Three wonderful days of winter holyday in Belgium

An alternative destination, especially where economic to welcome 2011.
Two very different cities that seem to belong to two worlds apart.
Brussels capital of Europe if it were to be the mirror ... ... ... poor Europe
Bruges simply FANTASTIC.

3 nights accommodation in Brussels Central 4stars + flight from Rome Alitalia 220 euros.

 

We take off on time for Belgium to 17.15, and landed in Brussels. From there a comfortable train that leads directly into downtown. Already from the ticket, we realize that Brussels is not as we had imagined.
If you expect clean and ultra modern ... well .. forget it!
Only punctuality is well respected.
In less than half an hour to reach the hotel booked Booking, Hotel Atlanta. Excellent value for money, position, lovely, modern, staff very polite, very good breakfast and served on the terrace of the Hotel. We go out now and everything is easily accessible from the hotel on foot. Of course the first goal is the Grand Place where we start our weekend with a good Belgian Leffe toasting a year that goes away. For dinner we had booked in advance by the institution brussellesse "Chez Leon" and we do not repent absolutely! A dinner to remember! After dinner the whole neighborhood dell'Ilot Sacred is a river of people who are at the Grand Place, we drag and let the crowd wait for the 2011 festive. Ritual toast and fireworks.

Brussels

Full day visit of the city.
It starts from the Grand Place, the jewel of Brussels, to continue with the Ilot Sacre, the Mannequin Pis and Pis Jeannekin, Notre Dame de la Chapelle, Grand & Petit Sablon, Les Marolles, The Palace of Justice, the Royal Palace, the Cathedral, to return back to the starting point.
Rather tired and cold, however, let us not miss a visit to the Atomium, which we reach easily by subway!
We decide to spend the night at the Marché aux Poisson, which is home to the largest Christmas market in Brussels and is a beautiful ice rink, which under the snowflakes gives us the much dreamed of Christmas spirit! Delight the eyes but above the palate ... Gaufres, Sausage & Sauerkraut, tartiflettes, mulled wine, lots of beer & chocolate ...
Apart from the beautiful atmosphere of the North, Brussels disappointing enough. Especially disappointing for the damage that you do not expect. Waste, stench, disbanded. And not just because it was New Year's Eve.

Bruges

Full day excursion to Bruges.
We started from Gare du Nord, and with little more than an hour we are in Bruges, leveraging spend the weekend rate is less than 10 euros per person.
Going down in Bruges gives the impression of having changed the country. Or rather, everything that affects negatively to Brussels is not here anymore. Bruges is truly a gem. A fairytale place that is mirrored in the waters of the canals.
Compared to Brussels is dear, but it remains inside.
In the evening we return to Brussels, where we spend the evening bivouacing again for the Christmas markets and enjoying the last Belgian beer.

Coming back home...

Early in the morning back at the airport and... Back home.