Belgium

Brussels

I arrived at Brussels Gare du Midi station at 9:30 PM local time. No maps whatsoever, now how do I get to the hotel, which I thought is in close proximity of the station.

Tried looking around, no luck! Then I decided to call the hotel and ask for directions. A lady answered and said look for exit Avenue Fozzyy, the hotel is right across the corner. I asked Avenue, what? She repeated Avenue Fonnzzyyy (reminded me of pink panther movie). I made her repeat it more than 5 times but didn't really understand. She spelt it too, but dude I can’t understand!

Finally I went to the station building map to look for any exit starting with FO. Got it! Now how to get there? The map may be showing 'where I am' on the map but that's in French. Luckily I found a station employee, asked him, he lead me to it, went there, went out, and looked for the ‘you cannot miss it’ (as said by the hotel receptionist) IBIS hotel. There it was as the hotel lady mentioned across the corner.

I went it with the prepaid hotel booking, relieved to have finally reached a place to rest.

Checked in to the room provided, dumped the baggage there and headed to the restaurant.

Looked at the menu, it was in French. English details were restricted to a few words, but I could see vegetarian mentioned on a couple of items. I told the waiter, ‘I'd prefer vegetarian, please tell me which is best.’ He says, ‘vegetarian - vegetables - all good!’

That didn't help much in recommending what I should be eating. I chose something called ‘veg tapenade’. He opened the kitchen door to pass on my order and add 'only veg' and laughs out loud!! ‘Ahh well, don't let it bother you, Indira’, I think.

I was eating, and another friendly waiter came by to check if I liked the food. I said it was nice. Then he adds, ‘ but u haven't finished yet’. I said I'm full. He says, ‘oh you should eat I will give you 5 mins!’ Is he my mother or what, to time my dinner! I wonder if I should say no (will that be rude) - ah well might as well eat it. He asked so sweetly and he is better than the other waiter.

I was finishing the last bits, when a cool dude sits on the table next to mine and says, ‘you have beautiful eyes.’ Something tells me that I should be leaving now. Then he asks, ‘are you single?’ I quickly say, ‘nope, I’m married.’ I hastily pay the bill and get back to my room. Not bad - I managed the day pretty well, without causing or facing any trouble. I lie down thinking about tomorrow’s Brussels city tour, because I had only the following information with me, no maps!

27th - Land in Brussels
Check-in at IBIS Gare Midi hotel

28th - Check-out at 8:30
Go to Metro station from IBIS
Subway - 6 - Roi Baudouin - Simonis (Elisabeth) - Direction: Roi Baudouin
Depart: Gare Du Midi
Arrive: Heysel
Travel time: 16 mins
Stops: 12

Visit the following there:
1. Atomium (entry: 11 euro)
2. Mini Europe (entry: 13:10 euro)

Head back to Metro station
Subway - 6 - Roi Baudouin - Simonis (Elisabeth) - Direction: Roi Baudouin
Depart: Heysel
Arrive: Beekkant
Travel time: 11mins
Stops: 8

Change at
Subway - 5 - Erasme - Herrmann-Debroux-Direction: Herrmann-Debroux
Depart: Beekkant
Arrive: De Brouckere
Travel time: 5mins
Stops:4

Walk to Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert - Time: 4 mins

From there go to Royal Palace - Time: 14 mins (via Koningsstraat and Paleizenplein)

From Palace, walk to Royal museum of fine arts - Time: 5 mins

From Fine Arts Museum, walk to Grand Place - Time: 8 mins

Also see Town hall (Hotel de Ville) there

From there to Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate - Time: 1 min

From there to Manneken Pis van Brussels - Time: 3 mins

From there to Brussels Midi Eurostar station - Time: 19 mins

I slept thinking I’ll be fine.

Its 28th morning, I feel quite lazy to get out of the bed (usual story). I initially planned to get out of the hotel at 8:30 but after struggle to get out of the bed, I could get out, and into the Gare du midi metro station only at 9:30 AM.

I had to take a metro train from Gare du midi to heysel - Subway 6. Waiting waiting, but train doesn't come. There is an announcement saying, ‘metro 2 and 6 are delayed, we will resolve that in as soon as possible.’ Finally metro 2 arrives and brings fwd the problem they are trying to resolve. And the problem being a dog was in front of the train on that track. Yes, a dog on the metro track. Hence the trains on that line were delayed!

There were 4 metro policemen running on the platform to get hold of it. They could run only as far as the platform lasted. The dog didn't give up. It continued to run and escaped into the dark. It was so sudden that I couldn't get my camera out o the bag and take a picture, though I would have loved to.

