A day trip to Brussels

We are definately taking advantage of being close to four other countries while living in Germany. Saturday morning we decided to spend the day in Brussels, Belgium. It was a two hour drive from our apartment. When we woke up, we discovered that there was a good inch of snow on the ground. Now normally, back in Seattle, this would deter most people from setting off on an adventure such as this. But not us! And not in Germany. Two reasons make trips still pretty easy in the snow in our region. One, they plow and salt the roads! And quickly too. Second, is that plowing and salting is not really needed that much because we get really cold temps at night and then it warms up pretty quickly and melts much of the snow on the road.

So the drive was really pretty with all the snow on the forest trees. There was a lot more undeveloped country side and farm land than I expected to see. Once in Brussels, GPS helped navigate us to a very small, family owned, brewery that makes a popular kind of beer called Geuze. The place was called Cantillon and you got to tour around their brewery that is over a hundred years old. Then you got two tastings at the end. There are many different blends that they do, it is very close to wine and was very tasty.

From the brewery, we took off for the Grand Market square which was beautiful! The buildings that surrounded the square were just what one would imagine an old European city to look like. We took a little alley road off the square that ended up being restaurant row! We found a cool looking french restaurant where I got to speak french (French is the common language for Brussels) and had some tasty food. Then we went over to a waffle stand and had a delicious REAL Belgium waffle. Mine had whip cream, chocolate drissel and strawberries. Now, I know you are probably saying, "But I thought you couldn't have gluten Heather?" You are right, but sometimes it is worth the health risk and this was one of those times! :)

After all our yumminess we walked past all the chocolate shops over to their main civic park. It was again beautiful with all the snow. On one end was the king of Belgium's palace where his official business is held. His residence is elsewhere in the city. Mason and Andrew had a great time playing in the snow. The city has a good mixture of sme newer more modern and artsy buildings too. We walked around the city a little more and then I ducked into a chocolate shop and picked up some yummies to take home.

All in all it was a wonderful day trip and definately a city we will be going back to!