Brussels

Next week I will be joining my father who will be presenting his new book to the Greek politicians of the European Parliament in Brussels.

Anything interesting to eat, drink, listen to and see over there?
I am not really interested in architecture, so I am hoping to discover something more intimate.
I've been to the city before, but that was half a lifetime ago and the only things I remember was a dark restaurant, a young woman undressing in a clothing boutique that caught my innocent eye and a Megadeth video clip on TV.
I might be bringing a camera with me.

Good beer, good food, and very friendly people, plenty of bars, clubs etc.

I couldn't possibly suggest visiting the more intimate parts of the city, well certainly not alone with a camera.

Ian

Ian Grant said:

Good beer, good food, and very friendly people, plenty of bars, clubs etc.

I couldn't possibly suggest visiting the more intimate parts of the city, well certainly not alone with a camera.

Ian

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Well, Ian, you are a tease!
Can you elaborate?
Or point me in a general direction to find more information?

Geert, the glass man is the best person to ask.

Ian

Here I am!

I'm not that familiar with Brussels, although I live only 15 Km from the city.
I'l PM you my mobile phone number, you might give me a call and maybe I can take a day off to join you? (if you'd like that...)

Brussels isn't that intimate, at least the parts that I know... I do know some pittoresque streets, but they will likely crowded by tourists.

Geert

Plenty to see in Brussels!

It's a very odd city, not the easiest one to 'get' if you want for the tourist I find. Major parts of it have been demolished over the last century to make way for modernist stuff, offices and other oddities, but when you move away from where everyone else goes (Manneken Pis and the Grande Place I guess) it really has so many surprises.

I'd advise to go to the Marolles, which is the old working class quarter and still pretty much authentic. It's at the foot of the Law Courts (which in itself might be interesting on a week day, its vastness is just insane and I think lawyers in their suits might be interesting subjects) a lift goes down to it from there so it's pretty easy to find. Another funny sight might be the thousands of civil servants commuting at Central Station. They always manage to look very typical, but perhaps that might be more of an acquired taste, lol...

Of course when you want to see lively, colourful things, the migrant neighbourhoods at eg. Schaerbeek might be of interest too.

For a fantastic panorama, visit the cafe located on the top floor of the Music Instrument museum. It is located nearly at the top of the climb you have to make from Central Station to Royal Palace and you can enter free of charge if you want to go to the café (where you have to have a drink, obviously, but the view is really quite rewarding).

I'll try to think of other things, quite sure there will be (flea) markets, also quite nice to visit I find.

Enjoy!

Thank you ZeD.
I am interested in good cafes to drink coffee or chocolate,
a good place for belgian beer which I love and local delicacies,
somewhere with good music, of rock, jazz or classical persuasion?

Are there any good events happening next week?
I would be mostly interested in dance (ballet, modern, etc) or music,
or maybe something else worth attending.

Is there any good place to find information online?

Oh and how about a photo store that has type 120 film?

Consider a side trip to Bruges.
While I like Brussels, this alternate location is far more photogenic with canals, a vibrant city center, and pre-war architecture.

For rock concerts Ancienne Belgique, Cirque Royal/Botanique would be where you want to go, next week the second one seems to be the more interesting one among those. For high quality classical music Bozar is the place you need to visit, they also do dance and other high quality arts. The finals of the Queen Elisabeth competition are also scheduled next week, this is one of the most highly regarded competitions in classical music around the world AFAIK.

When it comes to Jazz, the most logical place would be L'Archiduc I guess, though I have never really been there.

Beers most cafés have, but probably one of the nicer places would be A La Mort Subite, have a look on the list at wikitravel I suggest (overall a fine resource). Food-wise there are some nice places around the Place Ste Catherine, very cosy neighbourhood as well.

Not a clue about the 120, I stock mine closer to my place (a ten minutes stroll that is) in Antwerp

Don12x20 said:

Consider a side trip to Bruges.
While I like Brussels, this alternate location is far more photogenic with canals, a vibrant city center, and pre-war architecture.

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IMHO Bruges is a bit overly touristy. Instead opt for Ghent, much more lively and cosy, actually mixes the best of Belgium's other three top cities in one single place! (and that coming from someone from Antwerp is quite something, as Belgians probably know ) Has the architecture as well plus local people, great!

I really have so little to offer, yet, I'm going to.

I spend just over 30 minutes in Brussels, well, Brussels Airport (on the way to Copenhagen) and still found something to take a picture of. The urinal in the men's room. They all had Flies in them, not actual flies but a little Stamp of a fly in the porcelain right near the drain holes, like it was stuck. I thought it was hilarious. Probably extremely touristy but I couldn't help myself.

jerk151 said:

I really have so little to offer, yet, I'm going to.

