Brussels.

Monday. Paris.

Brussels was my first stop during spring break, and the only thing for which I found the city truly memorable was its food. My diet in Brussels consisted for the most part of fries, waffles, beer and chocolate. Certainly not the most healthy, but definitely very satisfying and tasty.
Food places worth mentioning are: Maison Antoine and Mama Roma's in Place Jourdain for fries and pizza, respectively; and any waffle stand for "gaufres liègois."

A picturesque town with random (but aesthetically pleasing) murals painted on building walls, Art-Nouveau and Art-Deco houses, there's nothing much to the city otherwise. The Manneken Pis is Brussels' Mona Lisa — overhyped, tiny and surrounded by tourists. The Atomium, which may look like an eyesore from afar, tends to make for some interesting viewing if you sit right beneath it. The Musée des Beaux Arts disappointed me, to say the least (I have, after all, been to the Prado, Louvre and Uffizi). Among the other highlights of my trip was the chance to catch up with an old friend from Bombay, and reminisce about home a bit.

I also got a chance to meet some Belgians thanks to Paige (who was couchsurfing at someone's house). Her host graciously invited us over to partake in some chocolate fondue. Simple, yet delicious. It sure was interesting hearing our host and her friend, both natives of Flanders (the Dutch speaking part of Belgium) talk about how it was to be a young adult in Belgium. What struck me as mildly amusing was the fact that our host's friend said that if you were young and Belgian, then there's nothing left in this country for you and that one should emigrate to Switzerland or Brazil. Why Switzerland? I don't know. It certainly doesn't have too much more happening than Belgium, I'd say.

A Gallery and Chocolate fondue


Art Nouveau buildings in Brussels


Murals and the Atomium