Tat's Travels: Icy Brussels
Last week I got the opportunity to tag along Konrad’s work trip and we spent some time in Brussels, Belgium. I was beyond excited to go to Brussels which is home to international politics, beautiful architecture, a rich multicultural history and delicious cuisine. I’m happy to report I did enjoy a Belgian waffle whilst there (but skipped the Brussels sprouts).
Admittedly, I didn’t do much research before arriving in Brussels. The trip was planned so last minute that we barely had time to look up how to get from the airport to our hotel. One thing I did check was the weather which didn’t look very promising. Bitter cold was in the forecast, as well as snow during the time I had allotted for sightseeing. Despite the looming clouds, I decided I would try to make the most of my time there. Little did I know the snow forecast would turn into a terrible day of ice and sleet, and then some snow on top – definitely not the greatest thing for a pregnant lady trying to walk on cobble stones. In fact, the sidewalks were so slippery that people were just falling down left and right. Not my idea of a fun time!
Holy Photogenic (and delicious) Bagel
Fortunately I was able to do some exploring in the quaint little neighborhood we were staying in. I found an incredible café specializing in fresh baked bagels and artisan coffee—Holy Bagels. I ate the most photogenic breakfast sandwich there ever was and chatted with the lovely co-owner Jacques who warmly welcomed me to Brussels and wished me well on my journey. Holy Bagels was definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Brussels (I even brought Konrad back the next day). The baked goods in Brussels are just. so. GOOD.
Later that night we chowed down on some ramen and headed into the city center. I was so thrilled to find good ramen—it’s one of my favorite foods but there’s really only one place to get it here in Wroclaw (and it’s just ok). I loved that Brussels was packed with international cuisine, though one thing I found strange was that none of the restaurants had an English menu. My French skills are absolutely terrible but luckily most menus had a Dutch translation (much easier to read!), as Dutch is also an official language of the city.
Grand Place
The central square of Brussels is considered one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. Literally called Grand Place, the square is surrounded by opulent and grandiose architecture that will make your jaw drop. Its no wonder the Grand Place is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The centerpiece of Grand Place is the astonishing Brussels City Hall. Built in the 1400s, the City Hall is the only remaining medieval building in the area. I held onto Konrad as we slid along the ice-covered cobblestones in Grand Place admiring its beauty. Amazingly I didn’t fall once!
The one thing I was dying for the entire trip was a classic Belgian waffle. Luckily I got one – it was warm, crisp and delicious. It was the perfect ending to an otherwise disappointing trip due to the weather. We’ll just have to go back to Brussels in the spring :)
xoxo,
Tat