Brussels! The Land of Beer and Chocolate

I was looking for tickets back to Dubai, the price was about 1300.00.  So, I went on Google maps and decided to look around for places I could stop over for just a few days that might be less expensive. First, I looked at Portugal.  $2000.00.  Nope.  Then I looked at Brussels. Only $1250.00!  Sweet Brussels it is!  The land of beer and chocolate!

The city's name is believed to be derived from the Old Dutch "Broeksel" which means "home in the marsh. Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union and the headquarters for NATO.

Bad panorama shot of La Grand-Place in Brussels; a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  According to UNESCO:  Around a cobbled rectangular market square, La Grand-Place in Brussels, the earliest written reference to which dates back to the 12th century, features buildings emblematic of municipal and ducal powers, and the old houses of corporations. An architectural jewel, it stands as an exceptional and highly successful example of an eclectic blending of architectural and artistic styles of Western culture, which illustrates the vitality of this important political and commercial centre.

Oh yes!  My two favorite things; beer and chocolate!

So, I had heard of a famous statue of a little boy peeing.  While researching him, I discovered there were two other similar statues in the city, so I decided to go on a scavenger hunt for all 3 peeing statues.

Manneken Pis (Little Man Pee) is a sculpture by Hieronymous Duqesnoy the Elder in 1618.  There are many legends of the origins of the statue, one of the most famous is the one about Duke Godfrey III of Leuven. In 1142, the troops of this two-year-old lord were battling against the troops of the Berthouts, the lords of Grimbergen, in Ransbeke (nowNeder-Over-Heembeek). The troops put the infant lord in a basket and hung the basket in a tree to encourage them. From there, the boy urinated on the troops of the Berthouts, who eventually lost the battle.

Zinneke Pis, erected in 1998.

Jeanneke Pis, erected in 1987.

And there it is.  All three statues.  Oh, I had to get in on the action too!

And so did this group of Italian guys!

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Catherdral of St Michael Cathedral & Gadula, the patron saints of Brussels,  The French Gothic style church has been around since about 1047.  The church was completed around 1519.

Creepy painting

The nave is Brabantine Gothic style

Finally dinner time, and what else?  Mussels in Brussels!