It was a funny start to the day. I still had to wait because I had to take Subway 6. I somehow managed to get to the Atomium. Saw that and mini Europe before heading back to the centre of the city, to see the Galleries of St. Hubert (apparently gospel for all shopaholics), the Royal Palace, The Grand Place, the Town Hall, and the Manneken Pis.

I decided to stop for lunch at a restaurant near mini Europe before heading back to the city. I stopped something veg on the menu. Sat at a table and ordered for a veg salad. The waiter said, the other veg salad is better than what I selected. I agreed to try his recommendation. He got some dish with a bright smile on his face, and said, ‘Bon appetite madam’, and left.

I was all set to start eating when I realized it had fish in it. D'uh! I called him and said I wanted a veg salad without any meat. He said it's not meat - its fish! I wondered why wouldn't sea food count as meat??? I said, ‘I want a veg salad without fish please’. He must have thought I'm a weird species- I don't drink water with ice (made him throw water with ice, and refill the glass with plain water) and I categorize fish as meat!

Well, he finally got veg salad as per 'my' definition. I ate that and set out to finish the other places I made a note to see in Brussels.
Done! Tired already with all the walking, I head back to the hotel, to pick up my luggage from the locker, and to head to Gent.

Gent (Ghent)

Gent trip was quite uneventful. I arrived at Gent Sint Pieters station at 6:50 PM. Took some time to locate the hotel. Finally I managed to find it. The room I checked into was a cute little room. I took a power nap and went thru the city map the receptionist gave, to plan the next day's exploration.

I got up and got ready by 9:30 AM the next day (29th Aug), went to the reception to check how I could get to city's historic centre. I was told to walk to Albertbrug tram station and take tram 21 or 22.

I did that but took the tram in the other direction. The tram driver kindly let me off at the next station without charging me anything. I got down at the next station, and waited for a tram in the opposite direction. I didn’t have to wait for too long. I took the ticket on the tram - 2 euros to the historic centre. I got down at Zonnestraat station and figured out my way to all the monuments and places of interest I wanted to visit.

I got on to the belfry (Belfort) tower. It was alright getting on the tower though the steps were somewhat steep and winding. Once I got on the top of the tower I realized the mistake I made. I just couldn't handle the height. People close to me know what I'm talking about. I was literally crawling round the top of the tower. I couldn't handle the camera as well (I feel like I’d throw things in my hand, sometimes even myself, it’s scary). I gave it to some tourists around me and asked them click some ariel view pictures of the city for me.

It was a funny sight, I know; and some were silently smiling too. I couldn't care much, but I promised myself that I won't climb the belfry tower in Brugge, which I planned to do when I go there the next day.

Finally after some kind people obliged to take pictures, I got down and went towards the St. Bavo’s cathedral. Apparently there is some worth seeing painting in the cathedral. On entering the church I was told that visitors are not allowed, as there was a sermon going on. I was told I could go back at 1 PP. It was 11 AM then.

I decided to visit the flea Market and the Castle, and return to the cathedral at around 1 PM.

On the way to the flea market, I saw the town hall. I finished the Market, and decided to have lunch before heading to the castle.

**I have to mention here that my highly healthy diet went to the dogs during this trip, and I couldn't help it.

I looked around to find a small non-fancy place. Finally I found a place called Edera tea room.

Their menu was quite interesting. For ex they had French and Italian coffee. I decided to taste their French coffee, and have a mushroom omelette. When I got the coffee, it looked so good that I felt like taking a photo of it. While I was doing that, an old man sitting on the other table found it amusing and offered to take my picture if I wanted. I was more than glad, because all through the trip I was asking people to take my pictures, now someone is volunteering to do that! Nice, thank my luck!

He clicked a few pictures and asked me if I was from Spain, as I looked Mediterranean! I thought - Really? And said, ‘I'm an Indian.’

Then we continued talking and he said he works in Thailand, but is here on a vacation to visit his hometown. He said he likes South Asia. Read may Indian spiritual writers’ works, like Krishna Murthy’s, Osho, etc.

We went on talking about all random things - religion, gayism, greyness of Europe, etc. Quite interesting but I wanted to leave right after my lunch and thanked the old man for the company. That's when it struck me that I dint ask for his name. He said, ‘my name is Jack, and yours? I say, ‘Indira - r in India - easy peasy :)’

Bid farewell to Jack and went to the castle. It was dominating the surroundings but I didn't feel like touring inside the castle. Instead, I just walked out of it on to the street and headed to Graslei to do a boat trip through Gent canals.

