Brussels

Today it was off to Brussels to have a look around. This was bigger and really had none of the quaint appeal of Ghent or even Brugge. But what it lacked for in the cute factor it more than made up for in chocolate. The kids, and I, ate way too much chocolate...again. From the train station and into the old city square and beyond were shop after shop of Belgian Chocolates. In nearly every one of them the kids were able to score free samples. Back and forth they went zigzagging across the narrow streets canvassing each and every opportunity.

In many stores there were samples out for the taking but others were more guarded with their freebies.  When it was the latter case the kids would put on their best puppy dog eyes and talk about how they wish there were samples. Sure enough a plate would soon emerge and chocolate was served. Waffles were also highly available starting at 1 Euro and rising exponentially as you added flavor.

The old town square was in partial renovation but the remaining 75% was something to see. 

On the square Marx and Engels penned the communist manifesto in the Swan House house in 1848 and were subsequently exiled from Belgium. Today the building houses the highest priced restaurant in town. 

The kids entered history when the walked the hallowed halls of Europe, and the worlds, first shopping mall. The glassed roof covers apartments on the second and third floors and shops below. Just like any street but with a super dome on top. 

Also in the mall was the chocolatier Neuhaus who holds the patent for Bonbons. This was the actual store that he invented the Bonbon in, and this girl was eating actual Bonbons this day. 

We saw the famous peeing boy. We are not sure to what it owes it's fame, but it comes with all kinds of legends. Of of which being it was nighted by the Fench king and subsequently all the troops who passed by it had to salute. 

We caught the slow ride back to Ghent by accident. We hopped on a train that was leaving 3 minutes earlier then the one we intended and it took 133% longer. It was a chance to look out the window at a bunch of the small towns.  Some so small they had gravel platforms at their stations and the structures looked like they had been there for a century. The kids had the train increasingly to themselves as we approached our stop and they made use of it. 

Images in 2015 Brussels.