Mussels in Brussels

For one of my last weekends in Europe (sad I know) I went with friends to Belguim, land of waffles, fries and chocolate. It was such a fun weekend. I think the best part was staying in an apartment rather than a hostel. Having a home base made it so much better.

We got there early Friday, which gave us plenty of time to explore the Christmas market in Brussels. There was an abundance of food, including everything from mushrooms with garlic sauce to bratwurst. I like eating, so I felt right at home. Brussels has lots of beautiful architecture, which I got to see on my way to Delirium, land of flavored beers. I tried beer that tastes like mangoes, beer that tastes like cherries AND beer that tasted like apples. All in all a great day of eating and drinking. There was also an incredible light show in the main square that took my breath away.

Brussels!

Pink elephant mascot for a bar. Really?

No fries in the store

More eating was done the next day, starting at the Neuhaus chocolate factory. They sell their chocolate much cheaper there than in the stores so we made the journey. Also, you can sample all the chocolates you want, which meant we all ended up with stomach aches and leaving with no purchased chocolate. 

We then took the train to Brugge, a small town about an hour from Brussels. It was so beautiful there. Of course there was another Christmas market, filled with good food and drinks. Wandering around the town, we stumbled upon the most beautiful scene: a restaurant on the river had hung paper lanterns in their tree, which hung over the water. The buildings around were slightly lit and reflected in the calm water. It could not be made more perfect until 8 swans swam through. Brugge was so perfect.

Polar Bear at the Brussels train station

Beautiful Brugge

The next day meant another day in Brussels, but most of us weren't feeling well so we got kind of a late start. Sahar and I went skating at the Brussels Christmas market, which was so much fun! I hadn't been ice skating since I was a kid and didn't realize how much I missed it. It took a little while to get the hang of it again, but once I did, I didn't want to stop. Well that is until the muscles in my legs and back reminded me I have not been working them recently. For dinner we ended up having Mussels (in Brussels, haha). They were sooo good and so filling.

We got to the train station in plenty of time for our 9:30 train back to Paris. Unfortunately for us, the train we were supposed to take broke down before it even left the station. We were then put onto another train headed for Paris, which was already full. Obviously something that was not going to work. They then pulled up a new train for us, by this time it was already around 11:00, which was when we were supposed to have arrived back in Paris if our original train had been fine. There was a mad rush for the new train, which ended with us in first class. Not bad for a broken down train.

Though I am still exhausted from the weekend and still feeling sick, I think the weekend in Brussels was one of the most fun of the whole trip. Brussels is a great place and getting to be there with Cara, Sam and Sahar made it so much fun. Though I may not touch another fry for a while, it was a perfect way to spend one of my last weekends.