A little bit late this week due to a couple of days in Spain over Easter. For those people who stayed put in Brussels, they had a fantastic week, so I was told. The weather in Spain was not good at all, if you wonder.
Easter egg
Belgium has about 11 million people and together with the Netherlands and Luxemburg they were known as the Low Countries in the old days. The region was called Gallia Belgica during the Roman period and was also recognised as the battleground of Europe, especially after two world wars. As mentioned earlier there are mainly two languages spoken; Dutch in the Flanders region and French in the region of Wallonia. There is also a small German speaking part as well. This mixture has had a large impact over the years resulting in various complicated, political and cultural conflicts.
The flea market at Place du Jeu de Balle is in the centre of Brussels and takes place daily. Here you can find everything from junk and antiques to bargain buys and rip-offs. About 200 dealers turn up every day from 7am until lunchtime.
Flee market
It’s a great place to find things you never knew you really wanted, and at knockdown prices. The area around the market is also quite nice with shops and bars for an afternoon stroll after the market closes. We found a little bar with live music.
Baguette
Why not grab a Baguettes for lunch? It comes with a large variation of different spreads and is sold in every corner, it seems.
One of the old authentic bars in the centre is the Bon Vieux Temps at Impasse Saint Nicolas 4. “The Good Old Days” is an excellent name for this picturesque bar which has been here for over 300 years.
Bon Vieux Temps
The interior looks like an ancient Gothic church, complete with stained glass windows. Perfect to get the evening started.
A beer to go with could be Westvleteren 8 (blue cap) (formerly Extra), 8% . This one is in my opinion not so close to the no 12, which is on top of my list, as some ratings indicate.
Westvleteren-8
This is a lighter version of no 12 but still a very nice Trappist beer, dark and complex taste just like its big brother.
Coming weeks:
- EU continued
- In search for the best beer (an on-going quest for the perfect pint)
- More seafood
- Cheese
- Parks
- Culture
- Markets
- Politics
Facts of the week;
Drink; Westvleteren 8%
Food; Baguettes with different spreads
Location; Bon Vieux Temps Impasse Saint Nicolas 4
Point Of Interest; Place du Jeu de Balle, Flee market
