tailsock

this is the next stop on our journey through Europe.......previous one was London.. there's a link at the very end to link the two

www.belgiumtripreport.blogspot.com

Cowboy1968

Nice report!!
I think you did a great job to bring your impressions to life. And also great pictures!

As someone who has to travel to Brussels twice a month I can tell you that public transportation can be somewhat demanding. And the metro stops do look as if you got there somewhat in the middle of the construction work.

If you ever happen to be in Bxl again: Other, more "local" areas to go out at night for dinner or drinks are slightly more SE of the central part / Grand Place. Especially the area in Ixelles between Place Saint Boniface and Place Flagey is filled with cafes, restaurants, pubs and very lively at night. Not too many tourists get there and even though it's not far from the historic city center. But you don't have a metro stop really close nearby so it's probably overlooked usually.

As much as I like Antwerpen, you did right in chosing Gent. Especially with your preference for typical old Flemish architecture.

I hope the rest of your trip was as much fun.

tailsock

thanks Cowboy... the closer it got to the trip i kept going back and forth between Antwerp and Ghent before finally deciding on the latter. in the end it was the canals and medieval pulse that sealed my decision.. i still want to visit Antwerp one day but the cosmo vibe we would come across in Paris and i wanted to change it up

Apres_Londee

Great trip report and great looking blog! I'll have to catch up with your London report.

The metro stations look almost exactly like the subway stations here in Toronto, except ours are dingier and the walls have these large dingy tiles that make the stations look like institutional washrooms from the 1950's. But otherwise they are exactly the same! LOL

I've been thinking about going to Belgium in November and people here have warned me it's not the best time to go because of the weather, etc. Your report is helping me think about saving Belgium for a greener time!

Looking forward to the Paris installment!

irishface

Thanks for your story and pictures. I have a college friend who worked for the state department and so I was lucky to be able to visit her on her tours of duty to Belgium. Being a teacher, I had to go in summer so I got to see so many of the gardens in full bloom. My friend showed me a lot of nooks and crannies and I got to explore on my own while she was at work. Loved it and loved your tale. Thanks for sharing!

Mathieu

Once again, you've done a great job with your Belgian Trip Report and blog Tailsock.
There is so much to like about it - especially your obvious appreciation of beer ! - all made easier by your honest and observant story-telling style. Great job.
Yes, Brussels is pretty much as you found it (the government grey capital of the EU), but it is also much prettier in May or later, as when I was there some years ago. There are more pastoral zones nearby as well. Too funny about wanting to teach the late night drunken reveller a thing or two that you learned from Mannequin Pis ! The Grand Place is the highlight and I too have some decent pictures of the pastel Flemish buildings surrounding it.

Speaking of pictures, your photos of Brussels and Ghent are spectacular yet again, and if I had to choose one from this collection, it would be the one of the Bourse. The lighting in that one is beautiful. In fact, I like all your pictures taken at dusk or early evening across all your albums. You have a talented eye and masterful camera skills.

I can just imagine what fodder Paris must have given your camera and your eye, and I can't wait to see the results.


M

aprillilacs

What a fun report. Thanks for the detail and the great pictures. Wish they were bigger, though--the picture of the Atomium was a better size. Can you make more of them at least that size in your future blogs?

I'll be in Belgium at the end of August so there should be lots of leaves. And beer. Your report has given me some ideas of what to expect in Brussels!

Mathieu

Aprillilacs, did you try clicking on the smaller pictures ? They open into their own album, and a larger size.

tailsock

Apres_Londee: my expectations were too high for the time of year. it wasn't even about hoping for the best... i just assumed the best and put some mustard on it.


Mathieu: thanks for all the encouragement. it took me over a week and a half to put together a report for two days HAHA. Paris will probably take twice that long and yes, i had my work cut out for me. photographer's PARADISE


aprillilacs: click on the photo and then hit the ESC key when you're done

aprillilacs

Well, that helps! I really like Brussels photos #9 and 29, and of course #57. That one's gorgeous. We'll be spending about 2.5 weeks in Amsterdam and Belgium, mostly traveling by train but renting a car for the final 6 days. I'm a little wary--we've taken some fantastic trips in the last few years, so I'm hoping the area doesn't disappoint. I like that you made the best of your visit in a less than stellar time of year. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experiences.

Mathieu

I can just imagine tailsock, lol !
I spent a month in France last October (Paris, Toulouse, Reims and La Rochelle), and even though I was only able to take photos for about half that time, I still came away with 1,700 pictures. (I practically camped beneath the Eiffel Tower at night with my tripod... I'm sure you know what I mean).
Thanks to digital photography and amazing subjects and opportunities.

Looking forward to it !