New Year in Belgium

We take off on time for Belgium and at 17.15 we land in Brussels. From the airport there is a convenient train that takes us directly into the center. Already from the ticket office we realize that Brussels is not how we had imagined it. If you expect cleanliness and ultra-modernity... well.. forget it! Only punctuality is perfectly respected. In less than half an hour we reach the hotel booked through Booking, the NH Atlanta. Great value for money, location, nice, modern, very kind staff, abundant and excellent breakfast served on the hotel terrace. We go out right away and from the hotel everything is easily reachable on foot. Naturally the first destination is the Grand Place where we begin our Belgian weekend with an excellent Leffe toasting to the year that is ending.

For dinner we had booked in advance with the Brussels institution "Chez Leon" and we absolutely do not regret it! A dinner to remember! After dinner the whole Ilot Sacre district is a river of people heading toward the Grand Place, we let ourselves be carried along and wait for 2011 among the festive crowd. The ritual toast and fireworks.

Bruxelles

A day dedicated to visiting the city. We start again from the Grand Place, jewel of Brussels, to continue with the Ilot Sacre, the Mannequin Pis and the Jeannekin Pis, Notre Dame de La Chapelle, Grand & Petit Sablon, Les Marolles, the Palace of Justice, the Royal Palace, the cathedral, to then return once again to the starting point. Rather tired and chilled, we nonetheless don't let the chance slip to visit the Atomium, which we reach comfortably by metro! We decide to spend the evening at the Marchè Aux Poisson, where the largest Christmas market in Brussels is set up and there is a beautiful ice-skating rink that, under the falling snowflakes, gives us the long-dreamed-of Christmas atmosphere! A delight for the eyes but above all for the palate... Gaufres, Wurstel & Sauerkraut, Tartiflettes, mulled wine, lots of beer & chocolate...

Aside from the beautiful northern atmosphere, Brussels disappoints quite a bit. Above all it disappoints because of the decay you don't expect. Trash, stench, drifters. And not only because it was New Year's.

Bruges

A whole day dedicated to visiting Bruges. We left from Gare du Nord, and in just over an hour we're in Bruges; taking advantage of the weekend fare it costs less than 10 Euros per person. Getting off in Bruges you get the impression of having changed country. Or rather, everything that strikes you negatively in Brussels no longer exists here. Bruges is truly a jewel. A fairytale place that mirrors itself in the waters of its canals. Compared to Brussels it's very expensive, but it stays inside. In the evening we return to Brussels, where we again spend the evening camping out around the Christmas markets and enjoying our last Belgian beer.

Heading home...

Early in the morning we return to the airport and..we head home.