I spend just over 30 minutes in Brussels, well, Brussels Airport (on the way to Copenhagen) and still found something to take a picture of. The urinal in the men's room. They all had Flies in them, not actual flies but a little Stamp of a fly in the porcelain right near the drain holes, like it was stuck. I thought it was hilarious. Probably extremely touristy but I couldn't help myself.

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I will definitely check it out! Could be a good picture there!

Thank you a lot for all the information ZeD, I really appreciate it.
To tell you the truth I wasn't looking forward to that trip and now I am,
especially because of the planned meeting with Geert.

The neibeourghood of the Saint Bonniface near the Chaussé de Wavre, called Matongé, and also around the 'Koninklijke Vlaamsche Schouwburg' (kunstenfestivaldesarts www.Kunstenfestivaldesarts.be ) at the Quai aux pierres de taille, are not crowded by tourists and sometimes 'peaceful'.

Philippe

LunaBee

Also give this a listen. I like it quite a bit, if there is a show I think it would be worth the effort.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=29865218

There is another site link from this page but it is in French and I do not speak it.

I'd second the suggestion of a trip to Ghent. Brugges is absolutely beautiful, but I found myself working very hard to stay out of other tourist's snapshots even in the first week of May - it would be worse now. Ghent is also quite beautiful but it is more a working city and a university town. Every surface in the old part of the city is paved, though, so the traffic on foot, on bicycle, in cars and in trams seems to come at you from everywhere and at a great rate of speed - especially the bikes! Ghent is also just one stop away on the inter-city train from Brussels-zuid. (also known as Brussels-midi, though the train schedules seldom call it that.

Good beer, good food, nice people and a night life that seems pretty lively (though I'm an old fart and didn't partake)

Enjoy!

So, Ari... did you have a good/interesting/... time in Brussels? How was the mini-APUG-get-together ?

Whiteymorange said:

I'd second the suggestion of a trip to Ghent. Brugges is absolutely beautiful, but I found myself working very hard to stay out of other tourist's snapshots even in the first week of May - it would be worse now. Ghent is also quite beautiful but it is more a working city and a university town. Every surface in the old part of the city is paved, though, so the traffic on foot, on bicycle, in cars and in trams seems to come at you from everywhere and at a great rate of speed - especially the bikes! Ghent is also just one stop away on the inter-city train from Brussels-zuid. (also known as Brussels-midi, though the train schedules seldom call it that.

Good beer, good food, nice people and a night life that seems pretty lively (though I'm an old fart and didn't partake)

Enjoy!

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I call Brugges "Little Tokyo" myself because of the vast amounts of Japanese tourists. Ghent (where I live btw) is far more interesting, and although it has it's share of tourism it's nowhere as immense as Brugges. Certain center parts are car free (except for public transport). All in all it's a great city.

And oh, in the Flemish part Brussel-Midi is always called Brussel-Zuid as we speak Flemish and not French.

kraker said:

So, Ari... did you have a good/interesting/... time in Brussels? How was the mini-APUG-get-together ?

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My sincere apologies!
I meant to have reported much sooner, but many important things have happened in my life that left me completely breathless.
I will have something with photos ASAP!

Meanwhile I have to give my many thanks to Geert for his wonderful company and patience and diplomacy while I dragged him around Brussels while the poor Belgian was wearing a Speed Graphic+Rolleiflex heavy backpack.
It was honestly very nice meeting you Geert and unfortunate we didn't have any other beer than the one in the park.

jerk151 said:

I really have so little to offer, yet, I'm going to.

I spend just over 30 minutes in Brussels, well, Brussels Airport (on the way to Copenhagen) and still found something to take a picture of. The urinal in the men's room. They all had Flies in them, not actual flies but a little Stamp of a fly in the porcelain right near the drain holes, like it was stuck. I thought it was hilarious. Probably extremely touristy but I couldn't help myself.

Click to expand...

Its a Latin Joke.
Its a picture of a Bee, the latin name of which is Apis
Its for target practice (or checking the focus on your lens)

And as for Brussels. The architecture is worth getting some shots of, and as for food the national habit of chips with Mayonnaise sounds odd, but is actually rather tasty

Hi All, and especially Ari!

Dead Link Removed... more images are to come online soon.
(click on the pictures for a nice 600x600px view)

My back's not broken from dragging around the speed graphic, but my neck still hurts from focussing the Rolleiflex

Here's Ari tasting some genuine Belgain French fries!

Dead Link Removed

Kind regards,
Geert

Damn, I need to cut down those fries.
They sure make me look fat!
And I also need to develop those pictures...
I have atleast one with Geert bending over with that Rolleiflex...
Thanks for the portrait!

Time to post some images. Long overdue actually.
They are negative scans so forgive the imperfections.
I am also still trying to get used to the Rolleiflex and those were my very first ones with the camera, so there were a few who were really blurry or out of focus or very underexposed that unfortunately didn't make the cut.
Geert, if you want bigger ones or prints, please tell me.

And last two: