Day 69 in Brussels

I woke up early and headed out the door to grab some waffles. Sadly, the place that was recommended to me by Peg was closed. I found a cafe that was open and asked them. You know, sometimes Europeans come off rude to Americans and I think part of this is the language barrier. This was the case of the man I talked to in the cafe. His English was very limited and so I think his words could have come off as rude. He said, "Waffles at this hour (8am) on a Sunday is not possible." I just about died inside. He said that they had crapes so I decided to have that for breakfast. In true Matt fashion I just pointed at the foreign words of the crape list and prayed that it would be something I could eat. What came out was a little surprising to say the least. It's not that I couldn't eat it, it was if I could eat it for breakfast.

Breakfast

Yes, I had just ordered a crape smothered in Belgium chocolate with vanilla ice cream on top. This meal would set the mood for a long day junk to come. After, breakfast I went back to the hostel, picked up my bag, and walked to the train station. I arrived in Brussels in about an hour and found my hostel for the next two days. Since I got there early I had to stash my bag and come back for my keycard later.

I walked the town a bit and headed to a square called, "Grote Markt". Pretty cool square! I found the tourist office and got some information on the Historical Center where I would spend the day. My first stop would be at, "Manneken Pis". Now, I'm sure you're familiar with this little squirt. He is the symbol of Brussels and he is a fountain. You'd recognize him if you saw him.

Manneken Pis

Yes, the Manneken Squirt! Of course! Generally he is wearing a costume and he is changed a couple of times a month. People all over the world donate clothes for him. His entire clothing collection (from Elvis to Santa Claus) is stored at the City Museum. Oh, and for a bit of trivia: He is always changed by a guy named, "Jean-Marc". How about that?

I walked around Brussels for a while and then decided to find a place called, "Le Cirio". Le Cirio is known for a special little drink they make called, "Half and Half". No, not the creamer. It's half wine and half champagne. I sat in this really old fashion looking bar and had a Half and Half. So good!

Le Cirio

After, I decided to partake in another Belgium specialty. Fries! Fries, Beer, Waffles, and Chocolate are serious business around here! I found a fry shop and ordered. It came with the customary garlic mayo. It was awesome! They sure know how to make fries around here! I ate my fries and walked back to the hostel to grab my keycard.

Fries with Garlic Mayo

Once my little errand was done I decided to head to another place specific to Belgium. Now, my experience a couple of days ago made me worry to do this again. I was headed to a museum. Coincidently it was called, "Comic Museum". I feared that this was Basel all over again. HOWEVER, Belgium had one thing that Switzerland doesn't.....Les Schroumpfs! I enter the Comic Museum and already it was cooler then the one in Basel. Very colorful and very child-like. Love it! Now, the tour wasn't overly exciting, but the visuals were very sweet! Again, "all in French or whatever". Ha! I liked it!

I came upon the area for Les Schroumpfs. I was excited to be there to see it! It was pretty enjoyable!

Les Schroumpfs

After, I needed to head over to the Central Station to plan for tomorrow, but I didn't have much luck. Sad, I headed back to the Historical Center to cheer myself up. I walked into a little Belgium pub and asked for the best Belgium beer on tap. I was handed a beer called, "Ramee". Very good beer; very flavorful! When I was done I asked the bartender if he had a beer called, "Kwak" (pronounced "quack"). He said, "Oh, they sell that in the tourist areas.....it's a tourist beer". I replied, "I'm sorry to hear that". I headed to the tourist area and found an outdoor restaurant selling Kwak. The beer came out in it's traditional beer glass supported by it's holder. As the man poured the beer in front of me I noticed how all the colors in my view were crisp and clean. The beer, the stein, his tux, and the backdrop of an old historical center. It was an odd moment, but it stood out in my mind. He set the beer down and I gazed at it for a moment.

