Brussels
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- rafalski
I will be there in 3 weeks for a weekend..
We want to just wander around, see what's worth seeing. I was there once a couple of years ago, but it was business and only for 2 hours.What's to see, eat, drink?..
Is the Midi station neighborhood safe? I'm booking a hotel there, also we'll have a bus to the airport from that area at 4.30am - this better not be too shady ;)
- Llyod0
what kind of job only let's you stay at a place for 2 hours?
- rafalski0
Llyod, we had 1000 km to drive and we had accommodation on our way back in Germany, so there was no time to sightsee. Only managed to drive around centre for an hour.. surprised how stunning the city was.
We worked for ourselves, but it's pretty common that people only see the airport, the client, a few taxi cabs and a hotel interior when sent on business trip to a nice city. Sad? Yes, but still more interesting than sitting 8 hours at the office :)
- rafalski0
bumpin...
- rafalski0
I'm going this weekend. Any recommendations?
- moth0
I've been there a few years back but can't honestly remember much.
I just spent the weekend drinking beer....
If you were to hop on a train to Antwerp - I've just got back from there and could give you some great recommendations.
- too bad there isn't much time for extra cities, will save for next timerafalski
- moth0
...including a bar with 200 gins, and another bar with 500 beers.
- miespaties0
Near the Midi Station, there is a famous market every Sunday morning called the "Zuidmarkt" (or Marche du Midi in French). If you go around noon, you get great deals for fruit & flowers because otherwise they throw them away.
This bar is great: http://www.ultiemehallucinatie.b…, but more near the North station. Pretty much walking distance if you're up for it.
Then, more in the center: (The) Monk
http://www.gobots.be/items.php?p… and the whole area around the Rue Antoine Dansaert is pretty cosy...
- bezul5550
Don't forget about chips - Pomme Frites ;)
- lowimpakt0
i have to go to brussels from time to time with work and it's always the Eurostar into Midi. It seems safe enough but not exactly pretty.
as someone once said - Brussels isn't a city that sets out to impress you.... but there are some nice bars etc.
last time I was there I stayed in Downtown BXL - which is a nice B&B (small hotel) walking distance from the main square. I would recommend it as a cheapish but nice place to stay.
http://www.downtownbxl.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel…If i ever go back with the girlfriend we'll definitely stay there.
- rafalski0
lowimpakt,
I haven't booked yet but there's still plenty of options, ie. on www.hostelworld.com
My airport bus takes off from around Midi, this B&B seems well located for that purpose. Do you know if you can leave your luggage with them after you've checked out?
- lowimpakt0
you can walk to midi in about 10 minutes or so. it's two metro stops.
I imagine you could leave your luggage there.
as far as I remember most of the bars nearby are gay bars but if that's not your thing it's a 5 or 10 minute walk into the centre...
p.s. how's the weather in dublin at the moment? myself and herself are heading back home tonight for the weekend!!!
- neue75_bold0
Parts of the city are nice, so people say, I think the city is shit, especially when compared to Antwerp, but I'm sure you'll find something to do...
- rafalski0
Dublin? Not that cold anymore since yesterday. Plenty of light clouds up the sky, which I'd say qualifies as "sunny" here.
- rafalski0
I remember there was a huge old building on top of a centrally located hill, with classical columns and probably a dome. It could've been Palais de Justice but I'm not sure, we only drove past it. I think there was a lookout point next to it. Does that ring a bell?..
- Sep0
There's a great tour running along giant mural paintings with comic book art in the center of the city, if that's your thing.
http://users.skynet.be/martinod/…
- rafalski0
Hey that's cool! I just told a coworker people in Brussels paint comics on their houses and saw a few of these on flickr..
What's the story behind ?
- Sep0
Basically the city and the comic book museum collaborated to bring new value to a few blind walls in somewhat "run down" parts of town. It's a very nice scenic route too. Brings you to the less touristic, but all the more charming and "real" Brussels.
I think you'll find a decent map here:
http://www.brusselsinternational…
- Sep0
Or a virtual tour over here:
http://www.brusselstripstad.be/