Maximize the audience

 

Day 1:

The first thing was to get to the hotel, for the first two nights were booked at the Amigo Hotel, where I was planning on taking advantage of its proximity to the Grand Place. If the prospect of meeting Herge ‘s hometown had me fascinated , upon entering Amigo, I could only applaud my wise decision. The building built in the sixteenth century, housed a prison for several years. Until 1957 and due to the preparation for the Universal Exhibition of 1958, was rebuilt to a hotel. Since the year 2000, it is one more of Sir Rocco Forte hotels, and along a new decor, the brainchild and incredible good taste of Olga Pozzi , director of decoration is, for lack of another word , exquisite .

Before leaving the hotel and the Belgian spirit flooded me , I tasted the delights of Chocolatier Pierre Marcolini and was observed by one of the many lithographs of Magritte that decorate the place , went to Aroma Coffee Lounge of La Grand Place, where I would remembered to meet with Michael , my greeter for the day.

The first thing was to understand the Atomium , an impressive structure of about a hundred meters high built for Expo58 ( 1958 Universal Exhibition ) , whose merit goes beyond its size , since many of its major areas are showrooms and the highest of them , offered to those who do not suffer from vertigo , a 360º view of the city that reminded me once again the phrase that would become the leitmotif of this trip : Maximizing the audience . There was the city, eager to be seen, knowing the reaction it generates to strangers.

 

 

 

 

Michael, who had planned to take me to other places, agreed that we ate in the panoramic restaurant of the Atomium . At first I questioned my decision, since the restaurants located in tourist areas are often disappointing, but was pleasantly surprised by the service, food and view.

Then came the turn of the Galerie Saint - Hubert , construction of mid-nineteenth century glass covered walkways which house more than 50 boutiques and offices of the Cercle Artistique et littéraire ( Artistic and Literary Club ) , as well as photographic and publishing studies . À la Morte Subite after ... I have only four words to describe it, beautiful architecture, excellent beer.

After dinner at the Bocconi -winning hotel restaurant, where escalopes of veal in white wine and prosciutto made the perfect close to a very exciting first day.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2:

By the time the alarm rang, I was in the elevator. That day began at the Manneken Smiles (Palace of Laughter), very close to the hotel, rejuvenated by the experience of seeing millions of smiles under one roof, I continue to explore the Grand Place, a UNESCO world heritage site since 1998. Its architecture blends the Baroque, Gothic and Louis XIV; it is quite breathtaking for those who know her. The Plaza as such exists since 1174 and was originally named Nedermarckt (Lower Market), the passage of time had taken its toll and the Plaza has undergone many changes, and even a near-total reconstruction after a bombing in 1695 by ordered by Louis XIV. Although architectural projects for each facade had to be reviewed and approved by the city authorities, in just four years The Grand Place stands with beauty that makes it unmissable.

For lunch, I went to Le Restaurant Cave du Roy, impressive cellar built in the seventeenth century that retains its architectural style. Delicious cream of mussels with saffron, superb Riesling mussels, Chocolate Delight for dessert (obviously) and a Saint-Aubin 2011wine bottle, now, I’m ready to go.

Then, at the world headquarters of The Order of the Pink Elephant, the Delirium Cafe, where Michael would plan the third day with a delicious Delirium Tremens, named best beer in the world at the World Beer Championship of 1998 in Chicago. The Delirium Café is part of the Guinness Book for having more than 2000 varieties of beer in stock. In other words, my kind of place.

 

 

Day 3:

Over breakfast in the Wittamer Café de la Place du Grand Sablon, I noted that Michael was watching the clock every 30 seconds, you’re on vacations, and the Musée Magritte will not move out of place, relax my friend. So I focused on the flavors of my petite dejeuner, which although simple, was delicious. To close breakfast, a delicious Guatemala in espresso and for dessert, le chocolat dans tous ses états, an exquisite combination of chocolate made for the official Belgium court. 

