Wednesday, August 20, 2008

My European Trip 5 -- Brussels



If you don't know which beer is to your taste,

If you happen to be in a country famous for the diversity of beers,
Which beer would you choose?


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The sign of a beer house.


Jennie's answer is ---- she bought five different bestselling beers under local people's suggestions.

Also, she bought them in a grocery market. Traveling Tip 1: Grocery stores or supermarkets are always cheaper than tourist shops for food and souvenirs. They all sell a few of the six Trappist beers (Chimay, Ovral, Rochefort, Westmalle, Westvleteren, Achel) and good chocolate like Cote d'Or or Jacques.

And she brought five bottles of beer to
the top floor of Parking 58, which offers a 360 spectacular view of Brussels in open air! It's free to enter, just take the elevator to the 10th floor. There you can see as far as the Atomium, Brussels' landmark like the Eiffel in Paris. Traveling Tip 2: The rooftop of Parking lot in big cities provides you a FREE panoramic view.



How to behave like a local in Brussels? Eat and drink a lot! Brusseleirs are called the "kiekefretters" (chicken eaters) because, according to legend, they preferred eating to fighting during the Middle Ages. :)


Well, it's lunchtime! Let's have some genuine Brussels waffles. Remember, a real Brussels waffle is square, and a
Liégeois is round and caramelised. If you really want to behave like a tourist, order extra chocolate or strawberry.


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For dessert, I'd love to share with you real Belgian Chocolate. Taste so good!

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A marionette chef in the window of a chocolate shop.

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Th Pissing Boy

"Is this it? He's much smaller than I thought!" Indeed, the pissing boy called MANNEKEN PIS is the ideal national symbol for a country that is also very small and absurd. In 2007, for example, he did not pee for one day, with a sign warning for prostate cancer. His suit is changed a few times per month. Go to see the City Museum on the Grote Market/ Grand Place for the last 804 costumes, from Mozart to Mandela.


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The pissing boy's dress on July 3, 2008


After saying goodbye to the little boy, I kept strolling along the streets. All of a sudden, I was caught up by a series of beautiful sounds ending up with four solid chimes. I realized that it was 4:00pm now. Following the chimes I found a big wall clock.


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So if you happen to have no watch or clock with you in the journey, how could you know the time? This situation has applied to me for many times. And Jennie has found quite a few tips! Think about your solution. I will release Jennie's answers later.


Photographed by Jennie Bai.

Copyright ©Jennie Bai. All Rights Reserved.



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