View from the Atomium, miniature park in view
I took a day trip to Brussels when I was in Paris knowing it was small enough to cover the main attractions all in a day. Brussels has a unique mix of new and old, it has the charm of buildings inspired by classical antiquity, yet its role as the political centre of the European Union has brought sleek and modern glass and steel structures to its city centre.
Among its greatest attractions are the car museum, the numerous chocolate boutiques with delicious desserts, and the world-famous Atomium. Constructed for the 1958 world’s fair, a trip to the top will give you delightful views of the city below. You can even see the miniature park in its entirety! So bring a pair of sturdy binoculars to enjoy two attractions at the price one one.
European Parliament chamber
My favorite spot was the Parc du Cinquantenaire, this historic park with an enormous colonnade is just a hop skip and a step away from the EU Parliament building. I didn’t book online in advance this time, but I still got a spot on the guided tour! After registering with my passport at the front desk, we were allowed in to the main parliamentary chambers to see where all the important decisions were made on this continent.
Mannequin Pis, a very tiny boy
After a healthy dose of politics and education on a continental political union, the Mannequin Pis was next on the list. This famous little rascal is the origin of all those pissing little boys in fountains all over the world that attempt to mimic European flair. On my was back to the train station I elected to walk…after about three blocks of walking through a working class neighbourhood with blatant pickpocketing on the open streets, I realised that it was a poorly advised decision. So I got on the metro to get to the Gare and called it a day.
