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Day One - Brussels

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Let's start out in the capital and most popular city of Belgium. Brussels is an architecturally interesting city with over 80 museums. Though both French and Dutch are the official languages of Brussels, (you'll notice that the street signs are in both languages), English is widely spoken, so you should have no problem communicating with the natives.

Shopping is must on any vacation, so your first stop will be Grote Markt, or Grand Place. This is Brussels' central market square and has been called the best market square in Europe. There are several interesting public buildings to be seen here, as well as a bustling marketplace where you can buy all the souvenirs you want. There is also a daily flower market here, and if you're lucky, you might catch a jazz or classical concert. Don't forget to pick up some Belgian chocolates!

After you've shopped and experienced some of the Brussels culture at Grand Place, it's time for lunch. Go to Au Stekerlapatte for a delicious, reasonably priced meal. The menu is in French and Dutch, but the staff is friendly and most speak English, so you can ask for help when ordering. The steak and spare ribs are both popular, and the menu includes some traditional dishes of Brussels. Don't forget to try one of the restaurant's many beers; Brussels is famous for having over 350 available beers.

When lunch is over, you will head over to the Atomium. The Atomium was built in 1958 for the World's Fair, and the building represents a molecule's nine atoms magnified 165 billion times. There are nine spheres, and visitors can explore each one. Ride the elevator to the upper sphere for a gorgeous view of Brussels. The other spheres are connected by escalators, and there are expositions in each one. This is an exceptional building and will take the whole afternoon to see. When you're finished, head back up to the top sphere for dinner at Chez Adrienne.

Now it's early evening and you'll want to catch the light show at Grand Place, which is also where you're going to stay for the night. But since the light show doesn't start until 8:30, you'll have some time to enjoy the Brussels night life. There are several bars and cafes near Grand Place, following is a quick rundown of some of the popular ones, so you can choose what's most intriguing to you:

• GOUPIL LE FOL – a French cafe. Have dessert and coffee here.
• LE CERCEUIL – a “dark” bar – the décor is macabre with coffins, skulls, etc.
• H2O – a bistro featuring classical music.
• FALSTAFF – an “artsy” cafe/restaurant.

When you've finished your after-dinner dessert and coffee, go outside to Grand Place for a spectacular light show set to classical music.

Thankfully, you are now very near your hotel. Scandic Hotel Grand Place will be a comfortable place for you to spend the night. Along with all the usual hotel amenities, this hotel even has Finnish saunas on the top floor! Relax and get a good night's sleep here.

In the morning, you can order room service for breakfast, or you can choose to have your meal in the hotel's restaurant. After you've eaten, head over to Central Station, a 2-minute walk from the hotel, and dive right into your second day in Belgium.

Next Page: Day Two - Antwerp

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