My journey to Brussels started with only getting two hours of sleep as Julia and I headed to the airport at three in the morning. I have to say my first day traveling out of Ireland did not go as planned and pretty much everything that could of gone wrong did. While we were waiting in line for breakfast, I received a text message from my mom that Grandma Bea passed away in her sleep just a few hours before. She was definitely one of Winfield's finest and knew how to chat your ear off. (Hearing that she passes wasn't shocking but upsetting none the less. She was a wonderful woman who loved her family and always had a smile on her face. I wish I could be there with my family and friends as they attend her wake today and funeral tomorrow.)
As we were waiting in line to board we realized we never got our visas checked and stamped before we went through security. At this point I realized that wow we might not be getting on this plane and literally going back to the college. We could get out of line and go back but we would for sure miss our flight. Julia and I decided to play dumb, try to get through and hope they would let us on. Extremely nervous, I handed my papers and explained that I have never flown in Europe and didn't know any better. Thank the Lord she was a friendly woman! She warned us that next time they would not allow us on the plane if this happened again. She stamped us and let us on the flight.
As we were waiting in line to board we realized we never got our visas checked and stamped before we went through security. At this point I realized that wow we might not be getting on this plane and literally going back to the college. We could get out of line and go back but we would for sure miss our flight. Julia and I decided to play dumb, try to get through and hope they would let us on. Extremely nervous, I handed my papers and explained that I have never flown in Europe and didn't know any better. Thank the Lord she was a friendly woman! She warned us that next time they would not allow us on the plane if this happened again. She stamped us and let us on the flight.
It was an hour and twenty minute flight and I could barely keep my eyes open. When we landed in Belgium we headed straight for customs. I handed the gentlemen my papers and he asked me "What is the reason for your visit?" The only thing that popped in my head at the time was "Waffles Sir!" He laughed, smiled and said "Waffles it is then!" He stamped my papers and I kept moving forward. We went two floors down in the airport and bought our train ticket to downtown Brussels Central. From Brussels Central we took the underground Metro two stops to reach our hostel. (picture of train station underground, in the metro and walking out)
If my day couldn't get any worse when I arrived at my hostel I found out due to a booking error my bed was given to someone else....Now I'm in a new country, don't speak the language and don't have a place to sleep tonight. I immediately start to panic! I freaked out for a good 20 minutes and then realized that this wasn't helping me at all. I needed to figure out my options. I found a hostel two blocks away from where my friends were staying. They had plenty of booking available which made me relieved. Knowing I did not want to stay alone, Julia was generous enough to offer her bed to share for the weekend. I was very lucky to be traveling with such an amazing friend that had my back. After our crazy morning, we realized that we were starving and went for a walk to look around for food. We went into a few places to look at the menu but we had no idea how to read french and were clueless on what was what. Thank the Lord we saw 'Pizzeria' and in any language we knew what that meant. The staff of the restaurant were all Italian and very welcoming. I ordered a delicious pizza for 11 euro and my hunger finally was at bay.
We walked around for a little while longer until not getting any sleep finally caught up to us. I was really lucky that the hostel was pretty busy and no one knew I wasn't suppose to be there. We headed up to the room for the first time and took a hour nap. When we woke up we got a text from our friends that they had arrived and were down in the lobby. We all met up and decided to walk to the Grand Palace to site see and get some dinner. Still upset from everything that happened earlier in the day and despite being emotionally and physically drained I kept a smile on my face. I was not going to let anything ruin this trip for me.
Coming to Brussels I really didn't know what to expect but it sure wasn't what I thought it would be. The city was full of graffiti, art and culture. We found a place to eat called Tongerlo and I tried a new Belgium beer called Mystic. It was incredibly delicious and I 'thought' it was the best beer I have ever had. So of course I ordered two!
We walked around for a little while longer until not getting any sleep finally caught up to us. I was really lucky that the hostel was pretty busy and no one knew I wasn't suppose to be there. We headed up to the room for the first time and took a hour nap. When we woke up we got a text from our friends that they had arrived and were down in the lobby. We all met up and decided to walk to the Grand Palace to site see and get some dinner. Still upset from everything that happened earlier in the day and despite being emotionally and physically drained I kept a smile on my face. I was not going to let anything ruin this trip for me.
Coming to Brussels I really didn't know what to expect but it sure wasn't what I thought it would be. The city was full of graffiti, art and culture. We found a place to eat called Tongerlo and I tried a new Belgium beer called Mystic. It was incredibly delicious and I 'thought' it was the best beer I have ever had. So of course I ordered two!
