Belgian Lace

In action so to speak. Traditioanl Belgian lace was (is) handmade, and here a small demonstration on how it is being produced. Specifically, how the lace is made in Brugge.

Rue Haute 207

An antic/ boutique shop which caught my eye. A beautiful building I find.

La Santina

Some music to start the week. The folkloric band of Asturias.

Les Geants

As promised, the giants. Well, some of them. More, if you are interested in the story behind the Marolles festivities.

Fetes de Brueghel

Last Friday, I promised you more photos from the Marolles area. It so happens that last weekend saw a double celebration: the Fete des Geants (the Giants Fair) and the Festival de la Praline (the Praline Festival).

What does this mean? That we saw a lot of giants and ate a lot of chocolate. No photos of the chocolate as such, but stay tuned for some giants.

Fountain Detail

I found this very pretty and tranquil.

Pont Sainctelette

Did you know Brussels has a canal? Well, it does. Not that it actually tries to make the most of it. Which I find a pity, as the area around the canal could really benefit from a little revival.

This particular statue is at the end of the Pont Sainctelette crossing the canal. Built by Ernest Wijnants (1878-1964), in a somewhat byzantine style.

Venus

I promised you a walk in the park. Venus. Yes, the planet. And a very interesting Belgian project we discovered: Space for Muco. A tour of the solar system.

Belgian artists got together and recreated the solar system, on a scale of 1/40,000,000. 9 different Belgian cities have now one more more planets. We came across Venus, but I very much look forward discovering the others as well.

Who knew Brussels (Belgium) holds such interesting artistic secrets?

Etangs du Leybeek

Another undiscovered part of Brussels: the lakes of Leybeek. Look out for tomorrow's post, a discovery inside the park.

Gymnase

An old and out of use gymnse (school) in Watermael Boitsfort.

Down Town

Down town restaurant.

Posh WC

No comment.

Bruegel and the Marolles

Coming soon ... more on the Marolles.

Blue Detail

Man Walking

Brussel - Paris

Paris - Brussels; A lot of work! Oh and this is dinner on the Thalys.

Hot Chocolate

The Whirling Ear

A 6.50m high whirling ear executed by Alxander Calder in 1958. Why? Well initially it was built for the USA pavilion for the world exhibition. Then it stayed in Belgium. Then the USA gave it as a gift to Belgium. Then it was restored. And in 2000 it found its place in the Mont des Arts just on the hill towards Grand Place.

Tryphon Tournesal

Having missed the theme day here a belated street sign: a whole new approach to down town Brussels. Original street names (like Rue Charles Buls) are given cartoon related names (like Tryphon Tournesol).

A street quest worth the detour.

L'art prend le metro - Happy Metro to You

I rarely cross this tube station. Closely situated to the Royal Palace, the stop Metro Parc is a hub for fonctionnaires and other 'suits'.

Which is the exact opposite to the happy and colourful art by Mendelson Mark. He wanted to bring some sunshine and humour to the working crowd though these funny sculptures. An underground surprise.

Previously in the series of l'art prend le metro:
Eddy Merckx tube station.
Coovi tube station.
Heysel tube station.
Parvis de Saint Gilles tube station.
Horta tube station. More Horta.
Porte de Hall tube station.
Albert tube station.
Montgomery tube station. More Montgomery.
Louisa tube station. More Louisa.
Bourse tube station. More Bourse.
Malbeek tube stattion.
Merode tube station.

Purifies

If anyone has any idea what this is all about?

Boterhammen in het Park

Music, boterhammen (sandwiches) and beer. What more could you ask for your sunny lunch hour?

Cityscape

The talk about town has been a modern day Robin du Bois : Arne Quinze. Why you ask? Well because he is bringing urban art to Brussels. Cityscape. (Oh, and he even set up a blog!)

Wood and buildings, an oasis of calm in the middle of one of the busiest streets in Brussels. I love the idea! Plus finally something exciting happening in Brussels which gets people stopping, wondering, talking.

Vlan.be

For anyone living or moving to Brussels, the Vlan is a must. A free newspaper delivered to your door, it has become the reference point on real estate and used cars.

