The only trip you’ll regret is the one you didn’t take

Travelling abroad has been my dream ever since I was a child.

Movies, images, books every story and every image you take you to various places if you imagination was thirsty enough. However, seeing those places from up close is an entirely new feeling.

Visiting Belgium was something that’s been in the plans for a while, but due to the pandemic it had been put on hold. Since I am fully vaccinated (along with my companion) we thought it would be a nice opportunity now that things are more stable with the virus to take that trip. Obviously, we took our precautions because we might be vaccinated, but the virus and its alterations are not over with us just yet. We were equipped with antiseptic products, with masks and we made sure not to follow big crowds. Being careful and considerate of your health and others is the best thing you can do.

The trip to Brussels is not a long one from Greece. Typically it’s a 3-hour flight and if you choose the right airline it can actually be a very pleasant flight. We chose Lufthansa, which really treated us very well. They let us know when there was a change in the flight early and brought us refreshing water and chocolate during the flight that kept us hydrated and alerted.

I loved Brussels airport and if you are a fan of airports I am sure you will too. Generally, airports are like small malls and who doesn’t love shopping? The prices may not have been so friendly, but the chocolates – for me who didn’t think of buying early before departure – was splendid.

We landed at exactly 11:00 am, a very good time if you want to start exploring Brussels right away. A small hint for all travelers, as I was very well hinted as well, is to buy a pair of very good sport shoes made for walking if you want to survive and your legs not to give out. I bought a pair from Adidas with cloudfoam, best decision ever.

The very first thing we saw was Cinquantenair Park. A marvelous park that is bike and pick-nick friendly. We walked around the park for a bit and I was very taken with both the view and the people we were enjoying the nice, warm, summer sun that made the day very inviting for the crowd. As you may know, the weather in Brussels is not very stable and storms are regular, but we were blessed with a very nice summer day.
People were spread around the grass, some were soaking in the sun while others had a book in hand and were reading. Plenty of people in groups were enjoying a nice pick-nick while chatting away. They all looked so content and full of life that for a minute I wanted to be them and be able to enjoy that kind of blissfulness too.
From a historian point of view I don’t have much to say. It houses two museums, the Royal Art and History Museum and the Belgian Army Museum and Museum of Military History. The most important and spectacular thing there, however, is without a doubt the triumphal arch that was designed by Charles Girault. It’s grand and very well built that amazed us.

Another very important thing to see if you are a tourist is Grand Place (Grote Markt), a place where unique architecture is centered in various building around a grand space where people go to admire the view and of course, dine or grab a cup of coffee. If you are an architecture lover then it’s definitely a place that you will appreciate. The biggest building is Hôtel de Ville also known as Town Hall that was built in 1405 and remains one of the most well preserved buildings to this day.

We also passed by Saint-Michel Cathedral, a gothic church founded in 1225 but was completed in the 15 century, and was dedicated to St. Michael and St. Gudula the saints of Brussels. The church is truly a masterpiece that causes you to halt your breath. Its size and details simply makes you appreciate the form of art and imagination and of course work, that was put into creating that building.

Of course, as many of you may already know, Brussels has another one-of-a-kind place to visit and it’s no other than Mont des Arts. The view from the top, from the balcony, where you overlook Brussels and the colorful garden was amazing. I like seeing a city from the top and this was worth the walking. It’s a place where you simply must go. People are gathered there as a place to sit and relax on the chairs while watching the sunset and overlooking the city. The stairs and the garden was filled with people of all ages that had a beer in hand, which is known that in Belgium you simply must drink their beers, and were chatting.

If you visit Brussels then two things are a must. Tasting some of their beers, they have a very large variety that even naming them will take, and eat their own kind of street food called frites. What are those you are asking? French fries with all kinds of sauces of your choosing. It’s a fast and easy to carry street food that will get you going when you are hungry or taking a break from drinking.

Brussels is a city that is very clean, their roads are a bit confusing in the beginning when driving and you should definitely not go over the speed limit. They are also very respectful of their bike riders which is something I admire and respect it myself. They are trying to limit their cars and it’s actually quite smart because some roads are paved with large rocks and it’s not so easy for the cars to go there.

The gothic style in architecture is imprinted on various old buildings, even in old houses. Some rather old houses are still being preserved in their old glory, which I find very important for the safe keeping of the towns culture in general.

The weather can be a bit tricky, it changes every day and you can’t really keep up with it. A few warmer clothes and an umbrella is always something good to have with you in Brussels.

Overall, the city has so much to offer. Get yourself a nice pair of shoes and a bottle of water and roam the city to discover the hottest spots yourself. Exploring is always a good idea.

Thanks for reading!

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