The building that houses the Musée Magritte, is a neo-classical faҫade which left me speechless, but nothing prepared me for what I would see inside: advertising art, oil paintings, photographs and even films produced by René Magritte. In short, a surreal trip which exceeded my expectations.

At the end of the visit, Michael took me to see the antique shops in the area and obviously to buy chocolates.

After that, he had to return to the hotel for my luggage to check in at the Hotel Café Pacific, I chose it due  to its totally contemporary and absolutely contrasting ambiance than that of the lavish Amigo. Each room has its own character and the decor is beautiful. Furthermore, the idea was to be close to another area of the city, in this case, the Rue Antoine Dansaert, home to both the House of Brussels Stock Exchange and the boutiques of the trendiest Belgium designers. To browse the site is fascinating because, besides the architecture, shops and cafes, the street is an eternal fashion show.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 4:

First, a walk along the Rue Dansaert. Maybe it was the suggestion of how much I was enjoying Brussels or know that I still had two days in the city, the fact is I’ve never enjoyed so much visiting Le Pain Quotidien.

I had breakfast, went to the Palais de Beaux-Arts, aka Bozar, homophone of Beaux-Arts. Another work of the master of Art Nouveau Victor Horta, which houses a concert hall, a theater, a chamber music hall, reading rooms and exhibition halls of indescribable beauty. 

I started with the display which belonged to Young Belgian Art Prize 2013, a tour of the work of emerging artists in all honesty, appear to be artists with a long history. Then I spent so many hours lost in the exhibition devoted to Michelangelo Antonioni, containing from fragments of his films to paintings filmmaker (one of my favorites). There was a time when I did not know which way to go display, because in place, in addition to the exhibits, there were constant projections and interviews with great writers. So if you plan to travel to Brussels soon, I recommend devoting one or two full days to know the BOZAR from start to finish.

lunchtime was approaching  , so I went to Bozar Brasserie Michael assured me it was a very good place. And he was right.

After an inolvodable artistic and gastronomic experience, I decided to walk around town and noticed that I had not seen that almost all the city has Tintin murals, which once again made me remember the thousands of hours I spent as a child enjoying these adventures.

 

 

 

Day 5:

I started the day as children on Sunday: regretting that the next day school would begin. Since it was my last day in town, Michael made a space in his agenda and told be to be early in the Arcadi Cafe, one of the Belgian’s favorites. Never in my life have I seen such a variety of quiches,which is the specialty. After breakfast, Michael gave me the day’s itinerary.

First the Autoworld, a detail that caught my attention, since I can’t remember having mentioned my fondness for cars. Upon arrival, I was stunned, and once more the architecture of Brussels I talked about as to the reference of Maximizing the audience presented itself. The Autoworld is within the Parc du Cinquantenaire, a complex whose construction took fifty years to materialize and was designed at the request of King Leopold II to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Belgium independence.  This complex houses the facilities of the Musées royaux d’Art et d’Histoire, Musée Royal de l’Armée et d’Histoire Militaire, Autoworld and the Pavillon Horta, where Les Passions Humaines stands, an impressive work of Jef Lambeaux carved marble.

By lunch time, we had seen only a quarter of what the Parc du Cinquantenaire has to offer, so we ate at one of the resort’s restaurants to see what ever we could.

Then the Boutique official Tintin. Several bags then ran to the last stop of the day: L’Archduke, one of the jazz clubs most iconic city. Since opening its doors in 1953, Nat King Cole, Jacques Brel and Miles Davis became regulars to the place.

Thus ended my trip to Brussels, between art, extraordinary beer, a good friend and a saxophone. I will never be tired of saying it, Brussels Maximizes the audience. Simply unforgettable.

 

 

 

 

Text: Raúl Boxer ± Photo: VISIT BRUSSELS / HOTEL AMIGO / TC / BENT / ESACADEMIC / STATIC / DELIRIUM TAP HOUSE / SDC / luxury dreams / DEALBREAKER / LOTS /DISCOVER