Brussels, Belgium
On a whim, we decided to cross off another country! This was a spontaneous weekend trip we took in April 2022. We decided on Brussels as it is the capital of Belgium. Brussels is a mixed review when you ask others about their experience. However, we thoroughly enjoyed our quick weekend trip; the best part was we could bring Maxine for her first overnight trip in Europe!
We discovered a dog-friendly hotel via Air BNB. Our drive to Brussels was over 3 and a half hours, which was perfect for a weekend trip. We left on Saturday morning and arrived at our hotel around noon. Like a typical hotel, you could not check in before 2 PM. However, this hotel has underground parking that is included with your stay. So we did not mind not being able to check in as long as we had a safe place to leave our car. The hotel was really nice and clean. You have to pay for coffee and breakfast in the morning. The room was small, but we just needed a place to sleep and enough room for Maxine.
Our first stop was to get some food! After reviewing another blog about her time in Brussels with her dog, she recommended a sandwich shop called Love Ciabatta. We ventured over and took in the sights during our walk. Our hotel’s location was about a 30-minute walk to the center of Brussels. We prefer to stay a little out of the main city as it is typically quieter. The sandwich shop was on a busy street where you could people-watch. Chris picked out two delicious sandwiches for us, which included a complimentary starburst. Next, we were off to explore what Brussels had to offer.
Some main attractions of Brussels are to see Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Atomium, Town Hall, Musée Magritte Museum, Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert, St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral, and many others. We, unfortunately, did not see everything, but that is what second trips are for!
Always when we go somewhere new, we try as many local/special dishes to that country as we can. Some foods special to Brussel are, Moules-Frites (mussels and french fries), Belgian Fries, Belgian Waffles (my favorite is when it’s covered in Nutella), and Belgian Chocolates.
What I noticed right away in Brussels was there was impressive graffiti and statues everywhere. The sculpture that Brussels is known for is the Manneken Pis. The sculpture was created in 1618 and originally served as a way for Bruxellois to receive water. If you haven’t heard of the sculpture, it is of a small boy urinating in the fountain. They also dress the Manneken Pis in different costumes. They have been doing this since the 17th century, and he has over 1,000 costumes. It is hilarious to see in person, but forewarning, it is small! Think Mona Lisa size with everyone crowded around trying to see. However, when in Brussels, it is a must to see the Manneken Pis.
We then ventured to the Delirium Cafe, a beer Chris enjoys. The cafe holds the Guinness World Record for the number of beers available for tasting. You can try 2,000 beers from around the world. Chris was able to get a flight with a variety of beers. Keep in mind to get here early as it was packed. We were there on a Saturday, so I’m sure that played a factor. We kept noticing people crowding in an alley, so Chris finally went to see what it was. Brussels is known for four peeing statues, and we had just discovered another! Jeanneke Pis is a statue of a girl squatting into a fountain. The statue was created in 1987 to promote a local restaurant. Hilariously enough, we found the third peeing statue as we continued walking. It is of a dog peeing on a pole, which we obviously had Maxine pose beside.
We ended our evening at Mussel Mongers to ensure we had some Mussels in Brussels! They did not disappoint. We ate near a water fountain and had fabulous wine/beer to start. The menu has 99 unique recipes of mussels to choose from. Chris got mussels with wasabi and chilis while I ordered salmon. I wish I had ordered mussels as well as they were so good! Our service was wonderful, and Maxine had a blast laying near the water and watching the people come by.
The next morning we walked Maxine and then decided to head home as we felt we had seen enough the day before. We had such a fun time in Brussels and will enjoy coming back with visitors to explore more of the city. It was the perfect overnight experience for Maxine, and she slept so hard in the hotel after her adventures in Brussels.
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