Yes, it is spring and flowers in every corner of the city. Outside Brussels you find the well-known Blue Forest in full bloom. The ground is completely covered by Blue Bells this time of year.
Blue Forest at Hallerbos
Many people have been making pilgrimage the last couple of days to this fantastic forest. An absolute must if you are in the area this time of the year. It can’t be described in words it needs to be experienced.
Before we move on the serious nightlife I forgot to mention a nice little and very typical appetizer to your Moules Frites, the delicious croquettes filled with cheese or shrimps.
I let my girls describe a weekend in Brussels with their own words!
Guest blogging in Bruxelles:
Like the old saying goes… What happens in Bruxelles, stays in Bruxelles.
BUT we promised our old dad to blog about our experience here in the European capital, so here it comes…the censored and short version of what “really” happened. Since Mina already been here for a week she took the lead and Amanda quickly learned the ropes.
The first night out together can be summarised in these following words (in no particular order), and you can only begin to imagine what really happened;
Motorcycle, rugby players, an official Pee guard (kissvakt), the GERMANS, shirt and fly, rave in the deep forest, the fun of speaking French without actually knowing a single word.. and of course BEER (and lots of it).
By the way, we found the famous peeing girl… and No, it wasn´t our mom, though she´s been quite preoccupied with feeling the urge the whole weekend. She (mom) was there when we discovered the peeing girl and she captured the moment by dropping her camera into the girls pee… Surprise, surprise!
Peeing Girl
After 4 hours of sleep, our über tiredness began to take its toll. We decided to try one new piece of heavenly chocolate at every chocolatier we passed on our way through the city centre… but we quickly understood that this desire would never be fulfilled. Do you know how many chocolatiers there are in Bruxelles? No? We neither… but there are A LOT! One on each corner. It’s a dirty job but someone gotta do it. But as you might tell, we are not the ones to complain. Our favourite piece of chocolate (so far) is champagne truffle (Mina) and Desire (Amanda).
Chocolate girls
In the mist of a great Belgian hangover, lack of sleep, after miles of walking, A LOT of chocolate, beer and mussels and with a sprinkle of fluff a new dance was invented in a dark and smoky pub in Bruxelles…. The Eye dance!!
After a weekend in Bruxelles you understand, and of course pay the price in the morning, that you can’t drink as many beers as you can back home since they are twice, or in some cases, triple the strength!!!
Kwak girls
Maybe that’s why they have special ” tools” to help you drink/hold the beer (Kwak Beer).
Since we’ve been drinking a lot of beers we’ve also been visiting the little girls room (and in some case mother nature’s own bathrooms). One question remains: WHY ARE THEY SO SMALL? Amanda is still admiring two girls who managed to enter the toilet at the same time. How did they both fit in there?
So to sum up; It’s been fun and we will definitely be back for more. We still haven’t found the best Belgian beer, though Kwak is a good candidate… One thing’s for sure… we know which beers not to drink again!
Over and out!
Mina & Amanda Hoffmann
PS. Elephant Rose = NOT a hit! DS.
Unfortunately the girls didn’t remember the name of the Night Club they visited on Saturday but I managed to find it: It was the Jeux d’Hiver: A trendy Disco at the edge of the woods (Bois de la Cambre) , frequented by the youthful smart set – BCBG (bon chic, bon genre).
The beer mentioned above is the Pauwel Kwak, a so called full-bodied Belgian Specialty Ale with an orange colour and nice foam. It comes with an unusual wooden hold for the pleasantly shaped glass. The taste is sweet, caramel and a little bit yeasty. Very soft and smooth so I understand why the girls like it. For those who don’ know there is a nice story behind the wooden hold. The brewery claims the glass was designed by the innkeeper Pauwel Kwak in the early 19th century for coachmen who would stop at his coaching tavern and brewery named “De Hoorn” (making it easy for them to hold the beer while driving the coach). However the beer and the glass were launched much later in the 1980s.
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; Pauwel Kwak 8,4% speciality beer
Food ; Croquettes with cheese or shrimps or potato
Location; Jeux d’Hiver trendy nightclub in the woods (Bois de la Cambre)
Point Of Interest; Blue Forest at Hallerbos @ Dworp