After dinner we walked to the Grand Palace and it really was a site to see. The square was nothing like I imaged. People were everywhere on the cobble street next to incredible buildings. I researched the Grand Palace before I came here and the pictures did not do it justice. It was breathtaking in the day and the night. The lights of the building in the square at night was nothing like anything I have ever seen and I will never forget it. (pictures of the square)
We took some pictures like all tourist do and kept walking. We found ourselves down a street filled with Belgium CHOCOLATE shops. I have to stay I have NEVER in my life seen more chocolate than I did walking down that street. I felt like a I was in Willy Wonka and I wanted to try all of it. There were all different flavors, different sizes, chocolate fountains, bricks of chocolate and etc. I picked out 20 different chocolates and put them in a box to bring back to Dublin. Then I got myself a marsh mellow gram cracker covered in chocolate to eat at that moment because I couldn't help myself. Next we found what I had been looking for since I arrived which was a WAFFLE! This wasn't just any normal waffle. It was the waffle that I could never of dreamed of! It was a waffle topped with fresh strawberries and covered in Belgium chocolate. There really are not words to describe the mouth savoring taste.
After stuffing our faces, we walked into a greenery area outside of the Royal Brussels Library. As we were walking around through the greenery I saw many things. There were people playing instruments and singing, couples making out, people smoking and just other people walking around like us. As we walked closer to the library we realized it was open and we walked in to look around. We saw an abnormal amount of people there for an event that was happening that night which was a museum night tour for 14 euro. Basically they offered a shuttle up till 1AM to visit up to 22 museums. Even though I could barely keep my eyes open at this point I bought a ticket. We headed to a museum that was in the library itself and looked at that first. Then we headed to the Museum of Instruments. We waiting in line for about 20 minutes till we were let in. I really was surprised how many people were doing this museum tour. It seems like all of Brussels young and old were there for the event.
The Instrument Museum was pretty amazing. They handed us these devices and every time we stood next to an instrument on display it would play a song of what it sounds like. There were many different types of instruments that I have never heard or seen before. The whole building was 10 floors with different things to see. There was this one floor of interpret dancing. There were guys dancing all around. I had no idea what they were doing but enjoyed being clueless none the less. After the 2 museums, Julia and I physically could not stay awake. We wanted to keep going but decided it was for the best to leave. We left and took a shuttle to the nearest museum to our hostel and walked from there. On our way back we saw a pretty incredible sight. I rocket literally went into space right in front of us. I couldn't get a clear picture because the moon was really bright. But it shot straight into the air leaving behind a black streak of smoke and then disappeared into the night sky. (best picture I could get)
The Instrument Museum was pretty amazing. They handed us these devices and every time we stood next to an instrument on display it would play a song of what it sounds like. There were many different types of instruments that I have never heard or seen before. The whole building was 10 floors with different things to see. There was this one floor of interpret dancing. There were guys dancing all around. I had no idea what they were doing but enjoyed being clueless none the less. After the 2 museums, Julia and I physically could not stay awake. We wanted to keep going but decided it was for the best to leave. We left and took a shuttle to the nearest museum to our hostel and walked from there. On our way back we saw a pretty incredible sight. I rocket literally went into space right in front of us. I couldn't get a clear picture because the moon was really bright. But it shot straight into the air leaving behind a black streak of smoke and then disappeared into the night sky. (best picture I could get)
When we made it to our room everyone was already fast asleep and the lights were off. It was really nice because nobody realized that I wasn't even suppose to be there. The next morning we woke up early and walked to this huge church or palace with a beautiful walk way of trees. We found a bakery near by and I bought a croissant and ate it on the grass. It was a beautifully 63 degrees and a sunny day out and everything seemed pretty perfect. (two picture in front of the palace)
After that we all walked to the metro and traveled 25 minutes to see the Atomium. They were these giant balls in the air that we went inside of. I really don't know how to go about even describing it. (two pictures of Atomium)
We ate lunch outside of the Atomium on the steps next to the park. We walked through the park and then headed back to the metro. We all spent a hour in the hostel resting then we headed back out for dinner. We found this great place to sit outside and i ordered a caprese salad and chips at the Falstaff. I thought I had tasted the best beer I have would have the night before but I was wrong. I ordered a raspberry beer called Framboise and I will never forget it. After dinner we of course treated ourselves to another Belgium chocolate strawberry waffle. We walked back to the Grand Palace to see it one more time before heading back to the hostel. We went to bed and woke up early for the airport to head back to Dublin.