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Between us, we've been all round the world on here.
Just thought I'd post a quick one about a Eurostar break I saw advertised in the Observer for ?170 each.
My missus and I fancied some time away before heading for Cuba, and we chose Brussels as the destination for us. We knew all the other route cities except for Lyon and will do that another time.
The train was great. The hotel room / bars / restaurant / breakfast facilities were fantastic.
Brussels was fine because there are good Underground and tram networks, but we walked just about everywhere because it was fantastic weather and most places of interest are accessible by foot.
We just lounged around on cafe terraces and ate moules-frites and steaks and stuff all over the place. Plenty of great places to eat that weren't too dear.
Lively nightlife and bars. Very little live music - which surprised me - and no smoking inside any bar we visited.
I spent loads of time under trees in parks and on cafe terraces at all hours smoking away and relaxing in front of Royal Palaces and waterfalls and giant elephant statues.
I saw one cigar shop out of hours in the De Brouck area just north of the main square, and we walked into Davidoff in a pretty chic area of the city. I did the obligatory pilgrimage visit, but didn't buy anything because I'd loaded up my travel humidor with conkers for the trip and needed for nothing cigar-wise.
The only slight downside to the trip was that street beggars have increased by many times since our last visit there ten years ago. We watched what was going on, and it was clear there are 'professional' beggars on the make.
The worst instance was in a lively tourist area when my missus and I were eating out when a little girl (2? 3?) was sent to nick my ice-cream plate, and then sent again to nick my wife's drink. I'm quite good at turning my head away - whilst having all the lefty sympathies in the world, you understand - but the kiddy's nicking hands were a complete pain, and the restaurant staff didn't intervene.
Back to the positive:
The best thing in the city, for the two of us, was the flea market area. I go to a field near Dover on a Sunday which is full of Wellington boots and comics and is laughingly called a boot fair. This street market in Brussels was a million miles away from that. There are specialist shops for 1970s TV equipment and plastic furniture and lampshades, art nouveau furniture in black leather and chrome, African masks and artefacts. It is one fucking groovy spot, brothers. I imagine film-makers come to an area like this for authentic kit for TV shows and films.
Anyway...
If you are ever after a few days away - especially if you have access to Ebbsfleet for the Eurostar - I'd recommend Brussels wholeheartedly.
Just thought I'd post a quick one about a Eurostar break I saw advertised in the Observer for ?170 each.
My missus and I fancied some time away before heading for Cuba, and we chose Brussels as the destination for us. We knew all the other route cities except for Lyon and will do that another time.
The train was great. The hotel room / bars / restaurant / breakfast facilities were fantastic.
Brussels was fine because there are good Underground and tram networks, but we walked just about everywhere because it was fantastic weather and most places of interest are accessible by foot.
We just lounged around on cafe terraces and ate moules-frites and steaks and stuff all over the place. Plenty of great places to eat that weren't too dear.
Lively nightlife and bars. Very little live music - which surprised me - and no smoking inside any bar we visited.
I spent loads of time under trees in parks and on cafe terraces at all hours smoking away and relaxing in front of Royal Palaces and waterfalls and giant elephant statues.
I saw one cigar shop out of hours in the De Brouck area just north of the main square, and we walked into Davidoff in a pretty chic area of the city. I did the obligatory pilgrimage visit, but didn't buy anything because I'd loaded up my travel humidor with conkers for the trip and needed for nothing cigar-wise.
The only slight downside to the trip was that street beggars have increased by many times since our last visit there ten years ago. We watched what was going on, and it was clear there are 'professional' beggars on the make.
The worst instance was in a lively tourist area when my missus and I were eating out when a little girl (2? 3?) was sent to nick my ice-cream plate, and then sent again to nick my wife's drink. I'm quite good at turning my head away - whilst having all the lefty sympathies in the world, you understand - but the kiddy's nicking hands were a complete pain, and the restaurant staff didn't intervene.
Back to the positive:
The best thing in the city, for the two of us, was the flea market area. I go to a field near Dover on a Sunday which is full of Wellington boots and comics and is laughingly called a boot fair. This street market in Brussels was a million miles away from that. There are specialist shops for 1970s TV equipment and plastic furniture and lampshades, art nouveau furniture in black leather and chrome, African masks and artefacts. It is one fucking groovy spot, brothers. I imagine film-makers come to an area like this for authentic kit for TV shows and films.
Anyway...
If you are ever after a few days away - especially if you have access to Ebbsfleet for the Eurostar - I'd recommend Brussels wholeheartedly.
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