The boat trip was quite hilarious. The guide had to speak in 3 different languages - French, Dutch, and English. He was quite funny too. I won't do enough justice if I imitated any of his jokes, I think it's best to experience it.

After that, there was nothing much to do so decided to go back to the St. Bavo's cathedral though I wasn't too excited about viewing the painting. I'm a bit on the creative side but I don't think I'm the arty types.

On the way I had a change of heart and stepped into St. Nicholas cathedral instead, as there was a cartoon exhibition. The cartoons seemed good, just that I didn't get the joke- well, they were worded in French!

I took a picture of one cartoon I could understand, and stepped out.
Now I had to walk back to Zonnestraat tram station and get back to the hotel, and pack to Brugge.

Thankfully nH hotels have a lazy Sunday check out, which meant I could check out at 5 PM. It was 3 now.

Took tram 21 and got down at Albertbrug station and walked to the hotel. Took a quick nap and went to the reception at 4:30

Everything was prepaid so checkout didn't take long. I walked to Gent St. Petiers station and bought a ticket to Brugge.

This is the only ticket I purchased, apart from the Eurostar ticket - to and fro London. As the Eurostar ticket is valid from Brussels to any part of Belgium, via their local trains, within 24 hrs of the to or fro schedule of Eurostar itinerary on your ticket.

Brugge

My arrival at Brugge was welcomed with heavy showers. And I had cheap (Chinese- as commented by a passerby in Brussels) umbrella from one of London’s Superdrug (never buy umbrellas in the superdrug store) store. I couldn't manage with the luggage, the broken umbrella, and my phone - trying to get directions to the hotel.

The receptionist of Martins Brugge hotel said, the best way to reach the hotel is to take any bus with Centrum on it.

As soon as I was out of the station, I found a bus at the bus station with Centrum on the name board. I show my hotel booking to the driver and ask her if she could direct me to that place. She said it was near a station, which is the 3rd stop from here. I bought the bus ticket from her – costed me 2 Euros.

The lady driver was so helpful that when I thought it was the 3rd stop and got up from the seat, she looked from the rear view mirror and signalled to me that it is not the station I should get down at. I sat down again and waited for the next stop.

At the next stop, I pulled my luggage out and went to the door to get off the bus. The driver lady then literally came out of her seat to show me the location of the hotel. It was actually easy from that bus station, right turn, across the road, I found the hotel.

The bus driver's gesture made me very happy. This luck must have got carried to the hotel reception desk as well, because when I told them about my reservation, the guy at the reception said I booked for a cosy room which is a small room, and as they are not booked to their capacity that day, they would give me a free upgrade to a bigger room. Wow, that doesn’t happen too often – good for me!

It was a nice room, but if that is the bigger room I wondered how small the Cosy room was. Nevertheless I was happy.

I dumped my luggage and put my camera for charge, and went to the markt place to have dinner. I spotted a restaurant with heaters. I stepped in after checking out the menu, they seemed to have something veg. It was quite cold after the rain spell, so I didn't feel like having my usual veg salads, instead opted for Veg Tortellini Salad. The waiter took the order and asked if I wanted garlic bread. I thought the usual complimentary bread, and said yea, why not. I didn't realize I'd be charged for that until I received the bill. It was quite tasty and worth the money but was a bit surprised by the tackiness of the waiter.

Anyway, dinner was quite filling, besides it was only 8:30 PM so I decided to go to the hotel and come back to markt with my camera.

I came back and took some beautiful night shots, roamed around the markt area and went back to the hotel as it was getting dark, and was quite chilly as well.

One thing I found odd about the men there. Almost every guy was walking with a lady/girl/woman but they would give smiling looks to women around, may be that is Brugge men’s courtesy, I wouldn't know, but could only speculate; because Jack from Gent said, ‘Brugge is not the so called Venice of north, it is just hyped. Their place is neat but ppl's mind is dirty. No wonder their bishop turned out to be a paedophile!’ I guess that and the boat trip guide's unkindly words about Brugge were playing at the back of my mind.

I rest my mind and check the Brugge map, to plan the next day – 30th Aug, and then fall asleep soon.

It was raining the entire night and in the morning too, until around 9 AM. I felt quite lazy as I didn't feel like stepping out in the rain, and hoped the rain stopped soon. When it finally did stop- I quickly got ready and went to the reception to check out and leave my luggage in the luggage room.

