Жемчужины Бенилюкса. Брюссель Pearls of the Benelux. Brussels

08/12/2012.
Brussels, sightseeing tour 9.00-14.30. Bus and walking tour. The first stop is the square at the Palace of Justice. Palace of Justice in the scaffolding, a monument nearby too. In 2006, there was also some kind of construction there, nothing has changed. A story about the sights around and a short photo break.
Then we walk to the Sablon area. About half an hour of free time for sightseeing. First we go to the Notre-Dame-du-Sablon Cathedral - a beautiful Gothic building, and then to the Petit Sablon Park. Both the cathedral and the park made a strong impression on the first visit to Brussels. This time it seemed to me that the flowers in the square were not as good as the first time, more modest, but perhaps it just seemed to me.
Then we went to the royal church of St. James. We were lucky, it was open to the public, there was a service in it. In the center of the square where the church is located, the monument to Gottfried of Bouillon, which looks at the lower city, offers a beautiful view. Opposite the church is the entrance to the Museum of Fine Arts. We went to the museum, Natalia briefly spoke about the museum, gave orientation to those who were going to visit this museum in their free time.
Then we ended up at the top of the Coudenberg hill (mountains of the Arts). Chic Old England house in Art Nouveau or Art Nouveau style. There are many buildings in this style in Brussels, many of which are located in the area above the triumphal arch. There is one on the Brussels website in the proposed walks http://visitbrussels.be/bitc/BE_en/do-see/to-do/walks.do, where you can see the main Art Nouveau buildings. For all the proposed walks, there are good maps with reference to transport, not only the objects are shown, but also their sequence.
Then we went down a little lower, a beautiful square with geometric flower beds. About half an hour to look around and in the photo and return to the Museum of Fine Arts, where the bus is waiting for us. We passed the Royal Palace and Park by bus. Unfortunately, at the time when we were in Brussels, there was a music festival, there were several concert venues in the Royal Park, in the park near the Arc de Triomphe, on the Mount of Arts. Therefore, there was not everywhere a free passage, and just on that day it was the beginning and the scenes were mounted, etc., because of this, it was not possible to see much well.
We move to the Arc de Triomphe and an hour of free time. The alternative is the museums of the army or automobiles or the surrounding area. The Army Museum is free. Natalia went to the Museum of the Army with museum lovers, everyone who went was very pleased. I even succumbed to the temptation to go to the museum, but decided not to go any further. While I was making a decision, my neighbor rushed down from the arch towards the Euroquarter, so for an hour I enjoyed the park alone. I came across a flower bed, there are many of them in Montreux, like a flower bed and flowers, but if you look closely, you can make a salad and cook vegetable soup http://my.turpravda.ua/lulusha/gallery/36685/270840.html
Then we drive past the euroblock to the Cathedral of St. Michael - one of the visiting cards of Brussels. There was a service in the cathedral, tourists were not allowed, but last time I was inside. We stopped in a square in front of the cathedral, listened to the story and the time in the photo. Wonderful couches are standing there, we even rested a little.
Then we go towards the Grand Place, but we examine all the sights around, we pass through the passage, we reach the pissing boy, and then, having entered the courtyard and the Town Hall, we exit to the square. I have no luck with the Grand Place, I can’t see it in all its beauty when it is empty (or maybe this is a reason to return to Brussels again). In 2006 there was a preparation for a concert, almost the entire area was occupied by armchairs, etc., this time the flower carpet was being prepared. There was a carpet base on the square, everything was covered with a special film and people were doing something there, but it’s not clear what, because. in the evening everything looked the same. The solemn opening of the carpet was on August 14 in the evening. It was interesting how it would be laid out. They came to the square on 12 and 13 in the evening, the square practically did not change, only the basis for the carpet. And on the evening of 14 the carpet was ready.
On this n

This concludes our tour. After that, the group almost in full force went to one of the restaurants in the Womb of Brussels. Everyone chose different menu options which cost 12€ for 3 courses. Given the cost, the portions are small, like we have in Ukraine. Satisfied and satisfied, they moved on. Our plan for today is to buy chocolate and other souvenirs, take everything to the hotel and then further acquaintance with the city.
Part of the group also returned to the hotel. Let's go together. On the way we went to buy chocolate at Le temps du sucre. Last time I bought it there, I recognized it by the package. I bought home classic truffles, orange truffles, 2 boxes each, and all kinds of chocolate, 1 bar each, from firms unknown to me. And 15 pieces of different handmade sweets, which would be unrealistic to bring to Ukraine. In 2006, truffles reached Dnepropetrovsk in the form of chocolate mass. I had to eat with spoons. It was much cooler this year, and almost all the hotels had air conditioning, so the chocolate was stored in good conditions.
Near the hotel (2-3 minutes walk) Delhaizer supermarket. It was necessary to buy food for the coming days, because. We were going on a full day excursion, and everything you need to continue your acquaintance with Belgian beer. Since it was Sunday, he worked until 17.00. I bought various Cote d`Or chocolates and my own brand of Delhaizer supermarket chain. I love black (and everyone at home too), I took one bar at a time, but it turned out to be quite a lot (at the same time, Cote d`Or was in 200g tiles), considering milk for gifts. I could not resist a few Lindt tiles, although he is Swiss, but I really love him. The plan for buying chocolate was fulfilled and overfulfilled (but then it turned out that there are no limits to buying chocolate). I couldn’t resist, I posted the album with chocolate, here it’s mostly Bruges, a little bit of Brussels, I like to eat chocolate, not photograph. http://my.turpravda.ua/lulusha/gallery/38321/
After unloading the purchases at the hotel, we set off again towards the Grand Place. Now take your time, taking pictures of interesting things. On our way, a street sculpture of Madame Chapeau, which I read about almost before leaving http://my.turpravda.ua/lulusha/gallery/36685/270849.html
We reached the square, wandered around for a bit, went to St. Michael's Cathedral, and then my neighbor wanted the European Parliament again with illumination, which she didn't see all of in the afternoon. We asked for directions, realized that it was far away, and the time was already around 22.00, went to the Royal Park, listened to the concert for a bit and went home, inspecting the preparation of the flower carpet.
Photo http://my.turpravda.ua/lulusha/gallery/36685/ Brussels. The first photos - the evening of August 14 - the opening of the flower carpet.