The bowels of Brussels

Yesterday was the start of a new adventure. I left Paris and headed to Brussels Belgium. Although I didn't know a ton of things about this place, I had learned a few tid bits along the way. Travelling to a new destination always makes me a little nervous as I don't know what I am walking into. I am unsure of the hostel, how to get there, what the public transport is like, and who I am going to meet. Plus it was a little sad to leave the beautiful city of Paris. I had a great time and there is still so much I could see there.

I arrived in Brussels by bus. The driver stopped along the sidewalk and let us off.....looking around I thought hmmmm..... The driver had no idea where the metro was but luckily I have enough sense to notice a train station when I see one and there it was across the street. I walked through, searching for a sign that would lead me to the metro. I found a map and searched some more! Thorougly confused I headed to what I thought was probably the metro. There I am at the bottom of the escalator, huge backpack on, looking lost.

No problem I think. I spot a cash machine and take out some money as I have to pay cash at the hostel. The huge line moves slowly but I have time! Eveyone waits a respectable distance away from the person at the machine....until my turn. Then they are about one foot away....and they look shady. Sigh, they don't mug me so I head to find a ticket from an actual person and not a machine. I get directions to my hostel from the ticket man who was anything but friendly. My hostel had given the incorrect directions on their site, super!

I get on the packed metro with my huge case on my back and head to my stop.  I finally get to the hostel only to discover a huge line. Luckily it took no time at all and I get all checked in. The guy says "okay, follow me, I'll take you to your room." Weird since nobody else got an escort. He starts explaining how I will have to take a different route after 11 when reception closes as to get to my room you have to go through the common area. So he opens a door and leads me down a steep narrow rickety wooden staircase to the basement. The beds don't loom bad but there are no lockers in the room, no bunkbeds, and ut's freezing. My bed is pushed against an empty fireplace. I inquire about lockers and am told they are on the first floor, 2 stories up.....

Good news though, it got better after that. I met some fabulous girls from the states and we walked around to explore the city. We discovered a lovely old church that is being converted to a food market, and beside it was the tower of a castle. We spotted some smoke in the distance and wanted to see what was happening.  No one told us not to cross the canal, we did and found it was the arab community which is not a safe place for 3 white women at dusk. I also don't think they appreciated us checking out their burning building.  We headed back to the hostel where I met a great group of people from all over the world. Cards games were played and then we headed out to try some 1€ beers.  The place played great music but had an extremely dirty bathroom (I accidentally went in the mens room, yuk).  We then headed to Delirium and they had amazing apple beer! I could get used to it for sure! 

And about the basement, the bathrooms are really clean and I slept great since it wasn't stifling in the room.

Today, I headed out with Georgia, a lovely Australian who has been travelling for 5 months. We explored the city and saw the sights. We had waffles for lunch, saw the peeing boy statue, the Grand place, a panoramic view of the city from the top floor of a parkade, the peeing dog statue and many churches. We stopped and sat at a lovely cafe and enjoyed a late lunch and tea and went shopping for dinner at the grocery store. Tonight is going to be low key after a late night yesterday! Tomorrow we are planning to go to Bruges for the day! I can't wait!