This past weekend I ventured outside the comforts of Paris (which I now consider home!) and traveled to Brussels to meet up with my good friend, Jaime. She also goes to Boston College and is currently studying abroad in London. Jaime’s dad had business in Belgium, so Jaime’s parents invited the two of us to stay with them in their luxury hotel from Friday to Sunday. How could I decline such an appealing offer?
Friday morning I hopped on the train and in less than an hour and a half I was in Brussels. The train has quickly become my favorite method of transportation. It’s cheap, easy, and fast – who knew traveling through Europe could be so simple? I arrived in Belgium around 12:30 and had four hours to kill until Jaime arrived. I had done some Brussels research the day before and knew exactly where I wanted to go and what I wanted to see while I was on my own. Because Belgium is known for its mouth-watering chocolate, I made sure that I visited the Museum of Chocolate. I got to see exactly how the delicious Belgian chocolates are made and then taste a few for myself! It was the perfect start to the weekend.
After the museum I toured around “le Grand-Place de Bruxelles,” the central area of Brussels. It’s filled with clothing stores, tourist attractions, chocolate shops, and waffle stands. Exploring the Grand-Place was the perfect way to spend time before Jaime arrived. Before I knew it, it was 5 o’clock and time to meet with Jaime and her parents at Hotel Amigo. When we walked into our room, there were bathrobes and slippers laid out on the fluffy white duvet and chocolates on top of the pillows; it was clear that this would be a weekend of luxury.
Jaime and I sprawled out onto the beds and brought each other up to speed on what we’ve been doing. When it was time for dinner we met Jaime’s parents in the lobby and, as we started the walk to the restaurant, realized that heels were a terrible idea. Jaime and I stumbled along the cobblestone streets and tried to avoid the gaping holes between the stones. We made it to the restaurant without any sprained ankles and, once there, sat down for our first authentic Belgian meal. Of course I had to order the “Moules Frites” (steamed mussels and French fries), a Belgian specialty. They were just as good as everyone hypes them up to be. I am now in love with mussels from Brussels. We all left room for dessert and stopped at a chocolate shop on the way home to sample the heavenly chocolate fountain that was displayed in the window.
Saturday morning we woke up ready for a day of sightseeing, only to discover that it was raining. Despite the weather, we put on our walking shoes, grabbed umbrellas and maps, and headed out into the city. The rain didn’t stop us from exploring Brussels’ cathedrals, museums, and local shops. We walked all over until finally our feet were throbbing and our shoes were soaked. It was definitely time to relax and try on those Hotel Amigo slippers and bathrobes! Later that night, the concierge gave us a great recommendation for an Italian restaurant in the heart of Brussels (because what better place is there to find Italian food than Belgium?). After our full day of walking, we indulged in tons of red wine, bread and olive oil, mozzarella cheese, pasta, and of course, chocolate!
On our last day in Belgium we decided that we wanted to see one more site before heading home. Jaime’s mom really wanted to see the Basilica in Brussels, which was a 45-minute walk from the hotel. We had two hours before we had to catch our trains home, so we decided to walk there and then take the metro back. It was totally worth the trek. The Basilica, Jaime’s dad told us, is the fourth largest basilica in the world. It was absolutely breathtaking. Standing and taking in the view of something so magnificent was the perfect way to end our weekend in Brussels. After that, we made our way over to the train station and parted ways as Jaime and her parents headed toward the London-bound trains.
While abroad, it’s always comforting to spend time with people who remind you of home, but it’s always ten times more difficult to say goodbye. Just as I started feeling a little homesick, I saw the one thing that could solve any problem: a Belgian chocolate shop. I casually walked into the store and five minutes later walked out with a smile on my face and a cellophane bag with a few sweets for the ride home. Over the weekend, I discovered that you can never get sick of chocolate… and you really don’t know chocolate until you’ve had the real thing: Belgian chocolate. Needless to say, I arrived home in Paris with an empty cellophane bag. It was an unforgettable weekend with great friends, but it is always nice to return to the place that now feels like home.