Belgian Chocolates

When I was in Belgium, I of course wandered in and out of several chocolate shops.  The displays, the sites, the smells: all were amazing. I bought from Pierre Marcolini-- on the Petite Grand Salon square.  Not really knowing what I was picking, and not really caring because it would all be awesome chocolate, I ended up with Savour du Monde, "flavors of the world."

These are thin wafers with the origin of the chocolate imprinted on each piece. Java, Ghana, Madagascar, Brazil, Trinidad, and Venezuela.   Some were darker than others; some with more butter fat.  But all have been so far (I am not that big of a piglet!) melt in your mouth outrageously delicious chocolate.  It is unfortunate that there are only 16 pieces... or maybe fortunate, as I will just have to go back to Brussels and purchase more....

Final Day in Brussels

In Parc de Bruxelles, art as Brusselious!  This is the best Brussel Sprout.

 Spending my final day in Brussels before heading up to see a good friend in the Netherlands.  Just some parting images....

A close-up of the tower on the Hotel de Ville, in the Grand Place.

A clock of moving Burghers of Brussels

Tin Tin and Snowy-- what more do you need?

Pomme Frites with mayo--and as I took this photo, someone took my picture taking this picture.

the Cathedral and the bright blue sky

bronze and cooper Art Nouveau doors

handmade linen and lace tablecloth

Brussels Coat of Arms

Mannicke Piss's Wardrobe

Fireman

Some of the outfits given to Mannicke Piss's outfits! There is a whole room full of the outfits, but not all are on display.  Here are a few ones that I liked....

Campaign for the Blind

Welsh Guard

Elvis!

John Bull in the middle

Malta

Japan

Obelisk

Parc du Cinquantenaire

Designed to celebrate the half-centenary of Belgium's 1830 independence, the Parc du Cinquantenaire means "Golden Jubilee Park."  It is an extensive garden with paths, benches, and sculpture.  Another beautiful day filled with sun and so the Belgians were stripping off sweaters once again to soak in the warmth of the autumn sun. 

 At the top of the park is the Arc du Cinquantenaire, topped with a four-horse chariot that represents Brabant rising the flag-- and in the middle arc is an enormous Belgian flag.

On both sides are museums, including a rather dull museum of native american art. 

Berlaymont Palace, an X-shaped building, houses the European Commission (though they are building a new headquarters)

 The Parc is near the European District--where the buildings of the European Union, Council, and Parliament are located (and very near to my hotel).

Consilium is where the Council of Ministers is housed.

The current President of the EU is Cyprus, having gotten it in the 6 months rotation. 

Belgian Center for Comic-Strip Art

Though marked in the guide book as for kids and we were here as part of the dinner  to close out the    first night of the conference (the reason I am here in Brussels),  this place was great.   Another Art Nouveau building brought back to life to house   the  "Ninth Art": Comics.

Most are unfamiliar Belgian/French comics, but some have made it the States, namely Tin Tin, Asterix, and the Smurfs.  

The museum has scenes from the comic strip recreated in 3D.  You can see Tin Tin's and Snowy's Rocket that they flew in to the moon, Tin Tin's bicycle, or several Smurf homes.

The displays have the original hand drawings of the various artists, drafts version of the  strips and  explain of the art and print overlay.  

The Smurfs, or in Flemish: Les Schtroumpfs

Me as Capitan Haddock's ancestor, Sir Francis Haddock

Haddock and Tin Tin walking up to Marlinspike Hall, the ancestral home of the Haddocks

dinner amongst the comics

Tin Tin's Bicycle

Even dirty comics on display, but note: no kids

England's Glory

Seven Ages of Woman ... 

...and Man

Tin Tin and Snowy running towards a clue

Tin Tin and Snowy are off to the moon!

The 2VC of Boule and Bill

a cheeky tile on the underside of the step

Asterix the Viking and his friend Obelix's dog, Dogmatix

Snowy on the Moon

a clue in Tin Tin's first adventure, The Crab with the Golden Claws

The Rocket that went to the Moon before a rocket went to the moon in real life

Professor Cuthbert Calculus, in a double image portrait

Me with Captain Haddock and Tin Tin on the Moon

The Sun Does Shine in Brussels!

La Maison des Ducs de Brabant

 The weather in Brussels apparently is always grey with a forecast of gloom, fog, rain, and wind chill.  So, when the sun actually made an appearance yesterday for several hours, Belgians sorta freaked.  Many stopped, stripped off their coats and scarfs and laid down on the first patch of grass they saw, soaking up as many rays as they could.  Several tourists, ahem, chose to go back to the Grand Place and take photos in daylight, with the sun gleaming off of all the gold leaf and gilding on the buildings facing the open square.

King Albert (I?) at the Place de l'Albertine

The Royal Library to the left of the Place de l'Albertine

A French-Belgian Briard

MIM in Old England

The Hotel de Villa (town hall)

Guild Buildings on the Grand Place--the tops tell you what Guild

Maison du Roi, formerly  the King's house but now the Museum of Brussels

More Guild Buildings

Galeries St. Hubert

Tin Tin, Captian Haddock, and Snowy 

Manneken-Pis

Of course, I have photo of Manneken-Pis!  This statue is only 2 feet high but is very popular.  It has been in place since 1619 (though some say there might have been another similar statue there as early as 1451). In 1698 the governor of the Netherlands, Maximilian Emmanuel, brought a gift to the city of Brussels in the form of a blue wool coat for the boy.  It started a tradition now 300-years strong, where visiting dignitaries bring gifts of clothing in their national dress.  He has over 800 outfits--more than I have!-- which you can see at the Museum of Brussels.