Brussels Day 1

So the next morning we got up (a little later than intended) and took that stupid taxi back to the airport where we took a fairly expensive bus to Brussels. We even had trouble finding where to buy the tickets and you had to have exact change. But we did it!

45 minutes later we were finally in Brussels! Now because we couldn't leave our luggage at the hotel we actually dragged our luggage around all day with us. We looked like such tourists it was unbelievable. The bus dropped us off at Midi station (which isn't exactly in the city but more on the outskirts). So we found the information booth and figured out how to get to city center which turned out to be the metro. We also had some lunch at Subway. We then got our 24 hour passes for all the city transportation (that was definitely our best purchase by far!) Then we got on the metro to get into the city center. Overall, getting to the fun part of Brussels was extremely complicated. 

When we got off the metro we walked up onto the street to see this

Beautiful already right? So then we walked a bit further and found this

Walking through such an old church made me wonder who else walked the isles. What did they pray about? What did they confess? Who were they? We then continued on to the Grand Place. Which was gorgeous. There was also a random group of people walking around in a circle chanting something and pulling down their pants...yeah that was lovely. (No pictures of that). 

Then we went into the tourism office to get directions to all the places we wanted to go that day. Starting with....THE CHOCOLATE MUSEUM!!! So, literally the best museum ever because they gave out free samples throughout the entire thing. Yum yum yum!! Did you know that the United States consumes 33% of the worlds chocolate? There was also a demonstration on how to make pralines but all I really remember was that the chocolate needed to be melted at 31 degrees Celsius. Although I do remember how good they tasted! 

After the chocolate museum we headed to the Horta museum. Victor Horta was the founder of the Art Nouveau style of architecture and design. (This was Grace's choice in museum by the way) Based on what I saw I decided I really like that style. While I don't have any pictures of my own from the museum (you weren't allowed to take pictures) I will show you some pictures I found on Google.

Then we went to go find some food for dinner. We ended up eating at Central Station at this place called Ekki. It was nothing exciting but it was certainly filling! Then we took the metro in an attempt to find the "Streetlight Museum." This was Sarah's pick so I don't really know much about what it was supposed to be. All I know is that we ended up in a semi-sketchy part of town and we didn't know exactly where we were going. So we decided to stop at this small bakery place and ask. Sarah and Grace went inside but since it was so small and with our luggage and everything I wouldn't fit, but I could see them through the glass store front. The store owner didn't know so he asked this guy who decided to call all his friends over. They were being rather loud and boisterous. But thankfully there was a nice lady who worked for the transportation system who calmed my fears about them. She said the guys in Belgium are like that, but they are harmless. She also told me that I speak French very well. We never did find the museum so we just decided to start our trek to our other hotel.

We got back on the metro and then walked to the bus stop and then took the bus to the airport and then from the airport the actually free shuttle. When we got to the hotel I told them my name and yet again they couldn't find the reservation. I could only think to myself "This cannot be happening" but they thought I was already checked in since I had had a reservation for the day before. Because of the misunderstanding they gave us free breakfast for the next morning which was ever so nice of them. (We like free food). And so ends day 1.