Brussels, home to one of the most perplexing tourist draws in Europe, is the one city in Belgium I had ‘been to’ before. Compared to my half hour train transfer in Brussels Station in 2006, though, the several hours I spent in town this time were far more (ful)filling.
I still don’t understand the appeal of the Manneken Pis (literally: Little Man Pee) statue. Tourist from all over the world crowd around this two foot statue to snap pervy pictures of a urinating little boy.
The waffle stand next door is a nice touch, though.
The rest of town, though, I totally support.
Sure, it gets a little bit crowded once all those tourists wander away from the Manneken.
But there’s also Tintin!
And the Atomium State from the ’58 World Expo. Its big and shiny and has a restaurant inside, but really… why is it there?
Also, I have had a haircut since then.
Perhaps Belgians should change the reference to Brussels from ‘The Capital of Europe’ to ‘The Prettiest City I Just Don’t Get’. You know what, though? That doesn’t make the place any less enjoyable. I didn’t get to explore the cafes or see the square in the light of dawn or even happen to be there when Manneken Pis is hooked up to a keg to hand out samples to passers-by. I may not get it, but I would happily go back and try again.
