If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium

Actually, we are now in The Netherlands but I need to finish up our stay in Brussels.

Take one down pass it around...Even the tiniest stores feature hundreds of beer varieties.

Toni made fast work of her mussels. 

A famous Belgian waffle,  I think I enjoyed the melted chocolate more than the candies.

This tasted just like cheesecake without the crust, marzipan.

Four foot bagettes only sliced as needed.

You are never more than a block from a chocolate shop.

There are fifty murals of comic strip characters around the city.  This is local hero TinTin and Snowy.

The Comic Strip Museum is housed in an old Art Nouveau warehouse designed by Victor Horta.

We had a kitchenette so Toni shopped like a local.

You probably can't see the dates on these buildings but they are left to right, 1597, 1716, 1697.

Out for a stroll.

With Bert van Kessell, a Village Records customer since the 1990s

Another long time customer from the 1990s, Bruno Depeyper.

The Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit included 70 models brought to life from his sketches.

We returned to the Grand Place to see it lit up at night.

Midpoint In Brussels

The Atomium, built for their Expo '58 World's Fair.  Escalators connect the balls which have different functions.  The top one is an observation deck.

It's raining today so it is a good time to catch up at least a little.  Here are some photos from the first half of our stay in Brussels.  I have found that the first half is loaded with more site seeing and as we continue our stay it has gradually moved into more of a "just living here" feel.  Both are equally interesting and enjoyable in different ways.

We ♥ Brussels

Toni has finally found her niche

Even tunnels and alleys have an Art Nouveau look

...Brussels is one of the birthplaces of the Art Nouveau movement and signs of it are everywhere.  This is

the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert and is right around the corner from us.

Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula

At the Rene Magritte Museum

We had an unexpected treat last weekend, this balloon parade took place right below our 4th floor room.  It was dedicated to comic strip characters and many of them originated in Brussels including our favourite, TinTin featured here.  They take comic strips seriously here.

One of about 50 restaurants in rue de Bouchers, a picturesque series of alleys lined with overpriced places.  It is a "must see" but also a "must avoid".

So many bieres, so little time...

Toni showing off her little bag of chocolat.  There are chocolatiers on every block it seems and they all look like jewellery stores.

The pot of mussels was no match for Toni

The main canal photographed from our hop on/hop off bus

Our Brussels Home

We are halfway through our stay in Brussels and I am just getting to my first post.  We've been busy as part time tourists, part time residents, a nice mix of sight seeing and just living and, yes, still working.

Our home for three weeks. This is hands down the best place we have ever stayed. It is a perfect combination of price, amenities, location, and decor. The miniature kitchen is well equipped with everything we need and nothing we don't. All the fixtures and appliances are new and up to date. It is within walking distance to most of the museums, shopping areas and tons of picturesque restaurants for every budget.

The bottom middle cabinet on the left is a half size dishwasher, the one next to it on the right is a small refrigerator. It's amazing how much you can make without an oven and just 2 burners.

Our 3rd floor apartment, or 4th floor in North American terms.

More photos here.