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 1 - Some reasons...

  

   'Writing is a journey of discovery because until you start, you never know what will happen, and you can be surprised by what you do - expect the unexpected!'

Mini Grey, British illustrator and writer of children's books 

   Welcome back to my Blog! I hope you have a good and informative time travel with me. If you should have any comments, suggestions, ideas or criticism let me know! I am very glad to receive your opinions…

Pulling my Sports Bag through the Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan

   As a German foreigner living in Taiwan for quite some time it is sometimes still very annoying to get used to or fight the customs in this Far Eastern country. We have cable TV but, honestly, never watch Taiwanese, Chinese or Korean TV dramas because they typically have a very traditionally contents with the aim to teach Taiwanese to be traditional. The stories are most time the same, a ‘good’ daughter in law is fighting the mother in law ‘dragon’ or it’s a about power struggles in families connected with money issues. As good as they might be but they are pretty much the same. The low point of entertainment came with the arrival of South Koran TV. Handsome and beautiful as a result of extensive beauty surgery with very limited acting skills and local issues directed boring to death. But most Taiwanese like dreaming of this perfect world and copy their hair styles, clothes; they even long for the same ‘plastic’ lifeless skin and opt for the same shaped noses as their idols readily available from the local plastic surgeon.
   Thankfully there are other international programs like news, BBC, National Geographic channels etc. Since the beginning of this year our cable provider cooperates with Eurosport which shows cycling nearly every day. Writing about cycling everyone immediately thinks about doping, the dark Armstrong area and the confusions within the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and the UCI (Union Cycliste International, the governing body of cycling sport) about doping which is still alive today.
   ‘Confusion’ I would call the absence of clear, understandable rules and the same treatment of all. For example a Tour de France winner with proven (!) too high levels of Salbutamol (a medication that opens up the medium and large airways in the lungs) is cleared after several months of investigations while a lesser known Swiss licensed Italian rider gets a nine months ban for the same ‘offense’. I don’t get it and know that many other cycling fans don’t get it either…Anyway, I am very interested in the sport and even attended some bike challenges by myself.
   On Eurosport I watched the cycling Spring Classics, like the Tour of Flanders or the highlight Paris-Roubaix, which mostly take part in Belgium. When watching them occasionally my wife joined. I understand that she is not very interested and sometimes she even asks: “Did we not watch the same race last time?” Actually not, but as the races are held predominantly in the same country they look very similar indeed.

http://www.skysports.com/cycling/news/12040/9732750/the-classics-a-dummies-guide-to-paris-roubaix-milan-san-remo-and-other-one-day-races

  
   Watching the Spring Classics I noted that the races are very family friendly, many children stand beside the roads watching their heroes with their parents flying by. The other thing I've noticed it that the environment and road system in Belgium is quite different from Taiwan’s. Here in the Far East everyone is fighting for his own space on the busy road while in this small European country the bike paths and walkways are clearly separated from the motorcycle, car and truck traffic. This makes the roads a seemingly slower but much safer place to share for everyone. 

   Discussing my next holidays I showed my anxious wife this road design during the races and some persuasion she finally agreed that I could go to travel in Belgium…

(to be continued@

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_19.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