Why I love Brussels or: The day I had the best meal of my life at a bus stop

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So Brussels. After one of my longest and best friends had asked me to come see her in her “new” home for two and a half years, I finally booked my tickets this Christmas. Two reasons: I kind of do value our friendship and didn’t want her to end it over the fact that I never came to see her. The other one: Why not go when you have a place to stay at for free? (Kidding, I love you, Eva!)

To be honest I wasn’t really excited about Brussels itself, given the fact that most people I talked to didn’t like the city that much. My question to all of them after my trip: Have we been to the same place?

Now, keep in mind that I have only seen a tiny bit of the city and I am obviously not an expert but the bits and pieces I saw had me in awe. That might be due to the fact that I had two excellent tour guides. Up until they wouldn’t wake up Sunday morning and I had to set off on my own. Which led to getting lost. And cold. And discovering really cool places.

Even though the weather was more than annoying – after all I didn’t leave -25° C cold Estonia to deal with snow in Belgium – I tried to think of a reason to move there only one day into the trip. I might or might not do that in pretty much every city. But still, Brussels got me. For several reasons:

  • Dutch is the funniest language ever. 

    How is this even a language? I feel like somebody had it with German sounding so harsh and just tried to create a cute version of it. It is hilarious and I want to hear more of it.

  • The street art is incredible.

    Murals wherever you go. Is there anything better? I only stopped taking pictures  of them because my hands were about to freeze off.

  • Now to the important part: Food! Their fries are out of this world.

    If you haven’t tried them yet, don’t do it. It will ruin you for life. There is no chance I’ll see fries the same way after trying Belgian ones. I wouldn’t believe it until the girls took me on a trip JUST to get some from a booth somewhere in the depths of Brussels, but they are truly amazing and way  better than any I have ever tried before.
    The freezing cold and the crazy rain didn’t stop us from having Belgian frites on a bus stop bench. Oh the classiness. But you know what? It was the best damn meal I had on that trip.
    Great, now I can't stop thinking about it. Getting upset because I can’t have any right now.

    (Just in case you were wondering what the secret behind this golden deliciousness is: Belgians fry them twice at two different temperatures. Such geniuses. Somebody give them a medal!)
  • Random balconies pop up wherever you go,
    It makes getting lost in the city so much more enjoyable. You unexpectedly turn a corner and all  of a sudden face the nicest view over a part of the city. It really is great. And dangerous, if you try to climb the stairs descending from the balconies in winter. Just saying. Not that I fell or anything.

  • Beer!
    Do I need to say more? I don’t even like beer but I did drink it there. Because there is no other way. It is cheap. And surprisingly good. Not as good as the fries though…
  • Because best friends and stuff.

    That trip once again reminded me that some friends really do become your family. And wherever they are, it feels like home. I could go on with the cheesiness but I think you get the point.

I hope one of these reasons made you want to go to Brussels. Mostly the fries, I guess.  But you’ve been warned. Either you need to learn how to make them yourself or you’ll lead a frie-less life after trying them. In any case, I’ll stop rambling. 

Thanks for the great days, Eva, Naddy & all you amazing VeCo-people. You're the best!

xxx Kathi

Photos taken in: Brussels, Belgium


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