Belgium

I spent a wonderful week in Belgium and now I am left with the challenge of how to sum it all up.

I have to admit that were my friend Kristen not in Belgium doing her MA in philosophy, I might not have visited the country--or at least not so soon. It is my impression (or false impression perhaps) that Belgium is often left off of travellers' itineraries when visiting Europe. I think this is because Belgium is relatively little known compared to its European Great Power neighbours and its monuments are not as immediately recognisable as, for example, the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, or the Colliseum.


View of Brussels' Town Hall spire


I flew to Brussels from Lyon. It was cloudy and starting to get dark when we landed. Brussels International Airport was unexpectedly large and somewhat of an obstacle course to get out of. Following the exit signs, I took at least four rolling sidewalks, then up and later down several escalators to the train. From the airport I took a train to Leuven, where I would be staying at my friend Kristen's flat. When the train pulled out of the tunnel it was dark out, so my arrival in Belgium was somewhat mysterious. I would have to wait until the next morning for my first real glimpses of Belgium.