Hard to believe it’s been six months since we got back from Europe. It’s even harder to believe I’ve had this journal sitting on my desk for that long, waiting to finish up my posts about it. The length of time it’s taken me to write this probably had something to do with my overall feeling about it. There was nothing wrong or disappointing per se, but not only did it rain quite a bit, it was also the point in the trip where I was really starting to wear down. I mostly just wanted to drink beer and eat moules and frites, so the rest of our time there was somewhat secondary.
Looking back through my notes, I get the feeling that I was really, really tired during our time in Brussels. There is much talk of walking everywhere, not getting enough sleep, wanting to rest more, being sick of spending several hours eating dinner out every night and rain, rain, rain. I don’t blame the city, but I do think the city was so… common… that it couldn’t overcome the hurdles. What exactly do I mean by common? Well, if I had to pick any city that Brussels reminded me of, it would be DC. I can’t really explain it, but there’s something very governmental about Brussels that is a lot like our national’s capital. I’m sure it being the center of the European Union has a lot to do with it, although it’s a lot more about the “feel” of the city than any specific branding.
I think there are a few things people should know if they’re gonna visit, so here’s my short list.
- Most things are in English and Dutch, but there is quite a bit of English being spoken. Waitstaff know quite a bit of English but they’re still surprised to meet American tourists.
- The french fries are everything they’re supposed to be and more. They are truly the best fries I’ve ever had; things like curry ketchup and mayo as toppings doesn’t hurt. I personally think the waffles are overrated, but I’m not a huge sweet person. I mean they’re good, but I can’t say I feel the need to have another.
- Brussels is a very walkable city. The streets are clean, well marked and the layout is conducive to exploring. Public transportation is efficient and easy to use, although some areas of the city are more prone to riding with questionable characters.
- Beer, beer, beer. The beer is great, there are a ton of places to drink it and I didn’t drink nearly enough of it.
- Skip Atomium and Mini Europe. They’d probably be cool if I was 25 years younger, but as is they’re a wee bit run down and lot bit kitschy.
- The Belgians are extremely friendly and helpful. They often went out of their way to make conversation or help a stranger, which was inspiring. I’ve tried to help more people in DC who are obviously tourists as a way to pay it forward.
So, would I recommend Brussels? I mean it’s worth seeing as much as any other international city, but I’m convinced somewhere like Bruges would be a better use of one’s time in Belgium. All the beer and beer houses are certainly worth seeing, but there isn’t a ton to do while you’re trying to sober up. If anything, I’d say Brussels is best for a business trip. Do all your business-type things during the day and go out to party at night with coworkers. Actually, for your coworkers… just find some randomly friendly Belgians to drink with. Cheers!