They Have Waffles

Centre Square of Brussels
see all photos »

Journal Entry 13, 5 November 2006 - They Have Waffles

"I'm on the way from misery to happiness to be, a huh huh ahhuh" I love the Proclaimers. I started my trip with a 7am National Express trip from London Victoria to Brussels, Belgium. My very first outing into Europe and more importantly my first as an independent traveler, a point which played in my head many a times the previous night. The coach journey was to head down to Dover and to board the ferry to cross the English Channel. Now if you know me and many of you wont, I am a self confessed sea hater. I get sick in other words! However hoping against all hope that it may be a quiet trip across, I still  drugged myself up with enough motion sickness tablets that it felt like I wasn’t even moving. Immigration across the channel was quick and effortless, thanks again to my Super English passport. I then continued on for another 4 hours to Brussels driving on the wrong side of the road. A factor that I still can't use to, however I am starting to realize that perhaps us Aussies are the ones that drive on the wrong side of the road.

I can't believe I’ve travelled around the world to meet Aussies.

Comic Capital of the World
see all photos »

I arrived into the North station in cold Brussels at about 4:30pm to a rather shortage of English signs, actually there was none. Not being able to work out North, my difficulties of map reading increased ten fold. After a considerable time of walking around (about 2 hours), getting cold and tired of trying to find my hostel (which is only 500m from the station supposedly), I hailed a taxi. The taxi driver must of had a field day when he met me cause he said 6 Euros, I said yes, he said ok, I said lets go, we drove, he said we were here, I said that was only 200m, he said I know. HMMMMMMMM. But I was there, never the less. I checked into my hostel and was worried and not just because I couldn't speak the language. This was my first hostel and was concerned it would be full of bed bugs and freaky people who wanted to steal my money or even worse, my camera. However it was one of the amazing places I had ever stayed in with rustic charm, cool technology and a fun atmosphere. My first night in I met a whole heap of people, fantastic, fun and all english speakers - and yes they were all Australians. I can't believe that I’ve traveled around the world to meet Aussies. After a few late card games with my new acquaintances it was time to head to bed, as tomorrow I explore Brussels.

Dont slip......a view from the Atomnium
see all photos »

The next day at breakfast Ali asked if she could join me for a day of site seeing, how can I turn a woman away? So I said "yeah sure". Ali was an 18 year old from Melbourne Victoria and was on her world trip before commencing her studies. We spent the day wondering Brussels and eating Waffles. The waffles with chocolate sauce are to die for and were a highlight of my trip. Just make sure you have plenty of tissues to wipe up the mess around your mouth. We visited many sites including the Atomonium - a museum based on pop culture (too many Barbie dolls for my liking), climbed the royal families walls to much interest by the gun touting guards and of course checked out "Pissing Pete" - the little cherub that could. In all honestly "Pete" was a little small but well worth the photo.

Pop Culture at its best
see all photos »

The night was one of the best in my life as Ali and I headed back the hostel to rope as many people we could into a pub crawl. The pub crawl consisted on an Irish pub, a typical Belgium beer house and a neo rocker pub full of......weird people, which of none were Belgium. The next morning after many a few too drinks I knew it was time too move on. Saying my goodbyes to Ali, I headed to the station and boarded a train to Zurich. Another little hint here:- take the Thallys it's cheaper I believe then the other high speed train out of Belgium. Brussels is an interesting place if not just because of it being the heart of the EU. There seems to be more foreigners then Flemish and the weather seems to be dark and foreboding of the troubles ahead, not as in London where it's just dark and miserable. Perhaps with more time I could have the found the people to be more warmly, however I found them to be quiet and a non arrogant self absorbing peoples.

The Atonmnium
see all photos »

The beer is fantastic and the waffles are to die for as I said before. But the one thing that you must not leave without is of course, Belgium Chocolates. Here is a tip for you, buy your chocolates at a supermarket, same quality - way cheaper. I found Brussels as a place to travel through and stop rather than a place to spend a heap of time. It is a great city as an introduction into Belgium and by the way watch for pick pockets, quite a few hostellers were hit by them. All in all well worth the visit. Swiss Chocolate here I come.

King Neptune
see all photos »

To be continued....