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Celebrate Life in Brussels, Belgium

by with No Comment Europe

There are some places that I have traveled to that still remains fresh in my memory and Belgium is one of them.   My journey makes for a cherishing tale to tell; Brussels, the capital city of Belgium.  I decided to explore in the luxuries offered by the center of European culture.  Did I love it? Well, I can’t wait to book a trip again to savor the greenery and rich cuisine experience of this historic destination.
One thing that will hit you first about Brussels is that it is very unassuming.  One side has a countryside green, lush feel with flower markets, and the other side is throbbing with cosmopolitan cafes and bars to make you drink and swing.  It is an ironical place where hip meets history; confidence meets humility, waiting for you to be embraced in its multi-layered cultural.  Brussels has a population of approximately 1.4 million people with French and Dutch being the prime languages spoken.

The architecture of the city will leave you spellbound.  Medieval Grand-Place is indeed a grand square to take a stroll or just sit to absorb the everyday life of Brussels.  I enjoyed a relaxing walk in one of the parks where I experienced the beautiful arts and sculptures.  An unmistakable feat in the architectural history is the ‘Atomium’, which is the star attraction for all visitors to Brussels.  The iron crystal hosts temporary and permanent exhibitions throughout its web of tubes and spheres.  The famous art nouveau era is depicted in many of the late 17th century art structures and 19th century regal mansions, which form the perfect backdrop for your holiday selfies.

What to do in Brussels:

There are tons of things to do when you are in Brussels as there is something for everyone.

Museum world to inspire – Brussels boasts more than 100 museums of all shapes and sizes, making it a discovery of sorts for you. It doesn’t matter if you like the classical ones or prefer the scientific quirky treasures, and the city has it all.  For the car buffs, Auto world is the place to be while those who prefer fine arts can indulge at Horta, Bozar and Royal Museum of Fine Arts.  For the people who can’t think beyond chocolates and beer when in Belgium, there are quaint small museums of Cocoa and beer breweries too.

Comic strips become reality – A walk along the comic strip route, brings back memories of famous characters like Tintin, Lucky Luke, Gaston and Gil Jourdan. The path has more than 50 mural paintings and can also be enjoyed with a 2 hour bike ride.

Food lovers’ paradise – Belgians love to eat out on a footpath, especially if the weather is promising.  Mussels and fries are the classics that you will find on any restaurant menu.  Visitors with a sweet tooth are in for a great treat as Belgian chocolates and waffles are yet to find a match elsewhere.  Waffles dusted with powdered sugar or topped with bananas, ice cream, and whipped cream will make you go bonkers with its aroma and flavors.  You can get some free chocolate tasting at the entrance of shops.  I think I gained about 10 pounds (5 kilos) eating Belgian Waffles.

Beers – Brussels is wired with beer given that you can choose from over 400 varieties and drink to your heart’s content.  Not a fan of beer? Worry not.  You can even find fruit flavors like peach and cherry to give your palate a beer twist.  St Gery’s clubs and bars are packed all year round.

Amusing Walks – Most sightseeing destinations are within reasonable distance, making it easy for you just to walk around.  Right from walks to markets and museums, comic strips, and European Union walk, green trails and visiting monuments on foot, allow you to feel Brussels at your own speed in your own sweet time.  My hotel was located close to the parks so I enjoyed a 20 minute walk to the park.

Shopping Time – Brussels has some of the oldest shopping malls in the world with best luxury brands.  Boutique shops along the shopping streets and Brussels Markets are also worth visit to satisfy the shopper in you.  Try shopping on weekdays if you are buying stuff from local shops as Saturdays are too busy and Sundays they keep closed.

