau.



Views from our boat ride
Vues du tour de bateau

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The only Cedar sided building
in Brugge.

Came across this entrance to a bar.....
There had to be well over 1,000 beers
with glasses to match in these two
showcases!!!

These quotes were along the wall to the
entrance to the  bar.

They are definitely not shy here!

Last but not least, finally got to see a
windmill!!!!!

Finally notes, Brugge, Belgium is an absolutely beautiful city. I wish we had more time to explore more of it's hidden treasures. I thoroughly enjoyed the chocolate, thought l died and went to heaven eating it. As for the beer, l enjoyed it as well!...

Now we are off to Brussels! Can't wait to walk the streets there as well!