Chocolate ... Fountain?

Do you think of chocolate when you think of Brussels?

Summer Festival

Come party with me!

Bye, Bye

Not from the blog, no worries (although lately it has been quite difficult to keep it going). But we are off to Paris for the weekend. Gare du Midi. Thalys. 1.20h. Paris.

Seems it is going to be a sunny weekend ahead, so fingers crossed. Have a good weekend everyone.

Autoworld

For the Oldsmobile fans amongst you, then a visit to the Autoworld Brussels is in order. I find the museum to be very interesting, fun and a lovely alternative to rainy days.

What is your favourite museum?

MasterCard

These last commercials form MasterCard are both attractive and ingenious. Are they around your city as well?

Drive in Movies

If the weather would be sunny as well, then the Drive In Movies idea would be a success. Back to the 50's: popcorn, car, movie. A romantic evening out. Well ... not this (rainy) year. Maybe next year?

Do you have something similar in your city?

Discover Brussels

How do you discover a city when you travel? We usually tend to go to the tourism office and ask for information, a map, and where locals go to.

In Brussels the tourism office has thought up this great new concept: city information stands, where you can find information about the place you are at. I found the idea great. Not only for tourists. The whole concept is around different Brussels walks.

Urban BBQ

You have probably noticed there was a little bit of silence online ... well that is due mostly to the summer (no sun to speak of though) and visitors. Hope you enjoyed the little trip to Bruges / Brugge.

Back in Brussels it s still grey. But we did go to check out the Urban BBQ, a new Brussels concept. I bet if the sun would have been out the BBQ would have been a success.

Brugge

Brugge

Brugge

Brugge

Brugge

Brugge

Brugge

Brugge

Brugge

Brugge

Brussels

Grey skies, building sites, Brussels is not much fun for the moment.

Restobieres

One of the many restaurants in Brussels. A definite tourist attraction as this particular restaurant specializes in Belgian beers and beer related food.

Heroes

Heroes and other TV shows will most likely be our activities in the coming days. It has not stopped raining in Brussels so that is all just a little bit annoying.

Ding. Dong.

Party Time

The sun is officially here.

Statue

1 Meter Beer

Yes, it does exist!

Breakfast Egg

I don't know about typical, but it is my breakfast.

Have breakfast around the world:

Saint Paul (MN), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - New York City (NY), USA - Tel Aviv, Israel - Hyde, UK - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Mainz, Germany - Stockholm, Sweden - Paderborn, Germany - Singapore, Singapore - Haninge, Sweden - Nottingham, UK - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Manila, Philippines - Boston (MA), USA - Seoul, Korea - Singapore, Singapore - Joplin (MO), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Paris, France - Sequim (WA), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Boston (MA), USA - Chennai, India - Madison (WI), USA - Baton Rouge (LA), USA - Toulouse, France - Seattle (WA), USA - Mexico (DF), Mexico - La Antigua, Guatemala - Selma (AL), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Lubbock (TX), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Sheki, Azerbaijan - Sydney, Australia - Mumbai, India - Seoul, South Korea - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - New Orleans (LA), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Villigen, Switzerland - Montréal (QC), Canada - Stayton (OR), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Moscow, Russia - Springfield (MO), USA - Inverness (IL), usa - Arlington (VA), USA - Cologne (NRW), Germany - Anderson (SC), USA - Oslo, Norway - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Manila, Philippines - Kajang (Selangor), Malaysia - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Bandung (West Java), Indonesia - Stavanger, Norway - Bastia, France - Hong Kong, China - Wailea (HI), USA - St. Louis (MO), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Sydney, Australia - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Kansas City (MO), USA - Grenoble, France - Paris, France - Evry, France - Saigon, Vietnam - Prague, Czech Republic - Cape Town, South Africa - Brookville (OH), USA - Brussels, Belgium - San Diego (CA), USA - Wellington, New Zealand - Newcastle (NSW), Australia - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Shanghai, China - Zurich, Switzerland - North Bay (ON), Canada - Lyon, France - Naples (FL), USA - Olympia (WA), USA