Winter Festival in Brussels - Belgium

Itinerary: Brussels (Link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bys9H9hPgFspQTc4RGVCVFRuSUU)

The winter fun festival was occurred from November 27, 2015 to March 1, 2016. I was so lucky that I arrived on November 27, 2015 and could celebrate the fest. Also, I was lucky that they opened the city from the lock-down the day after I arrived. Part of the fest just located in front of the hotel I stayed, Marriott Hotel. I saw that lots of people were getting ready to open their stands during day time. Lots of military soldiers were there for security and they were tighten the security by putting a fence around the fest and check everyone belongings before entered the fest. 

Couples soldiers in front of the concession stands early morning on November 27

The Marriott hotel located at #3 at the map. The building in front of the hotel is the Brussels Stock Exchange and it was #2 at the map.

#1 in the map is the Grand Place. There was a lighting show with music during the fest and it was beautiful.

 

 

#11 in the map is the La Monnaie de Munt. There was an iceskating ring in front of the theater. 

#5 in the map is the Sainte-Catherine Sint-Katelijnekerk. There was an Electrabel Night, the magic factory video mapping show that lasted for 5 minutes or so. 

The largest concessions located near the ferris wheel # 10 in the map, Marche aux Poissons Vismet.

One Night in Brussels - Belgium

Itinerary: Brussels (Link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bys9H9hPgFspQTc4RGVCVFRuSUU)

From Gent-Sint-Pieters, I took a Belgian rail to Brussels. The trip took about 30 minutes to Bruxelles-Midi Station. I left early in the morning. I actually was a little bit nervous couple days before since Brussels was lock-down by the Belgium government related to the incident in Paris. All the public transportation were not running. Luckily, the day I arrived, all the public transportation were running. As I arrived, I walked from the train station to tram station which was located underground.

The easiest way to go to Grand Place area is to take a tram. To use public transportation around Brussels, you can buy a pass such as a 24-hour pass. To buy the pass, you can either buy it from Kiosk or Bootik midi that are located in Brussels Midi. I bought a 24-hour MOBIB Card that cost me €12.5 in which €5.0 just for the card. The card valids for 5 years and can be refilled online. You can also but the paper ticket instead of MOBIB card for €7.5. If you stay longer for several days, there are other options like 48 or 72-hour tickets. The link for tickets' fares can be seen here.

To use the public transportation, you must validate the ticket. At above ground stops, you must validate every time you boards or connects to a bus or tram. For underground stops such as metro, you can validate at the machine on your way to the platform. For above ground stops, if you have a paper ticket, you need to swipe using the orange machine. If you have MOBIB card, you just need to tap at the red machine.

I stayed near the Grand-Place at Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place which was about 4 minutes walked. To get here, I took a tram, either 3, 4, or 32. It took about 8 minutes and I got off at Bourse station. As soon as I exit the station, I can see the Marriott hotel. For the review of the hotel, check it here. The security around the Brussels areas were very strict during my stay. All the doors at the hotel were locked. To get in, I needed to press the bell button and went thru the security check once I entered the premise. After I checked-in and left my luggage, I started my own tour around Brussels with help of the map I got from the receptionist of the hotel. 

Brussels Expo & Atomium

To start with, I went to the furthest attraction and this place is the icon of Brussels, Atomium. 

Direction:
1. Take Tram #3 or #4 from Bourse Station to Gare-du-Midi/Brussels Midi (3 stops)
2. Transfer to Metro #6 to Haysel (12 stops)
3. Walk to Atomium (8 minutes) 

Alternative direction:
1. Take Tram #3 from Bourse to Esplanade (14 stops)
2. Walk to Atomium (13 minutes) 

On the way to Atomium via Haysel station, you will see a green building called as Brussels Expo. This building is a large conventions and exhibition center. Also, you can visit mini-europe for €15.0 while you are here. You can also buy a combo ticket for both mini-europe and atomium for €24.50.

Brussels Expo

Atomium

Parc du Cinquantenaire 

From Atomium, I went to another attraction that located further away from Grand Place, Parc du Cinquantenaire. This is a large park and at the end of the park, you will see arc de triomphe of Brussels.

Direction:
1. Take Tram #7 from Haysel to Montgomery (18 stops)
2. Transfer to tram #1 to either Merode (1 stop)

Le Berlaymont

From Parc du Cinquantenaire, a walk to Schuman station, you will pass a building called as Le Berlaymont. This building is the headquarter of European Commision. 


Direction:
1. Walk to Le Berlaymont (15 minutes)

 

Congres Column

Congres column in a monument located at the Place du Congres to commemorates the creation of the Belgian state and constitution by the National Congress around 1830-1831.

Direction:
1. Take Tram #1 or #5 from Schuman to Parc Station (3 stops)
2. Walk to Column Congres (8 minutes) or transfer to tram #92 or #93 to Congres (1 stop)

 

Comic Strip Center

From the map, it seems like the Comic Strip Center located just behind the Column Congres. However, there is a different in altitude and therefore, to get there, you have to walk around.

Direction:
1. Walk to Belgian Comic Strip Center (7 minutes)

 

St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral

This cathedral is another huge roman catholic church in Belgium

Direction:
1. Walk to St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral (6 minutes)

  

Jardin du Mont Des Arts

From this garden, you can see the beautiful tower of the town hall at the Garden Place. On the way to this garden, you will pass the Museum of Original Figurines where you can see the smurfs and the TinTin figures. Smurfs and TinTin cartoon are originally from Belgium.

Direction:
1. Walk to Jardin du Mont Des Arts (7 minutes)

 

 

Manneken Pis

From Jardin du Mont Des Arts, I walked to see the famous Manneken-Pis. Manneken-Pis is a naked little boy that is peeing in a fountain's basin statue. When I mention small, I mean that it is really small. Along the way between the Manneken-Pis and Grand Place, there are lots of shops that sell popular dishes in Belgium, Belgian Waffle. You can see it everywhere in this road. There are lots of options for the topping or you can just get the plain waffle. I ordered my favorite strawberry and kiwi with nutella. Also, you will see lots of shops that advertise €1. This is really just for the plain one or the one with granulated sugar as the topping.   Also, if you want to buy a gift, there are lots of souvenirs store in this road too.
Direction:
1. Walk to Manneken-Pis (8 minutes)

 

Grand Place

From Maaneken-Pis, I walked to the famous Grand Place. The place was just amazing. At the center, there was a Christmas tree and figure that depicting the born of Jesus Christ with alive lambs. Surround it, there are historical buildings, opulent guildhalls, two large edifices, the city's town hall, and the bread-house. This place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

Galleries Royales St. Hubert

About 1 or 2 minutes walk from Grand Place, you will find a building called as Galleries Royales St. Hubert. Other than waffle, Belgium is known and famous with its Belgian chocolate. The best place to hunt chocolate is at this galleries. Famous Belgium chocolates are Leonidas, Neuhaus, Mary, Godiva, and Pierre Marcolini. You can also find Patrick Rogers chocolate in Belgium.

From Galleries Royales St. Hubert, I basically finished all the attractions that I wanted to see in Brussels. During my visit, there was a Christmas festival and it was the first day of the festival. I went back to the hotel and planned to enjoy the Christmas festival later on that would start in 2 hours. I was thinking that the festival would not be crowded due to the lock-down incident. However, there were lots of people came to celebrate the first day of the festival.