Hearts for Belgium

12 Aug 2011
Posted by Marisa
Marisa's picture

I believe that most of you are aware that Jordan and I are making a mad dash across Europe. I assume this because most of the people who read this blog are related to us, and therefore somewhat privy to our plans. In the cases when we have plans, of course. 

When we were face to face with the Europe map we couldn't really help but go everywhere, and so we scheduled about four nights everywhere. Three nights in some of the places we're stopping in towards the end, and five nights in Paris, because well, it's Paris. However, we scheduled a whopping seven nights in Belgium. Because while Paris may be Paris, Belgium invented the french fry.

French fries are probably my favorite food. And when I realized that they are in fact not even French, it became obvious that we should go to their home country and pay some proper respects.

Belgium it turns out is a very nice place for reasons beyond french fries (I continue to call them french fries because even though we were in Belgium eating them and trying hard not to call them French, it's really impossible not to). They have:

  • the world's greatest town square, where you can drink the best hot chocolate
  • 2011.07.25 - Brussles

  • our favorite cathedral so far
  • Ghent - Saint Bavo Cathedral (St.-Baafskathedraal)

  • a medieval town, much of which was built 150 years ago to encourage tourism (which was a great success) 
  • IMG_8230

  • a room in their royal palace that is covered with millions of beetle wings. 

IMG_8029

Also they have waffles. I had always thought that a Belgian Waffle was just a waffle made in a waffle-maker with deeper grooves. It turns out a Belgian Waffle is, in fact, the most delicious waffle you have ever eaten. 

IMG_8056

Also, they created the Smurfs.

That is freaking smurf.

What more could you want?

Makes me want to visit

Makes me want to visit Belgium again. But you forgot to mention that they have more different kinds of beer than anywhere in the world. :-)

What is the cathedral? Is the medieval town, Bruges? (have you seen the movie?)

Enjoy your travels!


 I have seen the movie.

 I have seen the movie. Jordan just watched it again. I think he likes it. I wasn't too fond of it myself, but it was the reason I knew Bruges existed. And the cathedral was actually in Ghent.