Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 11 - In Brussels (4)

This blog continues the previous Part 10:

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/08/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_5.html

Sunday, June 24, 2018

  

   Roaming the streets of Belgium I've noticed that there many people still on the road. For me this is remarkable because as Taiwan is closer to the equator the sun goes down at around 7:00 in the evenings but here in Belgium the sun is still giving light until after 10:00 pm. 

   With the map in my hand I walked the street, on one hand carried away by the new impressions but on the other trying to remember my way back home or should I write 'back to the hotel'. I looked around and took some photos which reminded me how blessed I was to come here. Every meter, every street corner seemed to hold something interesting and new, might it be houses, roads or even cars parking beside the road. There were many bikes riding compared to other countries I've visited previously.
   This evening would only be a only 'roughly' discovery of Brussels. Tomorrow will be a true research of the city which was very exciting for me. New places and new environments awaken 'good' and 'curious' spirits in me.

Street Scenes in Brussels with many small Fiat 500 driving and parking

   I walked to the Eglise Notre Dame de la Chapelle Bruxelles (Our Lady of the Chapel) marking the northern end of the district of Marolles. It is Brussels oldest surviving church and build in Romanesque and Romanesque-Gothic architecture. One of its chapels is devoted to the memory of 'Petro Brevgello' or Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1525~1530-1569) and his wife Marie Coucke who got married in this church in 1563. Outside of the church is a bronze statue remembering the most significant artist of Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting , famous for his landscapes and peasant scenes. He lived in the district of Marolles, possibly before his time the former leper colony developed already into an artist magnet with its many antique and art shops.

Statue of Pieter Bruegel the Elder beside the Eglise Notre Dame de la Chapelle

   Finally the long way from the airport to the hotel and the discoveries on the streets of Belgium took its toll and I headed back to the hotel. My flight took in total 14 hours plus 3 hours waiting for the connection and I walked around 10 hours without any sleep at all. It was a great feeling of achievement and relief that everything went well, that I had chosen a great destination but I was longing for a bed. .. 

   Arriving in my room I was still alone without any roommates. I took the chance to take a long nice shower and went to bed around 10:30 p.m. Before sleeping I stored my stuff in the lockers and secured it with a padlock, locked the main department of my bag also with a padlock and took my camera bag beside me in my bed. I've charged my batteries and prepared my stuff for the next morning. I would never underestimate the 'danger' of losing things so I stored everything properly and closed it tightly.
   I believe I've heard some noise of new roommates and suggested them to turn on the light in the middle of the night. A girl answered; she did not want to disturb my sleep. Somehow my bed was too comfy and I was too tired to wake up completely. So I continued my sweet dreams.

(to be continued @ 

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/08/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_8.html)

Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe on Blogger.com, I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/travel

Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 8 - In Brussels (1)

This blog continues the previous Part 7,

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_30.html

Sunday, June 24, 2018

   I slowly crossed the outskirts of Brussels and walked steadily towards the center of the  metropolis. I've already mentioned that I had plenty of time so I've decided not to use any public transportation but rather use my own feet. I've made this decision to learn more about the country and the city, tried to figure out if I like it and if a positive experience let me stay longer or leave to another country within the European Union.

Walking thru the Streets of Belgium: Me, My Luggage and My Camera...

   I've met a lot of non-Europeans who traveled several countries within the EU (European Union). For me as a German I could go wherever I wanted with my passport even for some countries I had to change my Euros into local currencies (British Pounds, Swiss Francs etc.). So walking on the roads and experience the environment in Belgium or rather Brussels helped me in my decision to stay in this country for my whole holidays of 3 weeks!

Everyday Open Air Antique Market right in front of my Hotel

   The language barrier was not a real problem because even people could not speak English they tried at least. I've asked one younger person why the Belgians do not speak English he answered "because we do not have the chance to use it". They learn English in school but very seldom speak it...

   Dutch is the official and most spoken language (60%) of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Region (merged to Flanders). The main Dutch dialects are Brabantian, West Flemish, East Flemish and Limburgish.

   French is with 40% speakers the second most spoken language. It is the dominant language in Wallonia as well as in the Brussels-Capital Region.

   There are only around 0.4% people speaking German, I did not even run into one during my whole trip.

Typical Fruit and Vegetable Shop also selling Tobacco and Cigarettes in Brussels

   What I appreciated during the trip is the road system and the manners of the Belgian drivers. A zebra crossing or crosswalk is working very well. Even before coming near the thick lines on the road, cars & trucks were already breaking and patiently waiting while I was crossing the road. Living in chaotic Taipei this is unthinkable. Many people here in Taiwan 'blame' the disobeying of rules on the many citizens but I believe traffic is about respect for others, a lack of education & responsibility and a general 'disobeying' or selfish way of life. While in the Far East the 'stronger' wins in Belgium it looks that the weaker are protect...I enjoyed crossing the roads in Belgium very much which, for me, translates into 'maturity of its citizens'.

   What do I mean by that? 

'Maturity' according to the Cambridge Dictionary is:

- the quality of behaving mentally and emotionally like an adult

- a very advanced or developed form or state

Do you understand that a car can be a weapon? Do you understand that you have responsibilities etc.

   The other thing I really appreciated is the willingness to maintain the public safety. In Brussels I've encountered heavily armed soldiers and policeman walking the streets and the train stations. I never felt threatened or insecure, even drunkards and beggars tried to keep it quiet and to themselves. Some people complained that Belgium police first ‘act’ then ‘ask’ but for me this sounds very reasonable in times when even democratic elected presidents rather divide than unite, sew the ignorant seed of hate rather than to understand and try to learn.

