Belgium! Discovering Ghent, Bruges and Brussels…Part Six – The Atomium.

There was one final place on our list to visit before our stay in Belgium came to an end!

I give you, The Atomium in Brussels.

Constructed for the 1958 World Fair in Brussels, this futuristic architectural wonder is equal parts science fiction and brilliant design. Crafted of steel and standing at 102 meters high, this amazing structure is a replica of the unit cell of an iron crystal atom – magnified 165 billion times.

And you can go inside of it!

Inside the beast…

Elevator shaft…S looks up intently.

View from the top sphere…

2001: A Space Odyssey on a loop…

Each giant steel sphere is connected to the next by tunnels containing either metal staircases or escalators lit with rainbow light panels that flicker and pulse as you descend.

Read more about the Atomium here: http://www.atomium.be/

Farewell Belgium! You were very good to me – thanks and see you again one day! xx

Belgium! Discovering Ghent, Bruges and Brussels…Part Five.

On our last day in Belgium, we wandered around Brussels a bit aimlessly. A happy and relaxed last-day-on-holiday sort of aimlessness. Eyeing the shop windows for choccy, stopping in for moule frites, exploring some back streets and churches. Blissful wandering.

Camera in hand as always. 

So many treats…

Byeeeee. x

Belgium! Discovering Ghent, Bruges and Brussels…Part Four.

Ghent was indeed quite beautiful, but Bruges really stole my heart and I didn’t want to leave. ❤

Bruges is where I really let my chocoholic flag fly proudly.

Who doesn’t need a big pair of chocolate boobs?

No shortage of beer!

And beer flag of course.

Mmmmmmmmm KWAK!

Beer bible! The only bible for me!!

Satan makes delicious beer. No surprises there.

Birthday Food was wonderful as well!

Fondue…

Vol-au-vent au poulet

And Bruges, itself…simply stunning.

Basilica of the Holy Blood

DALI Museum

Probably should have split this up into more posts! Oh well. x

Belgium! Discovering Ghent, Bruges and Brussels…Part Three.

There were lots of rainy days when we were in Belgium (which is perfectly fine if your top priority is drinking beer 24/7)!

In an effort to not be completely sloshed for the duration of our holiday, we visited the Design Museum Gent to see the temporary exhibition, Lightopia.

Lightopia is a playful and mesmerising exploration of light. From the humble but extraordinary beginnings of electricity, through the evolution to ultra modern and cutting edge lighting fixtures, we wandered around for hours absorbing the artistry and immersive experiences that the exhibition offered.

The design museum itself was really beautiful, but the contemporary light fixtures woven throughout the 18th century drawing rooms takes you on this amazing journey from the past into the future. Walking away and further contemplating my experience over a large pint of delicious Belgian beer, this part of the exhibition was what really stayed with me.

Photos presented below without comment – Enjoy!

Next up… Onward to Bruges!

Belgium! Discovering Ghent, Bruges and Brussels…Part two. WAFFLES.

Who’s in the mood for some motherflippin waffles?!

The answer is: ALL Y’ALL.

I did some investigative “wafflesearch” (as you do). So there’s this place called MAX in Ghent.
It’s this super cute but 100% touristy little art nouveau cafe that says they invented the waffle.

Isn’t it a beautiful building?

Of course, I ordered a waffle.

A big, fluffy, light-as-air, splendid and amazing waffle. Crispy. Slightly Sweet. Yum.

And a really dumb fancy coffee.

And then I ordered an apple fritter because I’m insane.

Next up – LIGHTOPIA!!!!

Belgium! Discovering Ghent, Bruges and Brussels…Part one.

Ahhhhhh Belgium! So many reasons to visit this beautiful country.

Picturesque cottages. Quirky Cobblestone streets. Beer. (REALLY AMAZING BEER) Art. Chocolate. (REALLY AMAZING CHOCOLATE) Swans. Misty canals. Moules Frites. Medieval churches. Waterzooi. More beer. More beer. More beer.

I chose Belgium for OPERATION: DECOMPRESS VIA ALL OF THE BEER.

The old Monastery conversion we stayed at in Ghent was absolutely stunning!

And the historic town centre itself is incredible.

Sint-Michielskerk glowing at night…

Graffiti tunnel…

Had a beautiful dinner at De Graslei where I ordered the very traditional Flanders dish “Waterzooi”

It was SO YUMMY.

All the walking around in the freezing rain made us VERY thirsty. So we spent a lovely evening sampling (pouring beers directly into our faces) a few of the 250 beers on offer at Pub ‘de Dulle Griet’

If you want to drink the gigantic “Max” beer, you must hand over one of your shoes. It goes in the basket, the bell is rung, your shoe is lifted high to the ceiling and here comes your beer!

And then you drink the rest of the beers…

ALL THE BEER! Up next…The Design Museum Exhibit Lightopia and WAFFLES!