Brussels, Belgium

After a leisurely breakfast, we wandered into town to see the sights, detouring around the back of our hotel to visit the church (St Catherine) we had passed the night before. On the way to the ‘Grand Place’, our walk took us past the Old Brussels Stock Exchange on the steps of which demonstrations are traditionally held.

The main square of Brussels is ‘La Grand-Place’. The square (68 m x 110 m) is surrounded by an impressive array of Baroque Guild Halls, the Town Hall and the King’s House, containing the Brussels City Museum. The square is a popular tourist destination and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. It hosts a range of festive and cultural events.

After some window shopping, we walked around some streets outside the square and found a little cafe with some lovely authentic Belgium fare and a friendly cat. On the way back we heard a band playing and joined in the crowd following a group of officials from the Province of Hainaut, dressed in their red trimmed black gowns for a ceremony to dress the statue of the Manneken Pis – a custom carried out several times each week.

Some more wandering around to take in the sights and we caught a bus to show us further afield. Having passed the Mini-Europe Village and Atomium, and the lateness of the hour, we decided to revisit these the following day and headed back to town and hotel.

At dusk Joy and Austin walked back into town to see the famed lights. We were not disappointed. The crowds were still there and enjoying the sights as well. Each building picked out in its own colour which grew in intensity as the darkness increased. Also lots of window shops lit up as well.