Manneken Pis....

Famous buildings of Brussels
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Brussels is considered to be the capital of Europe (it is said perhaps because the best French cuisine is served here and not in Paris...oops).  Almost a third of its population are immigrants and French, German, Flemish and English aren't the only languages you will hear as you roam the city. Probably one of the best known attractions of Brussels is the Grand Palace a 15th century market place. The 'Grot Markt' is surrounded by fine guildhalls, Maison de Roi and the town hall. These form a triad of Gothic, Rennaissance and Baroque styles.

Grand Palace with traditional guild halls
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Roaming the streets in search of Manneken Pis, the most famous of famous statues in Brussels, we are bombarded by the smell of freshly made Belgian waffle. It felt like there was one on every corner and the delicious aroma is relentless breaking even the most tenacious diet observers....(mine was not one of them). Finally after maneuvering countless waffle stands and chocolate stores (Belgian chocolate uuuummmm), we reach the famous Manneken Pis. The first thing that crosses my mind is that we found the wrong thing..but the flocking tourists and the sign set me straight.  What it is is a fountain in the shape of a bronze sculpture of a urinating child. There are many stories as to the significance of the pissing manneken including being the son of a Brussels nobleman who got lost and was found while answering nature's call, and also that he was a patriotic Belgian kid who sprinkled a hated Spanish sentry passing beneath his window. Ultimately it is very old (about 17th century) and has attracted a seemingly unfair share of tourists.

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I have come to realize one thing on our travels... the fame of a statue, painting, sculpture etc is often not determined by the tourism board or city council but by regular tourists. The locals know it's not a big deal and that there are usually a lot more interesting items around ...and yet the most be something magically alluring that keeps bringing people over and over again.