12/21/14 Brussels, Day 3

On our last morning in Brussels, we wandered through the town. 

Brussels has been a government center for centuries, because of its location, I believe. It is the headquarters of the European Union also. Those buildings are outside of town, about a 20-minute bus ride, but we didn't make that. Could have been interesting--the EU is such an interesting institution and idea. And it makes the easy train travel we've experienced possible, not to mention that having only one currency to deal with is far easier than when I first started traveling. 

This is the front of the Town Hall in the Grand Place/main plaza, which has been the main plaza of the city for 1000 years. It started as a market square just off the main road through town, as so many of these squares did. The buildings are mostly administrative. These figures all across the front of the Town Hall are wonderful in their detail. We chatted with a guide who said that they don't really have any religious or other significance or stories, they just represent various professions and such. But they are lovely. 

This is one of the columns of the Town Hall. I was entranced by the beautiful detail in the face of the bearded man. Isn't he lovely? He's so clear that you'd know him if you met him on the street. All of the figures were like that. 

This sign was in a chocolate shop. We liked the sentiment and have done our level best to follow it religiously. 

One of the main things Brussels is known for is the Mannekin Pis, a fountain of a little boy. What makes it famous is that he is pissing the water from the fountain. There are sculptures of him EVERYWHERE, also tapestries, postcards, you name it. There was a huge crowd around him. I elected not to try to get a picture of the statue, but of the people and buildings. 

We wandered along centuries-old cobblestone streets, between centuries-old buildings which are updated with modern shops. Chocolate, beer, tapestries, you name it. Kind of like Estes Park, actually, only a lot older. 

Our last night at Hotel Mozart. You can see the picture of Mozart against the background of Moroccan walls. 

Next morning we packed up and headed to the train station, a short walk uphill, and headed for Ghent.