Brussels

One of London's many benefits is the ease with which one can travel to Europe. A flight of a few hours can take one to many European cities, and with the Eurostar one can literally go to Paris for lunch. I'm determined to have a European weekend getaway once-a-month while I'm living in London. Madrid last month, and Venice next. But this weekend I'm in Brussels, and I'm a little embarrassed to admit that my initial rationale for visiting the 'official' European capital is that it's the furthest one can travel on the Eurostar without changing trains!

Not that Brussels isn't interesting, or beautiful. In fact, it's architecturally stunning, especially in the centre of town around the Grand Place where the Town Hall's spire rises a few hundred feet from the piazza to the sky. And then there is the Palace of Justice, occupying prime position on the top of the hill. No photograph can truly give justice, pardon the pun, to the building's mammoth proportions. Designed in a classical style, it is the largest building constructed in the 19th century, between 1860 and 1880.

The less said about my hotel, the better. Let's just say it's been quite a while since I've slept in a single bed. A true single at that, and not even a 3/4. At least it encouraged me to get out and
about yesterday morning. I spent Saturday wandering through the city centre, sightseeing and shopping. (I picked up a great winter jacket and leather shoes at a third of the London prices). Brussels is an especially compact city. It has a tram network, that runs underground in parts, but I didn't use it once, opting to walk all day.

The Palace of Justice was the first stop. From there I walked down the Rue de la Régence boulevard to the museum district. I wanted to visit the Museum of Modern Art and, elsewhere, an exhibition of Faberge eggs, but the queues were truly horrendous. Still, there was plenty to see and enjoy, as I walked through the old town with cobbled alleyways lined with street-side restaurants. In the French style, most of these restaurants display signs for la carte fixed menus. When I returned later in the evening, I picked the most inexpensive (€12.50, $20) and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food, wine, and service.

A funny thing happened to me as I walked around the town. Not long after I set out I walked passed a building draped in German flags. "A-ha", I thought, I have found the German embassy, either to Belgium or representative to the E.U. A short distance later, I found another building that matched the same description. This must be other embassy. This happened on a few more occasions before I realised I was confusing the German flag with the similarly-coloured Belgian flag. I'm sure there are lots of Belgian embassy buildings in Germany.

Would I recommend a trip to Brussels? Absolutely. Would I go back? Most probably. Would I want to live here? Definitely not. With each passing hour I wisened to the realisation that I was in the Canberra of Europe. Like the Australian capital, Brussels is stunning, with great restaurants, and significant cultural attractions. But lacking the spark of other mid-sized cities like Madrid or Toronto, I found it a wee bit boring! I'm sure it's lively, and all that, once you get to know the place. But I found myself longing for the flash 'n' trash that is easier to come by in the bigger cities!

Not wishing to brave the crowds at the museum, I would have been at a loose end today, had it not been for my work colleagues. Several recommended a day trip to Bruges. So as I write I'm on a domestic train hurtling through the Belgian countryside toward this medieval town.