Visit Bruges – If you are a fan of fairy tales, then you can also take a mini trip to Bruges, the largest city of West Flanders in the Flemish region of Belgium.  Set against the medieval town, with picturesque cobbled lanes, dreamy canals with swans, rising towers, and attractive market squares, Bruges is sure to charm all tourist types. If you have time at hand stay overnight to enjoy, the evening floodlighting.  You can soak the beauty of churches, belfry and cathedrals by taking a water taxi along the different canals.  There are daily trains between Brussels and Bruges every hour during the day.  Tickets can be purchased at the station without any prior seat reservation, and it takes approx. A 1-hour train ride from Brussels Midi station to Bruges train station.  While in Bruges, I enjoyed riding in a water taxi and explored the town.  I had an amazing experience!

 

Accommodation and Travel

Compared to Paris and London, Brussels offers one of the best hotels at excellent rates.  You have some great choices in the form of airport hotels, hostels, budget hotels and apartments available.  Most of them are within a safe distance from the main city attractions.  The budget hotels or hostels should be chosen wisely in terms of location and hygiene.  I stayed at a fantastic hotel for about $65 per night with a gym and even a washer to do my laundry after traveling for a couple days.  For the budgeted traveler, a good Hostels will cost you around $35.

Another option includes mid-range hotels costing anywhere $80 and up  depending upon the amenities and travel convenience. If you are in a mood to splurge, with desires of spacious rooms, sauna or fitness center is ready to spend $135 and up per night.

Due to its central location, Brussels is easily reachable by air, train, bus, car or even a ferry.  I took the train from the international airport to the closest train station and then dragged my suitcase to the hotel.  Domestic trains run through 3 main stations Bruxelles – Nord, Midi, and Central.  There are high-speed trains operated by Eurostar and Thalys, which will take you to London or Paris.  There are tons of direct and connecting flights to Brussels Airport from all over the world.  It is a 1-hour journey from London, Frankfurt and Amsterdam.  An interesting alternative to flights is a combination of the ferry with connecting train, bus or car.  I flew from London Gatwick Airport.
Quick Tip – Brussels Card, which is available online as well as at most of the tourist centers in Brussels, will save you a lot of hard work.  One purchase gives you access to 30 museums, discounts at tourist attractions, shops and restaurants/bars and even free rides on the Hop on Hop off buses.  The card can be used for 1 to 3 days depending on your need.

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Berlin, Germany – Relax as you move through the fast paced fun!!!

by with No Comment Europe

It’s Friday again, not really, but every day feels like Friday.

John F. Kennedy once said – “All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words ‘Ich bin ein Berliner!” This quote captures the essence of my experience in Berlin, the capital of Germany, where I got a chance to meet the new version of this amazing city while experiencing its history and multicultural flavours. The city has gone through a lot, right from being divided into east and west parts by the iconic Berlin wall. The traveller in me was overwhelmed with joy as I explored this magnificent city in Germany.

Berlin will very lucidly makes you selfish and addictive for fun, but you have to visit the place once to know what I mean. The vibrancy of the city engulfs you in its cloak of pleasure be its laid-back lifestyle ironically co-existing with jet speed party life or its high on history quotient balanced with openness to queer culture.

Not to forget the world-renowned museums, festivals, picturesque architecture both modern and historical that draw huge number of tourists every year. Not many people know that Berlin apart from being popular for its historical sites, forests and rivers is also an international village of creatives, expats and immigrants. Locals seem to take the phrase “Live and Let Live” quite literally with a huge emphasis on creativity and freedom. Materialistic status is secondary in this chic and gritty city.

The city has a lot to offer on a wide spectrum. Your itinerary, however, would not be complete without a due appreciation of these major attractions.

 

Berlin History Documentary:

Berlin has a rich history that will amaze you at each nook and corner; giving you glimpse of a bygone era of Nazi revolution, bombing and invasions.  For starters, sights like The Brandenburg Gate and Unter den Linden make you revisit the Prussian glory.  I took one of the tour buses and got off to see the Brandenburg Gate.

One of the most iconic buildings, the Reichstag is a masterpiece of architecture with its glittering glass dome (reservations necessary and accessible by lift) which offers 360-degree view of the city. Auto activated audio guide is available to learn more about the building and the working of parliament.

