Brussels has a heart and soul

Belgium, known worldwide as the centre of the diamond trade and the seat of the European Parliament, is not as dreary as critics make it out to be.

For those who think that its capital Brussels is the seat of bureaucracy, the home of Eurocrats who control European political scene from here is so boring that only politicians and businessmen who visit it should look at the city with a new brush.

It has a lot on offer if you have the interest, the time and the patience to visit a city that even if it is not as vibrant as Paris, can equally generate excitement.

Brussels is a city of contrasts that defy definition.

Its ornate splendour of the Grand Place, the art nouveau mansions and the beautiful glass edifices of buildings such as the European Union Parliament and the nouveau mansions will remain etched in your memory for a long time.

I boarded the Eurostar or the Chunnel train from London St Pancras International Station headed for the 130-minute journey.

We travelled through a 51-kilometre tunnel beneath the English Channel through to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais, near Calais and on to Brussels via Lille, arriving at Bruxelles-Midi or Brussels-Zuid, the biggest railway station in the Belgian capital.

Bilingual country

This station has 22 platforms with connecting services to Germany, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland.

Eurostar’s high-speed service is the much preferred mode of transport for Britons to France and Belgium these days and is suitable for budget-oriented travellers.

Belgium is a bilingual country where both French and Dutch are spoken. English joined the ranks much later though many Belgians speak a smattering of English.

Brussels is a captivating city.  It is a true mixture of cultures and the meeting point of Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia. The best way to see the city is on foot.

The city’s café culture is alluring with plenty of good food which is naturally washed down with high quality Belgian beer for which the country is well-known.

Its crisp fries or Moules-frites and waffles are famed delicacies found everywhere.

I went to a café and got myself some steaming hot mussels and moules frites, a comfort food that is a national obsession.

The famed Belgian chocolate comes from Belgium and one finds plenty of tempting boxes on display in the well-stocked shops or chocolatiers of Brussels whose stores have sleek interiors.

Brussels has always been known for its creativity and art and this is a very good reason to visit this city.

There is an impressive line-up of galleries ranging from the stunning Bozar (Centre of Fine Arts) to Musee Magritte and the Royal Museum of Fine Arts founded by Napoleon Bonaparte featuring works of Flemish greats such as Pieter Brueghel and Rogier van der Weyden.

Also worth a visit is Museum of Musical Instruments which houses a collection of 7,000 musical instruments displayed over several floors.

The pieces range from trumpets, pianos and violins from different countries around the world and across the ages.

I took a recorded walking tour guide and headphones which brought to life the sounds and rhythms of the musical instruments. If you are a music buff, this is worth a visit.

Afterwards I visited the wonderful rooftop restaurant and enjoyed the food and amazing views of Brussels.

Tourist traps

A trip to Brussels is incomplete without a visit to The Grand Place, a real jewel which is crowded with tourists and locals. Its spectacular architecture is a feast to the eyes.

There are plenty of chocolatiers where those with a sweet tooth can buy luxury chocolates. Rest assured that unless the doctor has ordered you not to eat sugar, these slabs of mouth-watering chocolate will not quite make it home!

There are many restaurants also in the square but beware some eateries here could be tourist traps. There is a completely different feel if you visit it in the day and in the night when it is beautifully lit up.

It is bloom time in August of every other year when flower power rules and the Grand Place is the scene of the magnificent Florallen Time Festival. The event features a concert accompanied with sound and light show every evening.

On Assumption Day, a colourful 77 by 24-metre carpet of over 600,000 eye-catching coloured begonia or other flowers is laid out at this popular landmark.

The work of 120 volunteers is installed only for one weekend.

The area is so overcrowded on that summer weekend that revellers barely find standing space.

Those lucky enough to enter the balcony of the City Hall enjoy an amazing view of the flower carpet.

Brussels has 13 markets which are open on different days of the week and where you can find interesting bargains and trinkets on sale.

Despite its laid-back nature, I liked Brussels more than Paris as people are nicer in the Belgian capital.

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