My Kwak

I took a sip. Ehh, good.....not the greatest, but good. With a few exceptions there is no such thing as a bad beer....just comparisons to good beer. When I was done I decided that it was time for some waffles. I was in search of a place called, "Mokafe" which was located in a pedestrian zone. I walk around and find the area I need to be in. The pedestrian zone was lined with restaurants pulled into the street. The restaurants are lined up right next to each other and the entire front of the places fold open. So, now all the rows of tables in the restaurant are now both inside and outside. As you are walking down the restaurant row you are looking directly into each restaurant. Most of them have wood burning fires in them and are places to eat seafood. It's a cool little spot. I didn't get any good photos of the row only because I felt awkward taking photos of people while they were eating at such a close distance. Anyway, I found my cafe called, "Mokafe" and it is located in one of the most expensive shopping galleries in Brussels.....also one of the oldest in Europe.

Path to Mokafe

My waffle came out in it's traditional form. No junk, just a waffle and powdered sugar. You eat it with a knife and fork too. It was pretty close to fantastic! I do prefer my waffles with whip cream and syrup though. Regardless, a good freaking waffle! I decided to celebrate with a beer called, "Jupiler". By this time it's late afternoon and all that beer and food had made my tired. I decided to grab some more fries and then head back to the hostel.

At the hostel I lay down for a bit an then have a beer called, "Kriek" which is a cherry beer. Very sweet in it's taste...I like it! I'm in the common area and trying to get online. I need a password. So, I go to the front desk and wait while the clerk is talking to a guy. While I am patiently waiting a guy walks in behind me and tries to talk to the man before me. When the first guy is done the guy behind me jumps in and starts asking his question about the ATM. I'm sitting there like, "that was rude", but I just brush it off and continue to wait. Now the clerk (Vincent) turns to me and just looks at me. He doesn't say anything. I'm just staring at him until I say, "Hello, can I get the passcode for the internet?" He just looks at me and kind of scoffs. "Please?" he says. I say, "Please". He then says very arrogantly, "You know that was rude to just ask for the passcode and not say please!" He then begins lecturing me....the dude had snapped. Now, I'm not drunk....I'm pissed! Err, you know what I mean. I was mad that he had the nerve to call me out on not saying "please". It's not like I said it all demanding like. I said it nicely. So, something to know about me. I can be push over and I have the patience of a saint, but don't cross the line. He crossed the line. So, I yelled at the asshole! "Well, I thought it was fucking rude to answer the question of the guy behind me when you know I was waiting here patiently!" So, he's all bitter about what I said. While he's getting me the passcode the asshole is continuing to help other people behind me. When he's done he tries to lecture me some more. I was going to inform him that in the Danish language there is not direct translation for "please", but I figured that now was not the time to bring this us. I finally say, "Vincent, please give me the password please". Throughout our rants to each other back and fourth I threw in a few other "pleases" in there. Even as I was walking away I said, "Please!" It was pretty comparable to Super Troopers in the "Meow" scene. So, I'm extremely irritated of the nerve of this guy. When people are dicks to me, I can be a worse asshole back. Back at my computer I realize that I can't make out one of the letters he wrote down as part of the passcode. I thought it would be fun to go back and ask. I get up there and say "Please Vincent, what is this letter please?" as I put the code on the table. He then mutters a letter I can't understand. I say, "e", "f", "b", "g". Each time I say a new letter he utters something I cannot understand. I kind of enjoyed fucking with the dude. He's continuing to lecture me about not saying "please" and I joked, "Vincent, your my brother. I'm just politely (I wasn't) asking what this letter is chika". He said clearly, "t" and I reply, "as in Vincent?" I thought he was going to loose it! As I'm walking away I yell loudly at him again, "Please thank you again for the for the passcode Fuck Head!" Seriously, there are very few times in my life I can recall being that mad. I was furious!

So, I can’t say that I handled this situation appropriately. I didn’t! Yet, I’m not going to sit there and not stand-up for myself. At the end of it all I felt very patriotic……this time I was the Ugly American.

Well, Brussels is awesome! However, I'm missing my hostel in Mons.

Exciting Day!

P.S. I ate a lot of junk today. My good friend Lance said to me once, "I'd rather die at 35 with a burger in my hand, then at 80 with some mushy carrots." Words to live by!