Brussels ahoy!
Posted 06.12.2007 at 13:38 by Bartholemew
This blog has more to do with taking a respite from Switzerland than it does with coming there, but I think this is a smart way to keep in touch with many friends and stalkers I have met on the forum. I’m spending a few months in Brussels ostensibly improving my French - but really consuming copious amounts of beer and frites - on a work exchange, but plan to return to Zurich – home - sometime next year.
Unfortunately for me, this seems to be a particularly dreary time of year in Brussels, with mostly cold and wet weather not even recklessly high doses of Prozac could offset the psychological effects of. The Christmas markets and copious quantities of mulled wine, erm I meant festive decorations are a welcome change from that. I think light rain is such a fixture here around this time of year that most people treat it like the clubbers in UK cities treat February temperatures: they ignore it and don’t bother with a hat or an umbrella, much like the clubbers traipse about in skimpy clothing without tights or a jacket in subzero temperatures with no further ado.
Looking for temporary housing had been a wild goose chase, but it has afforded me a glimpse of different parts of the city like Schaerbeek, Uccle, and Woluwe. I’ll spare you the tedious details of my attempts to get a month-long public transport pass – ultimately successful - in favor of a cool detail about the underground stations. Most of them pipe in music, but the styles are different. One in a touristy area of town played Schubert, the bourse played Elvis, and the one closest to where I live was playing Anastastia and other pop music the other day.
Next time: what’s Belgian food got in common with Swiss fare?
Unfortunately for me, this seems to be a particularly dreary time of year in Brussels, with mostly cold and wet weather not even recklessly high doses of Prozac could offset the psychological effects of. The Christmas markets and copious quantities of mulled wine, erm I meant festive decorations are a welcome change from that. I think light rain is such a fixture here around this time of year that most people treat it like the clubbers in UK cities treat February temperatures: they ignore it and don’t bother with a hat or an umbrella, much like the clubbers traipse about in skimpy clothing without tights or a jacket in subzero temperatures with no further ado.
Looking for temporary housing had been a wild goose chase, but it has afforded me a glimpse of different parts of the city like Schaerbeek, Uccle, and Woluwe. I’ll spare you the tedious details of my attempts to get a month-long public transport pass – ultimately successful - in favor of a cool detail about the underground stations. Most of them pipe in music, but the styles are different. One in a touristy area of town played Schubert, the bourse played Elvis, and the one closest to where I live was playing Anastastia and other pop music the other day.
Next time: what’s Belgian food got in common with Swiss fare?
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Comments
 |  Comments on your blogWonderful, strong and vibrant descriptions. Almost lyricial in its phrasing. All emotions were clearly portrayed by the bitter drizzly rain. Top marks for effort. Well done lass  |
Posted 06.12.2007 at 13:51 by Nettie  |
| |  Winter in the Benelux area is indeed miserable. Grey, wet, and windy. Chin up. Have you found the Delerium bar yet? It has over 2000 beers available, so that should keep you busy for at least a weekend. While you're there, you should definitely check out Leuven and Ghent. |
| Posted 21.12.2007 at 13:02 by Dodger |
| |  thanks Dodgerfor your suggestions. I am indeed planning a few trips from Brussels, but had Antwerp and Bruges first on my list, before Leuven and Ghent. Thanks for the tip with Delirium - I will make a note to check it out. However, the great thing about Brussels is that's it's so easy to get good beer almost anywhere, isn't it? |
| Posted 23.12.2007 at 11:27 by Bartholemew |
| |  The best thing to do on a cold and raining Brussels evening is to find a nice restaurant/cafe/bar with a fire place & settle in for the evening! I hope you stay for the summer, the long summer nights at the restaurant/cafe/bar terrace are amazing. Next: What does Belgian food have in common with Swiss fare? = Nothing! |
| Posted 01.02.2008 at 14:47 by miniMia |
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Recent Blog Entries by Bartholemew
- bye-bye Brussels (04.02.2008)
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- Brussels ahoy! (06.12.2007)
