So it is Saturday, why not do some shopping? I took the tube down to Rogier and Nieuwstraat. This is the start of a very long pedestrian shopping street with the international chain stores like H&M and MediaMarkt but also two large department stores Inno and City2. If you are looking for designer shops and boutiques they can be found in the Avenue Louise and Boulevard de Waterloo area, Place Stephanie, Place du Grand Sablon and on Rue Antoine Dansaert. Speciality shops are at Rue Haute and Rue Blaes. You will also find some beer shops around Grand Place.
Jazz Marathon
Before I forget if you are in Brussels next weekend don’t forget the Jazz Marathon. You will find more information here Jazz in Brussels
It was a warm day again, but don’t worry, there are plenty of outdoor cafés and bars along the way where you easily can get a drink. Be careful with the stronger Belgian beers, I would suggest a witbier, it is quite refreshing on a warm day. I continued along Nieuwstraat all the way down to the Bourse, Brussels Stock Exchange.
The Bourse
The building is from 1873 and part of project during the 1860’s-70’s to cover the river Senne for health and aesthetic reasons. The building is quite impressive and has a lot of ornaments and sculptures from prominent artists and the place is today a famous landmark in Brussels.
The stroll continued a couple of blocks down to the now well-known Place Saint-Géry. It was full and very lively.
Place Saint-Géry
I decided to test one of the Asian restaurants, K-Touch a Thai place, and after all the Belgian food with frits this was quite inspirational. I can really recommend the place very good and price worthy food (11€ for main course). When I left I saw another mural just around the corner, nice.
Another mural
Witbier is a Belgian Style ale that’s very pale and cloudy in appearance due to it being unfiltered and the high level of wheat, and sometimes oats, that’s used in the mash. It is always spiced, generally with coriander, orange peel and other oddball spices or herbs in the back ground. The crispness and slight twang comes from the wheat and the lively level of carbonation (from //beeradvocate).
Hoegaarden
Hoegaarden 5%, is the most well-known one you can find but there are several others. This type of beer is a perfect thirst-quencher. It is refreshing, well carbonated and tastes spicy but sweet. I usually don’t like this type of beer but I have to say that it grows on you especially on a warm day. I will however check out some of the competition here.
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; Hoegaarden 5%,
Location; Nieuwstraat – shopping street
Point of Interest: The Bourse
