It has taken me a while to get around to finally doing this post. Why? I can't really say, as I've nothing to do all day. Ho, hum.
Our good friend Gwen came to visit us from the Prague last month for an extended weekend. It was GREAT seeing her again, as we haven't had a chance to "hang out" since Bangkok. While Gwen was here we decided that it would be great fun to take a little day-trip to Brussels.
While in Brussels we wanted to do somethings that none of us had done before. Jan and I have been to Brussels more than a few times. We settled on going to see the 'Atomium' and 'Mini-Europe'. The weather was nice, for the most part. We did have a 20 minute downpour, but it in no way ruined our day. We began our journey at Antwerp Central Station, catching the train to Brussels Nord station. the journey from Antwerp is a quick 30 minute jaunt via rail, and before you know it you're in, what seems like, a totally different country. The overwhelming majority of people in Brussels speak French, eventhough Brussels is technically in Dutch speaking Flanders. That being said, all signs in Brussels are in Dutch and French, and occasionally English.
Brussels is a typical European capital city. There are buildings dating back to the 1300s juxtaposed against the modernity of the EU Parliment.
I will try to explain what is in all the pictures where I can. If I don't know, well you'll just have to make your best guess along with me. So sit back and enjoy part 1! (As always, click on the thumbnail for a larger image.)
Our journey begins in Antwerp Central Station:
Antwerp, and all of Belgium for that matter, is a cycling city. As you can see from all the bikes under the station, many people prefer this mode of transport.
Many people who fancy themselves "experts" where it comes to architecture, consider the main hall of Central station to be one of the nicest in the world. I would have to agree.
Many people back in the States, when they hear the term "Red Light District" automatically think of the notorius and infamous district in Amsterdame. However, Brussels has its own "red light district". These pictures were taken of the "district," more of a run down street really, from the train as we were pulling into Brussels Nord Station.
Atomium
Mini-Europe
Mini-Europe has the reproductions of the most attractive monuments in the European Union on show, at a scale of 1:25. Roughly 80 cities and 350 buildings are represented. The park is renowned for the quality of its models, some of which cost as much as €350,000 to make (the Brussels Grand-Place). The park contains numerous live action models (train, mills, eruption of Mount Vesuvius, Airbus, cable cars, etc. A guide gives the details on all the monuments. At the end of the visit, the “Spirit of Europe” exhibition gives an interactive overview of the European Union in the form of multimedia games. The park is built on an area of 24,000 m². The initial investment was of €10 million in 1989, on its inauguration by Prince Philip of Belgium.
The Berlaymont, European Commission Headquarters.
Here we have an oil tanker, the P&O Ferry that crosses the English Channel, and a Total North Sea oil derrick. Mmmmm, what's that I smell? Corporatism?
Yes, I'm a Viking, and I'll take over your village! *Insert evil laugh here*
Trelleborg, Denmark
This is a miniature of a gay cruise on the canals of Copenhagen. I'm not kidding. Look closely at the pictures, and you'll be able to pick it out.
Copenhagen, Denmark
The Exchange in Copenhagen, Denmark
Amsterdam, Holland
Not really 100% on where this is. I think it's the Netherlands.
The town hall in Maastricht, Netherlands.
Hoensbroek Castle, Hoensbroek, Netherlands.
Dolelenkade Houses in Hoorn, the Netherlands
City Hall in Stockholm, Sweden
Olavinlinna Castle in Finland
The Fat Margareta in Tallinn, Estonia.
The Monument to Freedom in Riga, Latvia.
The University of Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Veves Castle in Celles, Belgium
The Curtius House in Leige, Belgium.
Our Lady of Dinant, Dinant, Belgium
Grote Markt, Brussels, Belgium.
The town hall in Antwerp, Belgium
The town hall in Leuven, Belgium
Some randomness from Belgium.
The Commandery in Alden Biesen, Belgium.
Jan is gonna save the queen, or something to that affect.
Houses of Parliament, London, United Kingdom.
Longleat House, Bath, United Kingdom. The Longleat House is the country estate of the Marquis of Bath.
St. Patricks Rock, Cashel, Ireland.
P&O Channel ferry which runs from Calais, France to Dover, England.
Dover Castle, Dover, England
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France.
Centre du Pompidu, Paris, France.
Arc du Triumph, Paris, France.
Sacre-Coeur, Paris, France.
The Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, Ronchamp, France.
Clos Vougeot Castle, France.
Well clearly it's a port. Where? I'm not sure.
Castle of Chenonceaux, France
This is supposed to be a representation of the Chunnel (Channel Tunnel).
The Ocean Pavillion, Lisbon, Portugal.
Torre de Belem, Lisbon, Portugal.
Cais da Ribeira, Porto, Portugal.
El Escorial, Madrid, Spain.
Plaza de Toros, Seville, Spain
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Campanile, aka "The Leaning Tower," Pisa, Italy. Also the obligitory holding up the tower shot. Also pictures, Piazza del Duomo.
Alberobello, Italy.
Palazzo Publico in the Piazza del Campo, Sienna, Italy. Just a note, the Atomium in the background is the real thing.
Palazzo Ducale, Venice, Italy.
Villa Rotunda, Venice, Italy
Holstentor, Lübeck, Germany
Brandenburg Gate & the Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany.
Spire Cathedral, Spire, Germany.
Eltz Castle, Eltz, Germany
Porta Nigra, Trier, Germany
Artus Court, Gdansk, Poland.
Three Crosses (Memorial to Fallen Shipyard Workers), Gdansk, Poland
Astronomical Clock, Prague, Czech Republic.
The Blue Church, Bratislava, Slovakia
Ljubijana, Slovenia
The Szechenyi baths, Budapest, Hungary.
Monastary of Rila, Bulgaria
Melk, Austria
Temple of Mnajdra, Malta.
Kourion Theater, Limassol, Cyprus.
The Acropolis, Athens, Greece
Along the tram route heading from Atomium back to Brussels, there is some pretty impressive "graphiti." I would tend to think of this more as art, as it was fully authorized by Brussels.
