Wee! All the way by bus on Eurolines. Cheap cheap way!
Unfortunately it was a very rainy start to Brussels, and pretty much most of the remaining trip in Belgium, so much so that one of my impressions overall of Belgium was just wet. Wet wet and more wetness.
The Gare Du Nord station where the bus stopped was right smack in the financial district. However, I thought that the Gare du Nord station was particularly "cha-cha". By "cha-cha", as I remembered defined by Weisiong, it's seedy, lok cock and seemingly dangerous. And even more so when I took a wrong exit out and found myself staring at more windows like in Amsterdam, suspicious looking men eyeing me, and loudly abusive migrant kids shouting. (though I was pretty sure they were saying something about me) Which means it's time to siam out of that area!! Luckily I got back to the main road where I decided to stick to the office buildings. All these done amidst the rain.
The Gare Du Nord station where the bus stopped was right smack in the financial district. However, I thought that the Gare du Nord station was particularly "cha-cha". By "cha-cha", as I remembered defined by Weisiong, it's seedy, lok cock and seemingly dangerous. And even more so when I took a wrong exit out and found myself staring at more windows like in Amsterdam, suspicious looking men eyeing me, and loudly abusive migrant kids shouting. (though I was pretty sure they were saying something about me) Which means it's time to siam out of that area!! Luckily I got back to the main road where I decided to stick to the office buildings. All these done amidst the rain.
The Gare du Nord station from the front, which looks fine, but I assure you the back is not. No dun ask for pics cos I did not even take one and it's better to siam first!!
So let's focus on the nice frontal look of the offices ok?
And fortunately a short 10 min walk to get to my hostel, 2GO4. I first thought it was literally two g o four. But it's actually "to go for"! A very nice comfy place but also slightly ex (the higher 20 euros range for a 6 bed room). Well actually in general, hostels and stuff are more expensive in Belgium
So let's focus on the nice frontal look of the offices ok?
And fortunately a short 10 min walk to get to my hostel, 2GO4. I first thought it was literally two g o four. But it's actually "to go for"! A very nice comfy place but also slightly ex (the higher 20 euros range for a 6 bed room). Well actually in general, hostels and stuff are more expensive in Belgium
As it was early afternoon and I was gonna be around in Brussels for 3 days cos Ghent and Bruges were meant to be day trips out, I decided to start off slowly by finding the Belgian Comics Museum! Needed an indoor activity anw cos of the rain! It has always been a dream for me to visit this as my childhood was spent reading Tintin and Asterix comics, so this place is a must for comic lovers!
Kinda difficult to recognise the building as it ain't so obvious and it looked kinda closed with all those grilles around
But sights like these are unmistakable....keke
Inside the museum, with a store packed full of comics and other merchandise. (Yep...bought some!)
There was also a very interesting exhibition explaining how comics come to print, especially in the weekly and daily columns in the newspapers, as well as a huge showcase of many different comics, oh and a whole section dedicated to Tintin
Nono....not Captain Haddock over here....ahaha!
Huge comic books
But sights like these are unmistakable....keke
Inside the museum, with a store packed full of comics and other merchandise. (Yep...bought some!)
There was also a very interesting exhibition explaining how comics come to print, especially in the weekly and daily columns in the newspapers, as well as a huge showcase of many different comics, oh and a whole section dedicated to Tintin
Nono....not Captain Haddock over here....ahaha!
Huge comic books
Part of my childhood dream fulfilled! Yay!! Thoroughly enjoyed myself here.
A short walk over to other sights in Brussels. Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula, a Roman Catholic church
And the Eternal Flame at the Congress Column, honouring the anonymous dead of World War I. An unknown soldier rests here under the statue
And the Eternal Flame at the Congress Column, honouring the anonymous dead of World War I. An unknown soldier rests here under the statue
I then decided to head over to the Atomium, which is quite a huge detour off as it's about 20 min out by metro. It's very possible to siam paying metro tix here unlike in Amsterdam...keke...but as always, I bought one first to "test water"! Hooray for the next 3 days in Brussels!
The self-ticketing machine uses some sorta rolling device which I think it's very different...though I initially thought it was some touch-screen interface
And there it is, the Atomium, which is something like the Eiffel Tower for the Belgians. It's like some space-age leftover from the 1950s. Well actually it was built for the World Exhibition in 1958, at a time of science and where people believed that atomic energy was the way to go.
Rising tall above the carpark
There's a funfair going on cos of the 50th anniversary of the Atomium this year
Entrance into the Atomium
Underneath the mighty balls of sphere...and steel
The 9 balls of the Atomium represent an iron crystal, magnified 165 billion times
Took the time to explore the Atomium and go from erm...ball to ball, via elevators and long moving staircases. Trying to get a feel of some ball sense here...
At the top of the highest ball first to have an overview of the place
Signs like these tell you which ball you are in
Great info, so I tried both methods....the lift method first...
And of cos the moving escalator which is actually the arm which connects the spheres
More helpful signs
And not forgetting the staircases
As I travelled up this escalator, the window holes in the ceiling showed a view....
....of this
Other spherical oddities...(a children's playroom with hey...a bed in the sphere!)
Railings...
And of cos...souvenirs!
There's a funfair going on cos of the 50th anniversary of the Atomium this year
Entrance into the Atomium
Underneath the mighty balls of sphere...and steel
The 9 balls of the Atomium represent an iron crystal, magnified 165 billion times
Took the time to explore the Atomium and go from erm...ball to ball, via elevators and long moving staircases. Trying to get a feel of some ball sense here...
