One month ago or so while I was preparing a hard exam I wondered where I could go once I had finished (that kind of thoughts you have when you're tired and can't focus on your notes in the late afternoon). It took me just a few minutes look for cheap destinations and make a decision I was going to Belgium the day after my exam!
Time flew and without even realizing it was already the time to check in so I texted my parents and closest friends saying good bye and started my second solo trip, I wanted to go on adventure so I did.
My first stop was not Brussels but one of its airports which is almost 1h away. There is no trip without getting lost at least once and that's why I got lost in an airport hahahahaha... but it was worth it because thanks to that I met people who helped me out and with whom I shared great time in our way to the city and in the city itself.
The next day when I woke up the sky was grey and when I went out it was freezing so my first impression of Brussels wasn't that good. It was cold, cloudy, rainy... I ended up all wet! But that's the risk you take when you travel in winter time so I didn't let it stopping me.
The beautiful asymmetrical Brussels' town hall located in the Grand Place or Grote Markt. There's a legend which tells that the architect who designed the building committed suicide by jumping from the tower after realizing his 'mistake'. At the beginning I thought that the 'mistake' were the asymmetry or the differences between the two parts but I was told that non of them are because many people participated on the construction. Can you see what's the real 'mistake'?
This is theMenneken Pis (Little man Pee) a little statue which is the symbol of the city. There are some legends about its origins but my favorite one is the one which says it's in honor to a little boy who saved the city by peeing. Another curios thing about it is the big amount of different costumes it has, more than 100! I was told that it's dressed up for important dates. It's a pitty that I couldn't see it dressed up.
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula both of them are the patrons of the city.
Both pictures taken from the Jardin du Mont des Arts.
The Atomium is the representation of an elementary iron crystal but so so so big! It was built for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair as the main pavilion. Nowadays it's a museum.
Later everything went better, the sky wasn't that cloudy and I had good company, we walked around the city, talked and enjoyed a beer!! When you travel alone you are more capable to know new people. You open your mind to them, their stories, their experiences and their cities.
I stayed two days in Brussels and my staying ended up being awesome. So I can say that my very first stop gave strength and cheers to keep going while my second stop was waiting for me...
Read you,
Lau
