After spending the morning exploring Keukenhof Gardens, we returned to Amsterdam and our last night on the MS Monarch Queen.
It was King’s Day in the Netherlands, and Amsterdam had come alive by the time we returned. Be sure to check out King’s Day and our adventures in Amsterdam on our previous blog.
Disembarkation
By 7:30 AM, we had disembarked the MS Monarch Queen and boarded buses for our next destination – Brussels, Belgium.
After a few hours, we arrived in Brussels, did a short driving tour, made our way into the city center, and then had some free time.
Atomium
The Atomium is a modernist building that was originally constructed for the 1958 World’s Fair.
The building represents an Iron Unit Cell, which is 9 Iron Atoms, magnified 165 billion times. The structure is 102 meters tall, and you can explore the inside.
The inside houses exhibits, panoramic viewpoints, a restaurant, and a network of tubes with futuristic light and sound displays. You can access six of the nine massive stainless steel spheres.
Unfortunately, this was a photo and bathroom stop on the way into the city. But it was worth the visit.
A Driving Tour of Brussels
We did a quick driving tour around Brussels, heading into the city center. Here are a few interesting places we captured from the bus windows.
Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert
We made our way to the city center, crossing through Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert.
This is an historic covered shopping arcade built in 1847. There are three distinct galleries: Galerie du Roi. Galerie de la Reine and Galerie des Princes.
It’s known for its luxury boutiques, cafes, and chocolate shops. But we were passing through.
We stopped long enough for a few quick photos at Neuhaus Chocolates flagship store. We really enjoyed their chocolates when we visited Ghent.
Just around the corner from the high-end shops, there are little boutiques and street food, which are more our style.
Gran Place
The Gran Place or Grand Place in Brussels is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known for its incredible architecture.
The buildings are stunning, and many historic buildings have been repurposed as hotels, offices, shops, and restaurants.
Taking A Pis in Brussels
In the center of town stands a small fountain that is a HUGE tourist attraction.
The 24” tall bronze fountain statue of a boy urinating is called Manneken Pis. The name translated from Dutch literally means “Little Pissing Man.”
It was designed in 1619 by Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder. However, some rumors claim it was created in the mid-15th century. The current statue on display is a replica installed in 1965.
It has become a symbol of both Brussels and of Belgium. You’ll find replicas used in advertising and souvenirs all across Brussels.
Playing Dress Up with Manneken Pis
Seriously, they change the clothes on the statue several times a week.
Not only does the statue have an official dresser, but in 2017, they created a museum down the street called GardeRobe Manneken Pis to showcase costumes.
The statue currently has over a THOUSAND costumes!
Portuguese Day!
On the day we visited Brussels, the Official Dresser had dressed Manneken Pis in a traditional Portuguese costume.
We were suddenly surrounded by people and a huge puppet dancing . The crowd was making its way down the street toward the Grand Place, where a marching band led several military-style jeeps, and lots of guys in campaign-style hats with handlebar mustaches crossed the square.
Lunch on our Own
We had enough free time before our group met up again to grab some lunch. There are several restaurants surrounding the square, which makes things easier.
Grand Place 24
1000 Bruxelles
Belgium
No, they are not “off the beaten path.” Yes, they are right in a tourist destination. However, they have a 3.8 on Google Reviews with over 2,500 reviews.
While the restaurant is located in an incredible, historic building, it has ample shaded seating on the square. So, we grabbed the next available table to keep with our schedule.
They are known for their reinvisioning of local classics and have a wide range of menu options.
We had two Coke Zero (£4.60), and Chuck went for a classic American Burger with Frites (£14.90).
Mark went straight for the Mussels Marinières with Frites (£14.90). It is a nice-sized portion, about 500 gm, of fresh steamed Mussels. They are in a flavorful broth of white wine, garlic, butter, and herbs.
The food was delicious, but the service was a little slow. However, given that it was packed and the middle of the day, it wasn’t too bad. And we both felt the meals were good value for the price.
Travel Tip
Living in Mexico and having traveled a good bit internationally, we are not new to this one. Many countries do not serve fountain sodas; they are served in bottles, and there is no such thing as a free refill. Usually, they are cold, and you rarely see ice offered.
Grab A Waffle
After enjoying lunch, we headed to the group’s meeting point to return to the bus. Chuck and a few others popped into a local ship and got a fresh Belgian Waffle.
Absolutely the best way to round off our time in Belgium!
We’re Off To Paris!
From Brussels, we made our way to Paris! The Post-Cruise portion of the trip included a few days in Paris, a driving tour, an optional tour, and plenty of free time to explore!
More on that in our next few blog posts as we explore Paris
Hi Mark and Chuck, Thoroughly enjoyed your latest travel adventures, So happy for the both of you. A truly inclusive summary of your latest destinations. Please keep them coming. Do the two of you miss home? Thank you for the updates, and keep safe. Joe and Jo-Ann from Warrington Pa.( India Gate 1 j
Thanks Joe and Jo-Ann! Retirement is highly UNDERRATED, we love our life here in Mexico and being able to travel the world. We hope you are both doing well.