   In Belgium there is a constant maintenance of roads and public buildings like train stations which might be cleaned, repaired and even renewed. This shows that the government is willing to improve and not let the country fall apart.

   During my holidays I could go wherever I wanted in Europe. But my experiences during these first six hours on Belgian roads from the airport to my hotel helped me decide to stay the next three weeks in this 'small but beautiful country’, as a sales lady described her own Belgium in a small drugstore in the Belgian city of Tervuren on my way to Namur.

Water Fountain near Tervuren on my way to Namur

(to be continued @

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/08/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_3.html)

Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe on Blogger.com, I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/travel

Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 5 - Leaving Taiwan & Arrival in Brussels

This blog continues the previous Part 4, 

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_24.html

   As mentioned I bought a cheap ticket from Taiwan to Hong Kong and from Hong Kong to Brussels. Why did I choose this particular airline? Because this particular airline has around 10 flights between the former British colony and the 'Beautiful Island' or Formosa. This comes in very handy in case of Typhoons, which are quite common during the summer holidays, and all other related weather problems. 

   Once we had the 'pleasure' to experience the very chaotic and slow service (someone called the personnel the 'Koalas of Asia' due to the 'speed' of the workers) when we were trapped in the Manila Ninoy Aquino Airport due to a Typhoon for three (!) days. Since then I would rather pay a premium and pay attention to a proper flight connection than to choose Philippine Airlines.

   And indeed, when I checked in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport the lady at the check-in counter told me that there is some turbulence to be expected in Hong Kong. Therefore they decided to put me on a flight one hour earlier (!) than planned so that I would not miss my connection flight to Brussels. This information might for some people be a hassle but for me it was a kind of expected and a relief.

Aircraft Museum near Taoyuan International Airport with the Taiwanese, not the Mainland Chinese, Flag!

   

   The flight went smooth without the feared turbulence' to Hong Kong but I had not only to wait one hour longer. The plane delayed due to 'late passengers' 1/2 hour! This actually happens in my experience often In Hong Kong. During both of my three flights to Australia with my family I faced the same problem: 

- we were running (!) to our connection flights due to the long safety checks and the nature of the large airport (long ways).

- a few minutes before the flight the gate changes and we had to run again.
   Before the flight to Brussels the gate changed, as the years before, to a very remote location within the airport. Some passengers did not take notice and therefore let all other passengers wait. Finally we took off, around 40 minutes after schedule.

Inside Hong Kong International Airport

   Long before I flew to from Taiwan to Europe the planes took a route over Southeast Asia across the Middle East and then into Europe; this took around 14 hours. At that night we flew over Mainland China and Russia (!) and arrived in Brussels after only 12 hours, a total saving of around 2 hours (!) over the previous route! 

   On the plane I had a nice place without any front passenger right beside the window. I had two young passengers as neighbors but we had a serious language barrier. They spoke Flemish and no English at all. I can not speak Flemish, a kind of Dutch dialect spoken in Belgium. So I had a quiet time. Thankfully most Belgians I met during my trip put some more effort to break the language barrier and tried to communicate sometimes even with their hands!

   When buying the ticket I've ordered vegetarian food. I was one of the first who got the 'special meal' with some red wine while the other passengers had to wait. When I was finished their food arrived! It feels great to be treated differently in economy class...

My Vegetarian Food on my Flight to Brussels

   It is actually a kind of strange feeling when you fly in a dark plane when outside the sun is shining before a very blue sky! 

   I started watching Henry Fonda's '12 angry men (十二怒漢), later 'Bay Watch' (海灘救護隊) with 'the Rock' Dwayne Johnson and half of Robert De Niro's Taxi Driver (計程車司機). Strangely there is not much music but many films to choose from... 

   Arriving at Brussels Airport we had a delay of around 30 minutes in the early morning. When I left the airplane I already smelled the early fresh and dry air of Belgium. I closed my eyes and inhaled the very different air! 

   I passed the customs without any problems. There were a big line for non-EU citizens and one empty line for EU citizens which I took with my German passport. The female police officer asked me where I came from and he wished me a pleasant stay in Belgium! I don't understand why people are still against the European Union! Of course there are problems but is the EU not the step in the right direction?

   My luggage arrived without problems and I was ready to leave the airport! I could have taken the train or bus to Brussels but I preferred to walk. I wanted to see and experience the country I would stay for the next three weeks immediately! So I decided to depend on my  own two legs and could check if the luggage (sports bag & camera bag) would work as planned. Thankfully it did!

   Leaving the airport I came immediately to notice and appreciate the road system in Belgium. Even for bikes and pedestrians there are road numbers marked clearly with signs beside the road. If you know the road numbers and the destination you would find your destination without problems. How much time and effort has gone into the system to give the citizens a better way to commute? I can only imagine and don't understand why other governments do not want to serve their citizens in the same way...

Road Signs in Belgium near the Airport

   My reservation for the hotel was for the evening; I had around 8 hours time to find it! So I was not much in a hurry and took the chance to have a good look! As I was walking I noticed a Chinese following my steps. When I took some photos he caught up and we started to communicate. He was working for DHL in China somewhere and was sent by the company to work for DHL near the airport to gain international experience. The Mainlander wanted to check out the environment and decided to walk like me. He did not depend on his instinct or sense of direction but rather relied on his smartphone and Google Maps. After some discussions and corrections that Taiwan is not a part of China and Chinese in general do not want to talk clearly and not cooperate but rather order others we not much later separated. He took a left turn and I continued to walk straight to Schaerbeek or Schaarbeek (斯哈爾貝克), already a suburb of Brussels. 

(to be continued @ https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_27.html)

Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe on Blogger.com, I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/travel