This morning after breakfast we are off to do what they do best in Belgium, experience the art of Chocolate making at a workshop where we can learn all about the history and production of chocolate as well as produce our own sweet treats and visit the museum.
The Travel Buddies trips work on the basis that as long as you are having a good time then that is what matters, if you don’t feel like coming on one of the excursions or joining the rest of the group for dinner one evening then that is absolutely fine. This is an adventure for everyone and there is nothing worse than having to go somewhere/do something that you don’t really fancy!
Feel free to do as much or as little research as you like, some members will know what they would like to visit as soon as they book the trip, Others will just turn up at the airport and have not researched at all. Either is absolutely fine. We all have different ideas as to what constitutes a great time away!
This afternoon we have free time to explore the city
you might like…..
Mini Europe
Now this might seem a bit juvenile but when we were in Brussels 4 Christmases ago it really was one of the highlights of the trip for me.
The best miniature park in Europe,
Europe in a few hours… A unique experience !
Mini-Europe is above all an “invitation to travel”. The chimes of Big Ben, the gondolas in front of the Doge’s Palace, the Grand-Place in Brussels, the Acropolis … an animated tour with visual and sound effects of 350 miniatures and attractions that you won’t find anywhere else.
Entrance is approx. 15 euros.
The Atomium
The Atomium was constructed for the first post-war universal world exhibition (EXPO 58) The nine spheres represent an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. They represent the faith one had in the power of science and moreover in nuclear power. You can pay the entrance fee and take a look around the exhibition centre and enjoy the 360 degree views of Brussels. Even if you just go for a look, it is quite a spectacle.
Winter Wonder Christmas Market
This event is organized at the Grand-Place of Brussels (just a short walk from our hotel) and around the Bourse, on the Place Sainte-Catherine and on the Marché aux Poissons.
The access to Winter Wonders and the Christmas market is free.
The Winter Wonders include:
It is a Christmas market filled with enchanting encounters, perfumes, colourful stalls, fantastic gift ideas and original tasting sessions.
The magnificent fir tree is a generous gift of the City of Riga to the City of Brussels, there is also a magical light and sound show, incredible ‘videomapping’ on the façade of the St Catherine church, the festive Christmas Parade of RTL, … And also the traditional attractions: the Ferris wheel, the merry-go-rounds, the slalom, the Ice Monster…
Magritte Museum.
The Magritte Museum displays works of the surrealist artist for which it is named. Located in the heart of Brussels at the Place Royale, the museum is housed in the neo-classical landmark Altenloh Hotel.
Manneken Pis.
This famous statue attracts thousands of tourists and is often depicted as the symbol of the city. It is a small bronze fountain sculpture depicting a naked little boy urinating into the fountain’s basin. (You can’t spend time in Brussels and not see this!!)
This statue is common knowledge. Not so many people know that there’s also a statue of a peeing girl (Jeanneke Pis), and another of a peeing dog (Zinneke Pis). Do your homework and find the coordinates of all three peeing statues so you can take home a series of portraits of the whole family!! Be warned though, you may not see him like this…… he might well be dressed in the spirit of Christmas….
St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral.
The beautiful Gothic Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula is situated at Treurenberg hill, which lies between the lower and the upper town. The Cathedral is the national church of Belgium and it is here that royal weddings and funerals take place.
Dinner will be booked locally.
