Days 11-12: Of Waffles and Fries...

Brussels made its way onto my itinerary by way of the fact that my friend Jason studies nearby in the town of Leuven. As it turns out, that's about the best thing that Brussels has going for it. Maybe three weeks of travel have already made me picky, but Brussels really only has one attraction, which is the Grote Market at the centre of town. To be fair, it's probably the best example of a town square you will find throughout Europe. The "new" guild houses, which were rebuilt after being destroyed in a French bombardment in the 17th century, are stunning examples of baroque architecture. The Town Hall towers majestically over the entire square. The narrow winding streets around the square are packed with oh-so-charming restaurants who will oh-so-charmingly take you for every penny you have, all the while providing terrible service (did I mention that service in European restaurants sucks?). The next most recommended attraction in Brussels is a small statue of a boy peeing. The Belgians like to dress this little guy up in different clothes - enough said.

Now that I've totally trashed Brussels, I will say that it is still worth a visiting for a day if you are in the area. Try the fantastic waffles, or the fries with mayo if that's your thing. Just be forewarned that all the damn internet cafes use AZERTY keyboards. Oh yeah, and the train and metro stations are ugly, in total disrepair and stink of homeless people.

Brussels soundtrack: Karl Denson "The D Stands For Diesel". Not exciting or hip enough for trance or hip-hop, but too modern for classical, Karl Denson's brand of jazz fit well.