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| Self-photo fail: Me and Brussel’s Atomium |
After clambering about the site for a bit, and seriously failing at taking my photo with the structure, I meandered around the premises until I came upon Mini Europe, which is an amusement park boasting replicas of Europe’s best known monuments.
A peek inside the side gate proved interesting so I went around the front ticket booth, ready to pay up to go in. That is, until I saw the price of entry.
Once back in the city centre, I strolled around a bit more, with the intention of eventually hitting up the headquarters of the European Union. By this time, night was beginning to fall and the little light there was was beginning to fade. The wind also picked up, which made for some uncomfortable, brusque conditions that made me not want to take out my camera. Still, I managed to take a few pictures on my walk:
After some seemingly aimless wandering (remember, I was without a guide book and my map wasn’t the best), I somehow managed to find EU headquarters.
I was all gung-ho about getting a tour of Parliament until I saw the following:
D’oh! I had arrived too late and there were no more spots on the tour! My strategy of not planning anything and just showing up had failed. What to do? I had a bit of time to kill before heading off to the next order of business on my list- dinner with a fellow blogger, Miss American Black Chick in Europe. While I contemplated my fate, some attractively dressed Belgians working security inside the building beckoned to me to ask me if they could help. I told them my dilemma and they had a great suggestion: a visit to the Parlamentarium, which is just adjacent to headquarters.
What is the Parlementarium, you ask? To be honest, I had no idea until after I got there, and had never even heard of it before it had been suggested to me. I learned that the Parlementarium is in fact a free visitors’ centre that seeks to provide information on how the European Parliament functions. The audio guide given to me upon my arrival, gave me crucial information regarding the history of European integration and how the Europe we know today came to be. I moved from room to room, entranced by the bright colours and lively multimedia displays.
Next up was a dinner date with one of my favourite bloggers, the American Black Chick in Europe. Now, I’ve enjoyed reading this lady’s blog for YEARS and thus was thrilled at the prospect of meeting her in the flesh. Just as exciting was where we were to meet for dinner: a small stand called Maison Antoine, apparently one of the best frites places in the city.
We queued amongst the throngs of people waiting to order fries and talked about blogging, travel, and expat life. As we neared the front of the line, I started to consider what I would order. Of course, I knew that I would have fries, but the important decision of what dipping sauce I would get to accompany them rode heavily on my mind. There were 20 (yes, 20!) sauces to choose from, ranging from curry-flavoured sauce, to tartare, to plain old ketchup. Feeling hungry and unadventurous, I opted for mayo when it was my turn to order. I must admit that I was a little bit daunted by the massiveness of my order when I got it into my hot little hands:
At only 2.60 Euros for a huge serving of frites, I was happy… but also certain I would never finish it all. I was right, of course, but had a great time trying to eat them all anyway. After all, there’s something about crispy golden fries that warms the cockles of my heart. Fries for dinner, especially in Brussels, is never a bad thing.
Have you ever gone on a trip without a guide book or some sort of plan? How did it go for you?
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57 Comments
You take such pretty pix, Oneika. I don't think that first one is a fail at all. I think I would be totally overwhelmed without a guidebook or itinerary as well. I leave space upon for discovery but I'm afraid I'm a hardcore planner.
OMG those fries look so good!!!!! I think I want to go to Brussels solely for food now. Man I feel so deprived potunie does nothing for me now….
I dont like to plan.
I have a flick through the guidebooks a few days before and get a rough idea of the key sights I'm interested in, but otherwise I don't even really read the guidebook in any depth until I'm enroute!
Planning takes the fun out of it. A huge part of the draw is the spontaneity a trip away offers 😉
WOW i am thinking about taking a job in brussels so this just motivated me to push it to the TOP of the list….
I'm a guidebook junkie, and I actually collect them. It's one of the few things that I do collect. Plus, I am too much of a dork to at least have one or two places in mind to visit. I don't plan out my days to a tee though because there needs to be some kind of spontaneity. Sometimes it's just nice to wander and sit at a cafe and people watch. I think there is a room for both types of traveling.
Like Terri I love guidebooks and collect them as well. I recently went to stratford-upon-avon and I didn't plan anything or really look anything up. Bit of a failure on my part. I usually do a bit of research but since I was still in England and not far from London I got lazy, serves me right. Excuse to go back.
If I'm traveling alone – I like to have a guidebook or some idea of what I'm doing. If I'm traveling with others (ps – why doesn't travelling have two l's?), I'm happy to just follow them around.
I ended up stumbling upon some cool sites in Madrid over the Christmas holiday alone when my boyfriend had to leave suddenly. Actually, it was the best time I've had abroad, just wandering neighborhoods and getting to know the city! Might try it again sometime. 🙂
PS: Those fries look AMAZING!
A person needs at intervals to separate from family and companions and go to new places. One must go without familiars in order to be open to influences, to change. Flights to Lilongwe
It looks like everything worked out perfectly for you! I as you know am a crazy planner…when I don't have a plan, I inevitably end up with no clue what to do or see and don't enjoy myself, but I admire those who can be a little more spontaneous and still have a great time.
Thank you!! I actually felt really strange with no guide book or plan- it's so unlike me!
They were tasty but I was way too full afterward!! And I miss poutine!
Same here! I buy it but don't really look through it until a few days before or when I'm on the plane! You're right about spontaneity, but sometimes my little heart can't take it.. 🙂
Yay!! When would you move?
I'm bad, after moving so much I end up throwing guidebooks away!! Terrible!
I'm going to Stratford in June actually! Will hit you up for tips!
LOL. I'm notorious for letting Liebling do the bulk of the planning if we're travelling together!! As for spelling travelling with two L's, it's the only way to do it. 😉
I also enjoying wandering but I still like having a general idea 🙂
To be honest, I don't know if I'll do it again! I actually feel like I manage my time better when I have an itinerary… Call me stodgy.. 🙂
When traveling alone, yes. I have to have a loose itinerary. But when traveling with someone else, as I did when I went to Scotland I didn't make have a guidebook nor and idea what I would see. I relied on my friend, whom I was visiting. It turned out fine. Had I been alone, and not planned it would have been a bit disappointing.
quote for moving
I TOOK IT moving in June… yipee
Funny – my Brussels – Part 1 was all about the Grand Place and my Part 2 was about the Atomium. Great minds think alike 😉
This is so awesome – the frites are mouth watering! What a photos! I think Brussels is the perfect destination for a first time female traveller going solo.
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