The old buildings at Mitte beautifully complement the modern structures like Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz. The symbol of cold war, the Berlin wall, should top the chart of any tourist in the city.  It lets you experience the scar in the city’s history, and the East Side Gallery offers scenic murals, politically motivated and otherwise.

You can also opt for half-day walking tour lasting about 4 hours which lets you explore marvels like Holocaust Memorial, which commemorates six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Other stops include Checkpoint Charlie, Topography of Terror and Sachsenhausen concentration camp memorial. These are sure to send shivers down your spine with their aura of brutal executions and crematorium.

Art and Music inspiration: People around the world draw inspiration from Berlin’s music, art and lifestyle scene. With more than 170 museums, including the ones on popular “Museum Island” it is a delight for artists and cultural connoisseurs across the globe. The Pergamon museum has pieces from Greece and Middle East, while the Neues Museum houses Egyptian antiquities. Berlin’s Jewish history can be visualised at the Jewish Museum and for those who love regal era, a visit to the Schloss Charlottenburg royal palace is a must.  Romantic landscapes, precious artefacts, Prussian touch of the palace are breath-taking. The film museum offers a good break from history museums.

Orchestras are the way of life in Berlin, such as internationally acclaimed Berlin Philharmonic and other artistic treats such as ballet, opera, stage shows hosting Cabaret, plays and musicals. Karaoke fans can sing their heart out at Mauerpark on Sundays.

Berlin will make you say “I live to drink and party”: No matter what music genre you prefer, you get in all in Berlin’s sky bars, clubs and restaurants without the usual worry of closing time. Party to your hearts’ content and you will agree that Berlin never sleeps like its contemporary New York. Chalet, Renate and KaterHolzig are fun clubs to let you loose.

Berlin has superb food markets. While Turkish Market is the most colourful, you can indulge in international street food at Markthalle Neun. Grab coffee at Bonanza Coffee Heroes or beer at Prater, Berlin’s oldest beer garden. Other famous bars that you can drop by are Paloma Beer, Sub War Gestern, Mein Haus am See and Luzia.

Other Miscellaneous things to try: Berliners love to flock in their favourite parks to tan and picnic. During warm months, the life in Berlin moves outdoors to the beach bars, pavement cafes, open air cinemas and theatres, a great way to enjoy the summer breeze. Tiergarten and Tempelhorf Park are great hangouts for some BBQ fun if you are visiting from May to October.

If you are a shopaholics, you can spend your euros at Kurfurstendamm, grand old Friedrichstrasse and small independent boutiques in and around the charismatic Hackesche Hofe. Bikini Berlin, the first concept mall of the city with edgy 1950’s design, makes for an amusing visit. A good break from the staid sightseeing is the famous Berlin Zoo, which has around 14,000 animals including some of the endangered species like rhinoceroses, polar and panda bears.

 

Stay and Travel:

While you can always opt for the standard hotel and hostel services, I wanted to make my travel experience unique by living like a local. Airbnb is a great alternative to try. I had a very comfortable and affordable stay at one of the Airbnb listed properties. Worth a try! Berlin’s two airports (Tegel and Schonefeld) are well connected with international carriers. You can find a direct flight to Berlin from New York or take other connecting flights with a change of planes at Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London or any other major European city. For internal city travel, public transport is best. Go for a combination of subway, trains, trams and buses.

 

Quick Tips:

– If you are cooking your own meal at a hostel or service apartment, shop at discount supermarkets like Netto, Aldi, Penny or Lidl for great offers on groceries.

– For an awesome hassle-free time at Museums, buy Museumpass Berlin, which allows admission to about 50 museums for up to 72 hours.

– Popular Hostels like Circus Hostel and East Seven Berlin will make you save a lot of cash.

– Carry your rainwear as Berlin is prone to unpredictable rains. Also don’t forget a pair of comfortable shoes as the city is best explored on foot. For operas and high-end restaurant dining, carry your dressy clothing.