grrr

StCirq wrote: "In Brussels you can go see the Mannequin Pis"

Mannequin Pis?

I thought it to be Manneken Pis, Dutch for Little Man Pee.

Mannequin is an outdated word for model.

So Mannequin Pis would be Linda Evangelista peeing?

bilboburgler

I think there are some useful points raised by this article. We are kind of tough on newbies and people who do not fit into the understood mode. I guess we search for trolls or commercial players. Some of us are PC, Ultra PC or Anti-PC and let loose at those of other attitudes.

In this case a student, of unknown toughness did not get to understand the norm and just launched into the line with language which did not make any sense. Our fears were triggered and we thought we had found a "criminal". Equally the student could have been very open, but a note that there is a thread going at the moment where the student was open and others on the thread recommended that they went looking for dialogue elsewhere.

Are we unfriendly? Are we tough on outsiders? Does foreign language worry us? I don't hear the answers I want to hear

StCirq

Grrr: Brussels is in the French-speaking part of Belgium as far as I know. And I've seen Mannequin Pis as often as, if not more often than, Manneken Pis, though now that you mention it the French doesn't make much sense given the meaning of the phrase.

Is Mannequin Pis just plain wrong, or is it the acceptable French for Manneken Pis? Does anyone know for sure?

PalenQ

Ce n'est rien des choses amusants a Belgique sauf pour les frites, les moules et, bien sur, la biere.

Prost!

DonTopaz

<b><i>Brussels is in the French-speaking part of Belgium as far as I know. </i></b>

Nope. Brussels is actually an officially bilingual (French/Dutch) enclave. All of the provinces adjacent to Brussels are Dutch-language.

Padraig

rizzuto wrote: &quot;Brussels is actually an officially bilingual (French/Dutch) enclave.&quot;

True. But it is effectively a French-language city.

StCirq

I know what it is &quot;officially,&quot; but that doesn't negate the fact that it's predominantly a French-speaking city.

_christina_

For all of you who have posted a helpful comment, thank you very much for the response.

Padraig

Christina, I am really pleased that you have not gone away to sulk. Stick with us. Come here to research travel possibilities but don't expect too much French language practice; you can get that in other places.

PalenQ

there's the Atonium, a relic from a 1958 or so World's Fair and often now, along with the Mannequin Pis a symbol of Brussels - i believe there is a swell botanical gardens there as well

the Royal Palace area on a ridge overlooking town is very nice - formal gardens, clipped trees in the French style and a neat palace. there is also one of europe's largest edifices there - the government building i think

And you can window shop at one of Europe's classic redlight districts near the Gare du Nord ( south side of the tracks just out of the station) - Amsterdam like picture windows with scantily clad ladies

and Brussels is known for Art Nouveau but many of these formidable structures are south of the centrum - there is a tram that goes south thru a spiffy parklike area with art nouveau mansions and this tram continues to a vast park - a sweet part of Brussels few tourists venture into

And if Tintin is your bag check out the Herge (sp?) Museum