Woot! Maerose here, reporting from my little room here in rainy Norway! 😉 I’m currently waiting for my kursbevis (course certificate) from Folkeuniversitet, i.e., after finishing my Norwegian online course level B1. Deep in my heart, I know that the key to speaking a foreign language fluently is confidence. But coming from a country where people who speak “carabao English” or “broken English” are getting laugh at, I’m more than conscious to actually speak Norwegian with Norwegians. But I’m getting there. Jep. Jeg kan klare det!

What fun way to spend the waiting time but to continue writing about my escapade in the “battleground of Europe”, Belgium! (If you missed the first part: Bedazzling Belgium and the Big Bang theory (Part 1)) You might think I’m joking, but the city of Brussels, specially the center with its little alleys and narrow escapes, literally smells like waffles and chocolates! I instantly wondered how the people there are coping with diabetes. Diabetes is not a laughing matter. I actually have relatives who suffer from the sickness, and the cost of the long-term medication is enough to stay away from too much sugar. But yes, our eyes feasted on the sweet treats that line the streets of Brussels!

One of the city’s most famous attraction is the Mannekin pis, a bronze statue of a boy urinating into a fountain and put in place in the 1600s. I’ll write more about him on my next entry. But for now, here’s a giant version promoting waffles! Aside from waffles, Belgium is also known for its big fries! That was the first food item I bought during the tour. 😀

Upon reaching the city center, we were welcomed by a marching band! It turned out the city was celebrating the Belgian Beer Weekend, an annual festival organized by the Knighthood of the Brewers’ Mashstaff, the Belgian Brewers and the City of Brussels. Yes, Belgians like beer, too, and they’re proud of their beers!

If you want some information on the Beer Weekend this year, visit: Belgian Beer Weekend 2016. Unfortunately, I do not consume alcohol, so I have no idea how the Belgian beers are like. I’d probably not know the difference amongst the beers, Belgian or not. 😛 Anyway, you might have noticed the beautiful buildings surrounding the venue. It’s the city central square, known as the Grand Place or the Grote Markt. It is the “most important tourist destination and the most memorable landmark” in the city. Furthermore, the square was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998! There you will find the City Hall, the Breadhouse which houses the Museum of the City of Brussels, and guildhalls surrounding the plaza.

Ah, I just found out that the Grand Place was also voted “the most beautiful square in Europe” in 2010. If you’d like to read about the history of the place, visit: the Grand Palace. 😉

The weather was gloomy when we toured around Brussels. And if there’s one thing I’ve realized about the city, it is that Brussels is vibrant with all the festivities and events they hold there. Oftentimes, the events overlap and you end up with many memorable experiences in a day! That I will explain in the next entry. 😉 This is all for now, sad to say. Hope you enjoy the photos and the travel tips! See yah! ❤