A Walk In Brussels

This week-end we decided to take a walk in the city, we went to the Grand Place where we got the surprise to find a Christmas market.



During this holiday season the Grand Place is really the place to be for Brussels inhabitants, when getting out of the subway one can see the flow of people walking toward that famous place. The more you get near the more the street gets narrow and you have to start struggling to find a path among the people if you want to keep walking at your own pace. The Terraces are full even if it is cold outside and people look up to witness the light and music show going on city hall walls.



From the Grand Place, we went for a walk on rue du Lombard then on rue du Midi to get to the Bourse where a lot of wooden cabins where ready to satiate the need of any belly. Cotton candy, caramel apple, fruits covered in chocolate on a stick, brioches, paella, tartiflette, hot wine, Touraine wine, wine with cinnamon… There is everything you need not to starve or to dying of thirst. As it is cold it is recommended to get a hot dish to warm the hands.



From la Bourse we walked through rue Paul Delvaux which led us to Brussels Chinatown. I am so used to the size of Chinatown in Paris that it is odd for me to see a Chinatown which is only the size of a street. Existing Chinatown we discovered Sainte Catherine church with an exhibit about Mongolia in front of it. Half of fake yurts were place all over the square in front of the church were visitors could buy traditional objects, pictures, culinary specialties or find tourist information. We tried the mare milk, it is like drinking the milk that sits on top of a yogurt: it is really not that good.
There was a beautiful roundabout which really caught my eye next to the exhibit: le manege d’Andrea.



From there we went to the quai aux briques and the quai aux bois à bruler, you can find the biggest concentration of wooden cabins for the Christmas market between those streets, there is even an ice rink. Whether you are hungry or thirsty, it is not possible that don’t find some dish to satisfy your belly. You can find products from all over the world: Vietnam, China, Canada, France, Spain... After having filled your belly, I recommend a ride on the Ferris wheel.