Day 7: more Brussels!
It’s apparently pretty common for people in the neighborhood to leave things out on the street for the taking. Walking to the tram, we came across a bunch of swimming flippers, which Del snapped up a couple of!
Del took us on a slightly more leisurely (it was even hotter than yesterday) ramble through some parts and sights we hadn’t seen. We started with frites, saw some more cathedrals & parks, toured Coudenberg Palace – or rather, its underground remains after it was consumed by fire – and met up with the rest of the family for another traditional Belgian dinner.
Outside St Catherine Station
at St Catherine Cathedral, Brussels .
Are you tired of cathedrals yet?? We’re not!
Random ancient tower…
Del’s first 2 picks for frites were closed, but I had no complaints with where we ended up! Hot & crispy with tasty sauces. We tried a shrimp croquette too. — at Frites Atelier .
— at Église Saint-Nicolas (Bruxelles) .
Also underwhelming — at Jeanneke Pis .
We took a beer break at the Delerium Pub, a cool rambling space playing European grunge. — at Delerium Tremens Pub: Brussels, Belgium .
Want to bathe in beer? You can do it at this spa!
Side note: rob has been a bit under the weather the last couple days, but he’s been an absolute trooper! We took plenty of breaks.
— at St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral, Brussels, Place Sainte-Gudule .
This cathedral had a couple of art installations…
Next we visited the underground ruins of Coudenberg Palace (13th century-ish). Part of the appeal was that it would be nice and cool on a hot day… — at Palais du Coudenberg .
— at The View Brussels giantwheel.eu .
— at Palais de Justice, Brussels .
Sadly, we did not find the octopus expo!
Dinnertime! — at Au Stekerlapatte .
The house aperitif: cava with violet! — at Au Stekerlapatte .
I ordered cod a l’Ostendaise. None of us knew what that meant, other than Ostendaise is a coastal region in Belgium. Apparently it’s a cream & egg yolk based sauce with mussels and grey shrimp! With a massive pile of mashed potato…I would have preferred a little veg somewhere.
Rob had salmon with a honey-lemon-dried fruit & nut sauce, served with potato croquettes.
The family!