My heart started racing as we turned the street corner on to Rue Ducale. It wasn’t the Grand Place with the intricately designed guild houses or the sheik and modern Atomium, but rather a road lined with foreign embassies and consulates. My friends continued to nonchalantly walk towards the foreboding Royal Palace as if these buildings along the street were no big deal, but I, being the diplomacy major and political fanatic that I am, whipped out my camera and started taking pictures.
Ever since I spent my first summer abroad I have been fascinated with foreign countries and international relations. This road was where it all happened. This street was the hub of international politics, the middle ground between one country and another. Each intricately decorates white building had political meaning – each was a piece of a territory, big or small, that existed somewhere in the world. The bright colors of the flags that could be seen from far off not only identified the building, but also were public displays of nationalism and pride for the home country.
As I strolled down the quiet street on Friday evening I began thinking about and comparing the scene to my recent trip to Washington DC. The image of men in dapper black suits sprinting into the Capitol Building, and guards with heavy machine guns standing outside crossed my mind. The scene here, however, was much different. As I stared down the street, what I saw looked like a ghost town – perhaps because it was a Friday evening or perhaps because Europeans aren’t workaholics – but either way, it was nearly deserted. No men with briefcases or women in fitted dresses, just a few citizens taking a leisurely bike ride.
When I think of Brussels I think of it being the center of Europe – the capital of the EU and the capital of Belgium. It is strategically situated close to important ports of Europe in Rotterdam and Antwerp, but also not far from the industrial center of Germany. The EU is the intricate balance of 27 different countries that all have the goal of a stable and peaceful Europe. With the current situation in Greece and the amount of power and responsibility that the EU holds, however, I expected more people frantically scurrying throughout the city every hour, day and night, just like the US Capitol Building. Clearly I was wrong.
As we continued to walk I noticed, a few blocks down, a whole different side of Brussels. In the distance, three small pubs were situated on a quiet plaza. The green, white, and orange chairs from the three separate restaurants were visible from for off and as the chairs sprinkled with people became more visible, it was clear that Brussels is not just a city of diplomats and dignitaries, but instead a city with two different worlds.
We discovered this even more as we explored the city the next day. We traipsed over 30 minutes with everything on our backs to an outdoor flee marked before making our way to Mannekin Pis, the statue of the small peeing boy. As I stood and stared at the boy clad in a maroon and green outfit, I noticed the flags of other countries hanging over the waffle stands and tourists pushing their way down the crowded street. Watching this certainly wouldn’t make you feel as if you were standing in the center of one of the most important and influential cities in the world, but the flags hanging overhead serve as a constant reminder of the significance of the city.
Must See Places in Brussels
-Mannekin Pis – You can’t leave Brussels without seeing the statue of this small peeing boy. If you get lucky, you might get to see him wearing one of his many custom-made costumes. Different countries and groups have made traditional costumes for the little boy. This past Saturday he was donning an outfit from the Companions of Saint-Laurent.
-The Royal Palace – This huge structure makes the White House look like a doll house. While you are unlikely to see the Royal Family as they usually reside in a different palace, it is worth going just to see the beautiful gardens and intricate freezes on the façade of the building. Make sure to stroll through the park across the street towards the embassies and the Parliament Building.
Thinking about visiting? Check out these sites before you head to Brussels.
Brussels Official Tourism Website
http://www.brusselsinternational.be/wabxlint/en/visitor/brussels-tourism-visit.act
Official Website of the European Union
http://europa.eu/index_en.htm
More Information about Mannekin Pis
http://www.trabel.com/brussel/brussel-manneken.htm
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