I didn't feel like having any rich French food, so looked around the markt to find something light. Thank goodness there is a Subway shop! I'm not a great sub fan but that felt lighter than the cheese rich food.

I ate, went to the ATM to withdraw some money from the nearest ATM, and roamed around with the map given by the hotel guy. I saw some museums etc but didn't really feel like doing the ‘to do’ things, and wandered around.

There was a huge crowd outside a big church like building. I asked one of a group tourist, for details of the monument. He confirmed that it’s a church, and urged me to have a look inside as there is a statue made by Michelangelo in it; the only one outside Italy.

Intrigued, I stepped in. It’s indeed a very beautiful statue. (Check it out in my tour pics)

I then walk back to the markt (somehow I landed up there again, as I wasn't looking at the map, but following some tourists). I reached the Belfry tower, and there was a spell of rain again! I silently pray for the rain to stop so I could do the boat trip!

Just as many others there, I took shelter under the Belfry tower. While waiting for the rain to stop, I thought why to waste time, let's ask someone to take a pic of me, in that place. I found a lady standing at the end of the passageway of the tower entrance. She was more than willing to click some pics. She took one pic with the background I wanted and then said, ‘I can take more if you want, I'm free anyway.’ ‘She was just inviting trouble’ I thought, but said, ‘are you sure - thank you’, and gave a big smile. She said yea yea, and clicked a couple more. I thanked her profusely, and left from there as the rain seemed to die down. I walked towards the bridge where I could buy a boat trip ticket. I took and waited. I was told the wait may be 15 mins long.

Just when the boat arrived and we got it in, it started raining again. All of us opened our umbrellas. Imagine doing a boat trip with a cover of umbrellas over your head. I couldn't see anything ahead! All I could see was people on the boat holding umbrellas, and the splashing water on the sides of the boat. I thought to myself that if the rain doesn't stop, I would do the boat trip later in the day again, when the rain stops. However my luck seemed to work once more. 5 mins later the rain stopped, which meant 25 mins of some spectacular views in place of a cover of umbrellas.

Brugge is breathtakingly beautiful; however I'm not sure why it is called the Venice of North, as people do not use water transport at all! It may have been a port for trading, but definitely not for transport.

After clicking some beautiful shots, I head out to the Choco Factory, to enlighten myself about the discovery of cocoa and making of chocolate.

It was an interesting and educating flashback to the history. At the end, there were some points which seemed a bit hard to believe (I’ve listed down 3). I’d leave it to you to decide what works best for you:

1. Contrary to the belief that chocolates cause cavity, it actually helps protecting the enamel and controls cavity.

2. Chocolates do not cause acne, they help cure it.

3. Chocolates do not increase cholesterol; in fact they help reduce cholesterol.

I forgot the other points, if there were anymore; as my mind stopped working after reading those notes. Before you decide to include chocolates in your health diet please do your research and consult your doctor. It helps!

I bought some chocolates for my colleagues from the Choco factory shop, and look for a place to eat. Not very far from the Choco factory, I found a small brassiere. I ordered a natural omelette (which meant just egg and oil, no other ingredients).

I finished eating and roamed around the city again. As soon as my camera shouted that there was no more space on the memory card, I thought, probably it was time to head back to the hotel and collect my luggage.

I collected my luggage and walked to markt (again) to the bus station there. Bus no. 12 was standing, waiting for passengers. I asked the driver if it'd go to the rail station. Wei. Great, I board the bus.

On the way back I saw a modern side to the city with modern sculptures placed in a centre. They have a very beautiful park as well, and it is quite close to the rail station.

We reached the station in less than 15 mins. I took my luggage and got into the rail station, and see that the next train to Brussels was at 16:31. The one later than that was at 16:58, which meant I would reach Brussels Zuid at 17:58. My Eurostar train, back to London was at 20:29, so I decided to take the later train. To kill time I stepped into the clothes company store.

I don't know if taking a later train was to reduce waiting time at Brussels, or to console myself with some bit of shopping for myself, which I resisted all through the trip, despite spotting some great designer clothing.

In exactly one hour I reached Brussels. I killed the waiting time by waiting in Hagen Daaz eatery in the Brussels Zuid station.

Right now, I’m in the Eurostar train, on my way back to London.

Overall, to summarize the trip: The locales were beautiful, people were friendly, weather was better than in London – in all, was a fun trip!

There were some rude people who just wouldn’t help, but that was a meagre percentage. The very fact that I could manage my entire trip without any pre-notes or maps, proves that ppl were friendly. The world is not all that bad, after all...wei wei!