Located in the heart of Europe, is the capital
city of Belgium. Brussels is known for its beer, waffles (it is Belgium after
all), cartoons, chocolate, flea markets, and the spectacular architecture that
embraces the city. The city is also home to the European Union. In the middle
of Brussels, is the famous Cinquantenaire (I am not going to even try to
pronounce it). The Cinquantenaire is a huge park that is home to several
museums. You can’t miss it since the main road into the city passes through it.
And like many cities in Europe, Brussels is full of history, treasures, and
adventure.
Right now, the city is known for all the
wrong reasons; reasons that I cannot fully understand and will one day have to
try and explain to my young son. Terrorists recently targeted the city, killing
several people and again bringing fear to the entire world. This comes just
months after the terrorist attacks in Paris. When I wrote about Paris
following the attacks there, I refused to discuss what the terrorists did in
detail. I stand by that in this post as well. I refuse to give terrorism a
voice. Sometimes words are simply meant to be louder than actions.
With that said, let’s talk about
Brussels and why you should visit the city if you haven’t already. First, there
is this International
Vacation Home Exchange property located in the heart of the city. So you
can check lodging off your list as you plan your trip. Now let’s talk about
food. Don’t plan on going on a diet anytime soon if you want to visit the city.
Brussels is a culinary candy store complete with waffles, stew, Belgian fries,
and chocolate. So really, this will be a vacation for your senses as well
(taste and smell). I am getting hungry just writing this post.
When planning your trip, be sure to look
at the calendar of events in the city. Brussels hosts a number of festivals
throughout the year including the Brussels Animation Film Festival, Brussels
Jazz Marathon, and the Brussels Festival of Arts. One of the most popular
festivals is arguably the Winter
Wonders Festival. You can catch this during the holidays and the festival
features everything from lights, music, to ice skating.
While you are checking out a festival,
be sure to step back and absorb the beauty of the buildings that will surround
you. There are guided and self-guided tours of the hidden architectural treasures
throughout the city. During your tour you can also check out Mini-Europe. Yes,
Mini-Europe. It is a park that showcases Europe using miniature models – 350
models to be exact. You will begin your journey at Big Ben and then wonder
through Italy, France, Germany, and Spain in just a matter of hours.
This is truly a magical city and
hopefully you will add it to your travel bucket list. A senseless act can’t
stop Europe’s heart from beating. I hope it won’t stop you from visiting the
city and opening your arms to those who will be waiting to greet you. If you
have questions about the city, be sure to contact an International Vacation Home Exchange
coordinator. And as always, safe travels!
Thank
you to guest travel writer Carla Pruitt. You can follow Carla on Twitter at
@crobscarla.
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