Life is like a box of chocolates
And you never know what you’re going to get. In the case of Belgium, it couldn’t be truer. Just like a box of chocolates, it’ll surprise you, tempt you and leave you in awe, sometimes all at once. And we are proof to this awesomeness. In all honesty, Belgium lives up to the adage, good things come in small packages. So don’t let the size of this country fool you. Oozing with an old-world charm and new-age panache, Belgium has everything. From quaint belfries, to medieval structures to uber-cool cafes, Belgium is that giant waffle topped with all things lovely. Oh, and speaking of waffles, that brings us to the next best thing Belgium is really, really famous for – Chocolates. Chocolate lover or not, you can’t go to Belgium and not try the chocolates.
What A Grand Place
One of the places we visited and loved was the Grand Place in Brussels. Also known as the Grote Market, this place is grand and how. Surrounded by guild halls and large edifices, this iconic square is a sneak-peek into the 17th century, almost like a walk in the past. An eclectic blend of art and architecture, it’s not surprising that this little gem has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located away from the hustle-bustle of the main street, Grand Place is best explored on foot. So after manoeuvring our way through the narrow side alleys, we finally found ourselves in the middle of this marvel. And it was stunning. It was as if we were surrounded by of history, art and culture, from every direction. No, we are not exaggerating. It’s the kind of place you need to see to believe. But wait, that’s just the beginning of this grandeur. There are even more narrow cobblestoned alleys that lead to delicious treats, souvenirs and cafes. We made sure we stopped for a warm waffle loaded with cream and chocolate sauce. It was delicious and worth every calorie. After a fat-binge, we then scouted stores for souvenirs. Both of us love collecting keepsakes so we thoroughly enjoyed hopping from shop to shop to snog some nifty deals.
Size Does Matter
If you’re wondering, the staple souviner here the Manneken-Pis. It’s a bronze statue of a naked boy peeing into the fountain. It signifes the rebellious spirit of the City Of Brussels. Now, we had heard a lot about it and of course we were excited to see it. And when we finally did, we were disappointed. It wasn’t a huge structure as we had imaged it to be. In fact, it’s a small sculpture that you’re likely to miss if you don’t look around. Of course, we did pick up the Manneken-Pis souviner, a quirky one that too. But let’s just say, in this case, size does matter.
Weekend Wayfarer tip – The Chocolaterie Manneken Pis is a chocolate shop situated right next to the statue. You can pick up some yummy chocolates and fantastic beer here.
All in all, we enjoyed Belgium. And if first impressions are anything to go by, this one lives up to it. It’s a lovely little place that packs a punch. And let’s just say, it pleasantly knocked us out.