At the top of the highest ball first to have an overview of the place
Signs like these tell you which ball you are in
Great info, so I tried both methods....the lift method first...
And of cos the moving escalator which is actually the arm which connects the spheres
More helpful signs
And not forgetting the staircases
As I travelled up this escalator, the window holes in the ceiling showed a view....
....of this
Other spherical oddities...(a children's playroom with hey...a bed in the sphere!)
Railings...
And of cos...souvenirs!
An incredibly weird place. Refreshingly different though I think the exhibits might appeal to the science geek kind. But for me, it was just plain odd to be actually travelling within a maginified iron crystal. Oh well...left the area and returned to Brussels looking for a bit of peace and quiet....to erm....regain my ball sense? Lol
My ball regaining composure began with a short stroll within the Parc de Bruxelles...
...to reach the Royal Palace at the Place des Palais
Impossible to capture the whole palace in one shot from the front as it's separated by a wide road in front...man this place would be perfect for YS's panorama!
I think this is a f***ing hilarious shot. As it was in the evening and there were very few people around, I was glad to finally see a tourist bus pull up, filled with PRCs. Got one to help me take a photo but sighz as with the prob of getting a stranger to take photo, especially on a solo trip, the shots don't turn up nicely or sometimes best...they won't know how to use my camera for some weird reason. In this case, this shot looks so out of point, and the guy din even warn me of the incoming parking car from the back!!!
Ahh...a much better shot...from another passer-by, no...not from the tour bus..
Crossing the street and peering down at the enormous garden
Walked through the city centre admiring the architecture and sights. The Place Royale Koningsplein where many of the city's museums are situated. In Europe, after a while, it's kinda natural to figure out that Place de something equals to some plaza. (Piazza for the Italians, plaza for the Spanish, place is for the French...predominantly French and Dutch speakers in Belgium)
The Palais de Justice (Palace of Justice) in the distance
A very interesting park here...according to my map guide from the hostel, the Zavel / Sablon park is surrounded by 48 little statues and 2 counts who were decapitated 440 years ago!!
This really nice Belgian lady was reading her book quietly at the park and I approached her to help me take a photo, chatted with her for awhile and she pointed to me the direction of Belgium chocs!
And so the quest for chocs begins....at the Place du Grand Sablon...recognise the big names?
My purchase for the day..though I also went to the supermarket to grab more over-the-counter chocs. Much cheaper too! Highly recommended to raid the supermarkets if you have the chance. Cote-d'Or is one of my favourites as it's really rich in flavour! And the choc bars serve as a shiok booster for this trip...keke :)
Ended the day with a late dinner at this frietkot (fries shop). Touted as "the best fries in Brussels from La Chapelle" Well actually the guide recommends some best fries throughout certain locations in Brussels. Best? Not too sure....but damn....the Belgiums are always super generous with their sauces!
Horrible 自拍...just enjoying with my fries...keke
...to reach the Royal Palace at the Place des Palais
Impossible to capture the whole palace in one shot from the front as it's separated by a wide road in front...man this place would be perfect for YS's panorama!
I think this is a f***ing hilarious shot. As it was in the evening and there were very few people around, I was glad to finally see a tourist bus pull up, filled with PRCs. Got one to help me take a photo but sighz as with the prob of getting a stranger to take photo, especially on a solo trip, the shots don't turn up nicely or sometimes best...they won't know how to use my camera for some weird reason. In this case, this shot looks so out of point, and the guy din even warn me of the incoming parking car from the back!!!
Ahh...a much better shot...from another passer-by, no...not from the tour bus..
Crossing the street and peering down at the enormous garden
Walked through the city centre admiring the architecture and sights. The Place Royale Koningsplein where many of the city's museums are situated. In Europe, after a while, it's kinda natural to figure out that Place de something equals to some plaza. (Piazza for the Italians, plaza for the Spanish, place is for the French...predominantly French and Dutch speakers in Belgium)
The Palais de Justice (Palace of Justice) in the distance
A very interesting park here...according to my map guide from the hostel, the Zavel / Sablon park is surrounded by 48 little statues and 2 counts who were decapitated 440 years ago!!
This really nice Belgian lady was reading her book quietly at the park and I approached her to help me take a photo, chatted with her for awhile and she pointed to me the direction of Belgium chocs!
And so the quest for chocs begins....at the Place du Grand Sablon...recognise the big names?
My purchase for the day..though I also went to the supermarket to grab more over-the-counter chocs. Much cheaper too! Highly recommended to raid the supermarkets if you have the chance. Cote-d'Or is one of my favourites as it's really rich in flavour! And the choc bars serve as a shiok booster for this trip...keke :)
Ended the day with a late dinner at this frietkot (fries shop). Touted as "the best fries in Brussels from La Chapelle" Well actually the guide recommends some best fries throughout certain locations in Brussels. Best? Not too sure....but damn....the Belgiums are always super generous with their sauces!
Horrible 自拍...just enjoying with my fries...keke
Up next: a day trip to neighbouring Ghent, and of course more of Brussels. My intention is to use Brussels as a strong base to launch day trips out to the neighbouring pretty towns of Ghent and Bruges. I haven't covered the main and best of what Brussels have to offer yet on this first day. Covered more of the quirky and off-beaten track. So stay tuned!
For more pics, go here
For more pics, go here
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