Brussels was lovely — I spent nearly two days there, and loved every minute. Quite distinct from bustling Paris, and it always takes me a few hours to settle into the calm (just like when I went to Lyon two years ago).
This is one of the cities where I disregarded looking at Google Maps (like London), and legiterally (twitter users … tweeters? [lol] come up with the best coined words) walked around, like people in the 1700s, when they penciled in gallivanting about with no agenda, just a leisurely, proper-paced stroll at the promenade to gossip about the neighbour’s daughter’s slip showing at the hems of her dress and it was horrendous, and extremely distasteful, and worst hue of magenta, oh your eyes, your eyes — you catch the drift. It felt very therapeutic, mostly because it’s a quaint little city, and there aren’t a lot of tourists (except at the Square).
It took about an hour and 45mins-ish (I think, I’m too lazy to check my ticket) via EuroStar to get to Brussels from Gare du Nord. I’d requested for early check-in at The Motel One, and luckily enough, I got it.
Didn’t waste any time, because I got to the room, dropped off my things, freshened up, and made my way out — maxxed my energy to what I could manage, and at circa 5.00pm, I made my way back to the hotel, dozed off, then stayed in bed ’til about past 9.00am the next morning.
As I would be flying out then (at circa 9.00pm), I decide to maximise the one night I paid for — left at check-out time, kept my stuff at the hotel lockers, and then made my way back to the centre.
The Grand Sablon 40 is a contemporary art gallery — everything here is for sale. Look at this lush, gorgeous set. The building (exterior and interior) is so pretty, and there’s an art space at the back of the room.
The curators are SO kind — as soon as I got in, I was welcomed with a bit of a background on what they do and what’s on display.
They also very kindly offered me to check out the art space located at the back of the store — they were actually setting it up when I walked in, but they let me wander about. All the weaved pieces, I stood over each one as long as I could, studying the colours, the texture, and how it made me feel.
This exhibit is by KRJST Studio :
“KRJST Studio’s ‘There is always something left to love’ exhibition is an invitation to venture into a space where each work, rooted in reality, is enriched by a poetic language.
This journey is constructed as an evocation of magic realism, the literature genre that was popularized by the author Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
This stroll takes you into a universe inhabited by floating landscapes, fragmentary objects from a dream world and lights emanating from spirits both immaterial and visible.
It’s an overflowing world that the framework of reality cannot contain, where matter comes to life and images become distorted. In the world of KRJST studio, the hands intertwine narrative and fiction.
The artistic gesture is a powerful tool that allows us to examine reality to bring out wonders that are invisible at first glance.“
God, don’t you just love art? I love how humans are made to express themselves like this, through a medium that speaks to them — UGH.
Sorry We’re Closed was one of the Art galleries I was looking forward to visiting the most, mainly because I thought the building itself was a piece of art.
I mean, look at it.
There’s a reason why they would rightfully “take ownership” of waffles and fries, lol. I guess I needed to order better waffles next time, but the fries (could never go wrong with an aioli dip), oh my gosh …
It was a treat to get to see Brussels’s Palace of Justice. I had no idea where to go whilst inside so I did a lot of wandering.
I was pretty stoked to see actual hearings taking place (most doors to the rooms were open, but I didn’t take photos for obvious reasons).
They had an RBG sculpture close to the main hall entrance, which I adored.
Outside, most locals would sit atop the bannisters and railings and would be smoking, with their respective headset of choice, some with groups, some with themselves.
Unknowingly, Smurfs’s premiere was on the day I was there. I tried to wait for Riri to arrive but I was behind the venue (not even close to the blue carpet), but I joined a long line of people forming a line across both sides of the street (where I assume the celebrities would be getting out of their cars), but after nearly half an hour, I decide to skibidibiskidaddle.
Like I said, don’t ask me how many stops I’ve made at Buddy Buddy in both Paris and Brussels. I’m taking home bottles of their peanut butter next time.
I enjoyed a really nice, quiet afternoon at the Parc du Bruxelles before making my way to the airport, probably one of the longest I’ve stayed stationary that day.
Bonus videos :
It was an extremely pleasant short stay in Brussels. I loved the fact that I felt comfortable enough to wander about without the guidance of a map — felt liberating in that sense. The air was quite cool, too — and a chap very politely said “trop belle” as I walked past him, and I let that get to my head.
All the shop keepers I came across were all very kind, and all the while maintaining their no B.S. vibe, which I admire — I’m kind, but I also mean business. You know what I mean?
A great way to wrap up my birthday trip, if I do say so myself.
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