Brussels

3-4 August 2003

Heat wave continuing! I arrived at the Gare Centrale (Centraal station) train station in the Brussels old town about noon. I walked to the tourist information office in the Grand Place and got a room booked at the nearby Novotel hotel. Air conditioning! After checking in, I hit the streets using extensively the guidebook, "Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges and Brussels, 2003" by Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw (Avalon Travel). I found it to be very useful. I sampled a lot of beer and some chocolate during my walks. In the heat, the chocolate melted quickly on my fingers.

• Gare Centrale or Centraal Station
• view of Guild Halls at Grand Place, a very busy tourist area
• Hotel de Ville or Stadhuis at Grand Place (note: this is not a hotel!)
• Grand Place, Stadhuis on left half and more guild halls on right
• Grand Place, Maison du Roi (King's House) on the right
• La Maison du Miel (House of Honey)
• Galeries Royales St. Hubert. Notice the fiberglass cows, part of a city art project.
• Galeries Royales St. Hubert, another view
• pedestrian area
• Manneken-Pis
• plaza at Herbes, my hotel (Novotel) is on the right. There was an artisans market here that Sunday.
• plaza at Marche aux Herbes, near my hotel
• church at Infante and Madeleine, which church?
• statue at foot of Mont des Arts gardens, what statue? Notice skateboarder in mid-air.
• Mont des Arts gardins, Palais des Congres on the left and Place Royal at the distant center
• row of shops near Place Royal, Musical Instruments Museum on the right
• Old England, once a department store, now the Musical Instruments Museum
• Eglise St. Jacques-sur-Coudenberg at Place Royal
• statue of Godefroy de Bouillon at Place Royal, he led 1st Crusade 1096 AD
• view of Stadhuis spire from Place Royal
• view of Mont des Artes garden from Place Royal, note clock on building at far right
• jack o'the clock at Palais de la Dynastie
• many interesting cafes
• more interesting cafes
• more interesting cafes
• Cathedrale des Sts. Michel et Gudule (1200-1599)
• couple from Atlanta
• couple from Atlanta
• dinner near Grand Place with couple from Atlanta

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