Brussels to Bruges part 1

Last week husband and I took off on the Eurostar to Brussels. It was ace. Have you tried the Eurostar? That's a post in itself really, so exciting for this English girl to get on a train in London and get off in another country, must be the island living. I digress...

Brussels

Such a small city bursting with an array of architectural styles, different nationalities, languages and vibrant cultures. We had 3 days in Brussels so naturally one of those was spent enjoying our hotel and catching up on much needed rest. Party goers we are. When we weren't sleeping we visited the Grand Place, climbed up the Atomium, wandered around national parks, ate waffles and chocolate, drank Belgian beer and visited the European parliament.

The skies were grey, it rained some of the time and it was so very very cold. However, it was exciting to explore with my adventuring husband and it's another city ticked off my travel list. My favourite part? I'd love to say it was the culture but it was the food (history graduate truth right there).

Top tips for travelling to Brussels:

1. As with most of Europe now, carry a 50c "wee coin" to pay for public toilets
2. Research travel cards for the transport system as you can save a lot with passes instead of pay and go travel cards
3. If a hotel says it has a star rating take 1 star off to meet your "at home" expectations. We stayed here
4. You can walk to most places in the city, buy a map and see the sights as you walk
5. Lunch/breakfast snacks are cheaper and just as nice at a local Carrefour supermarket rather than using cafes all the time
6. On from 5, Brussels doesn't have many cafes, buy snacks when you can
7. Eating out in the evening is expensive, Brussels is expensive
8. Most museums run at a 15euro entry price for an adult...choose a couple you really want to visit
9. Brush up on your French, it'll be really useful for travelling around the city/reading signs
10. If you're travelling from London, Eurostar and Easyjet are cheap options to get there (we paid £30 p.p. return on Eurostar)

They love this little weeing statue

So. Much. Chocolate.

Fresh waffles 

A gold gilted building in the Grand Place

Grand Place

Atomium (you climb stairs inside the tubes to get to the spheres)

Spot the military security

I have no clue what this represents