Hotel Opera

Today was my last day in Brussels, and it was low-key and fun. I started by taking the Metro to the outskirts of town, where the Atomium is located. The Atomium was created for the 1958 World's Fair, and naturally has quite a bit of tacky retro-futuristic charm. Its scale is also pretty overpowering when one gets up close

I went inside and viewed the city and its surroundings from the top "ball" (the building is meant to look like an atom, naturally, and consists of several metallic balls connected by tubes). Afterwards, I went through the exhibitions in the other "balls" (they involved the 1958 Fair and the issue of immigration in Belgium).

Next, I went to the nearby Mini-Europe, which contained miniature versions of various cities, towns, and monuments around the continent. It was like a low-rent Epcot Center. Although, it must be said, Mini-Europe was a bit more ambitious in its choice of locations; there were obvious sites like the Eiffel Tower, but the park also made space for places like Notre Dame du Haut (the church built by modernist architect Le Corbusier).

La Moule Provencale

I was able to visit the BELvue museum, which provided an interesting timeline of the country's (relatively brief) history as an autonomous power, along with biographies of the Belgian kings. Next, I went to the Royal Museums, which had a decent selection of works, including David's Death of Marat.

After the museums, I mustered enough energy to visit Brussels' curous icon, the Mannekin Pis (which is basically what it sounds like). I walked through the Grand Place, and over to Rue des Bouchers, or "restaurant row." The row is pretty vibrant, with lots of people dining and enjoying the area, strolling accordionists, and waiters accosting passersby for their business.

I have just about finished a filling, if somewhat pricey, meal, and am ready to head back and plan for tomorrow.

Mokafe

I was able to find an adapter without too much trouble. Fortunately, my hotel is pretty close to a shopping complex.

I spent the morning wandering around and waiting for places to open. Later, I went to the comic strip museum, which is housed in a grand Art Nouveau  building and focuses on Belgian comic art.

I am still getting a sense of my surroundings, although I do feel like I have a clearer idea of where everything is. Anyhow, I still have much more museum-ing to do today, so I'd better finish my lunch and head off.

Hotel Opera

I have arrived safely in Belgium. I got into town late in the afternoon on Wednesday. Because I was not up for any serious sightseeing, I spent the rest of the day getting acclimated, looking through some chocolate shops, and getting over jet lag. I was able to walk around the Grand Place and visit some of the surrounding stores.

My hotel is in the thick of things. Unfortunately, because I have a first floor unit which faces the street, I do get a fair amount of noise. Hopefully, this won't interfere with my sleep too much.

This morning, my power converter (which I bought before my Spain trip) died. I will need to get a new one, as I am dependent on my iPhone for my trip (it has my postcard checklist, addresses, travel guides, and other important information). Hopefully, I won't have too much trouble finding a replacement.

Preparing to Fly

I have been planning my May-June trip for so long, that it is hard to believe that it is coming up quickly. In fact, it is little more than one month before I make the flight to Brussels. However, I have been doing my best to make preparations and ensure the trip goes smoothly.

I've had flights and hotels lined up for months, and I just recently got train tickets. I also bought tickets to the Van Gogh museum and Anne Frank house in order to avoid the lines there. I've got travel guides loaded into my Kindle, and some travel videos on my iPhone.

I've also loaded my phone up with some apps to help me get around. I have some transit guides, and some translators as well. Although I am guessing that I could get by using my English, pantomime, and awkward grin skills, it is reassuring to have the translator app handy just in case. The apps are, of course, not perfect, but between the general translator and the two phrase guides, I should be able to navigate any problems that arise.

There is really not much left to do, beyond creating lists of priorities, reviewing maps, and thinking of possible day trips and other excursions. I want to make sure to have a fairly good idea of what I want to do, so I don't end up wasting my time or backtracking. Nonetheless, I don't want to lock myself into a tight schedule; I'd worry that any disruptions to a meticulously worked-out schedule would leave me feeling very disappointed and frustrated.

In any case, I am looking forward to this trip! It will be wonderful to have a change of scenery, and to take myself away from my daily routines and responsibilities. I am excited to explore, and to learn about what Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark have to offer!