Brussels - Chocolate, Beer and Sightseeing

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By Paul Jones

Brussels is an ideal destination for British holidaymakers. With its location in the crossroads of different cultures, and as headquarters to many European institutions, it fits the archetype of a melting pot city, yet still manages to retain its own flavour. Renowned for its landmarks, chocolate, waffles and beer, it is just a short trip away on the Eurostar, perfect for a relaxing and fulfilling weekend getaway. In order to make a trip to Brussels more enjoyable, this article outlines some of the things to see and do while in the Belgian capital.

Brussels has two official languages, French and Dutch, meaning all streets have two names, but most citizens and tourists use the French. English is also becoming a commonly spoken language due to the international institutions, such as NATO and the European Commission based in the city. You can find out about upcoming events in Brussels by visiting the Brussels Agenda website.

In the heart of the city is the Grand Place, a central square surrounded by the city tower and a range of beautiful buildings. It is popular with tourists, and a good starting point to explore the city. The famous Manneken Pis statue, of a little boy piddling, is a short walk away, as is the town hall, Hotel de Ville. Dating back to the early 15th century, the striking gothic architecture makes it a popular landmark in the city, and during the summer months the city organises evening entertainment, including fireworks, light and sound shows free of charge. Other landmarks worthy of a visit are the Palais Royale and the Cinquantenaire Museum and Autoworld Car Museum.

Belgium is to beer what France is to wine and its capital city as a great place to sample some of the vast variety on offer. The typical beers in Brussels are the bitter Gueuze, the sweeter, cherry based Kriek and the Trappist ale. Another local speciality is the "half-en-half" which is a mixture of champagne and white wine.

To sample the best beers Brussels have to offer, the Belgium Beer Tour is a great place to start. The tour covers a wide range of breweries and appeals to connoisseurs and novices alike. Some local breweries, like the Cantillon Brewery, also have their own sampling tours. The city is full of restaurants, cafes, and brasseries that offer a large number of beers along with the traditional national dishes. The famous Delirium Cafe, just a stone’s throw from Grande Place, claims to stock over 2,000 different types of beer, and is popular with tourists and locals alike.

Brussels is also popular with chocoholics, with many tourists flocking to the shops around Grand Place selling chocolate Manneken Pis replicas, but to really experience the best chocolates the city has to offer, head to Grand Sablon. Considered Brussels’ chocolate Mecca, it is a small square near the beautiful Notre Dame de Sablon church, and is home to, amongst others, the three most widely renowned chocolatiers in the city - Neuhaus, Pierre Marcolini and Wittamer, each with its own speciality.

Wittamer is the official supplier to the Belgium court, offering traditional Belgian chocolates and hot chocolate. Pierre Marcolini offers more exotic flavours, with cocoa beans sourced from around the world. Neuhaus invented the praline in 1912, and now offers over 60 different flavours in its shop. Other chocolatiers worth visiting in Grand Sablon include Godiva and Leonidas.

Gastronomes are also well catered for in Brussels, with approximately 1,800 restaurants, and local specialities include Belgian waffles, mussels, usually served with frites, and the frites themselves, locally known as fritkots. Waffles and fritkots can be bought from street vendors, and are ubiquitous in tourist areas. For the more adventurous, Belgian delicacies include river eels in green sauce and turbot fish in cream and egg sauce.

If you are planning on making a trip to Brussels on the Eurostar, remember that many hotels offer long and short term hotel parking offers near train stations, many with overnight accommodation, which can be a relief for early travel.

Hopefully this has given you some idea of what to do and see when visiting the Belgian capital and ensure you have memories and experiences to last a lifetime.


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Basically the Most Underrated Travel Location in Europe- Malta

Flickr CC By Robert Pittman 

by JIM O'CONNELL


Of all the places which I visited within Europe the one that I'd call the most overlooked is the tiny country of Malta. Most Americans most likely don't know much of this tiny island nation, but if you have a chance to visit this nation in the Mediterranean I will almost guarantee you'll find it an outstanding experience. The reason is because of its critical location and ideal harbors it's for ages been sought after and battled for by almost every Mediterranean power dating back to the Phoenicians.

Over the centuries the island has long been under control of eight major superpowers. It would probably not come as a surprise, then that as you tour Malta you'd be aware of the influence of several of these great cultures. One of the initial things I observed was the language. There are a couple of official languages, Maltese as well as English, and essentially every one of the locals there speaks English effortlessly. But to me the Maltese language appeared to be much like Arabic, even as almost all of the population is Roman Catholic.

An additional impression that I got was the hot, dry weather conditions. I was there in October and although there was modest greenery to be found, it's rough, rocky terrain and large seaside cliffs above the Mediterranean made it incredibly beautiful. Possibly the ideal way to see Malta is on their hop-on hop-off vehicles, which run in a couple of loops, one covering the north as well as the other south regions of the main island. Malta is made up of three inhabited islands, but much of its past is located in Valletta and also the ancient capital of Mdina.

Probably the most historical part of this significant country is the capital and largest city, Valletta. The large fortifications for this downtown area had been constructed in the late 1500s by the Knights of Malta after they had survived the siege by the Ottoman Empire. Those stonewalled buttresses withstood heavy bombing within the Second World War at the time the Germans unsuccessfully attempted to capture it. Valletta is rather compacted therefore the region you will have to include to see lot isn't large.

These days one of the most preferred places to stay for travelers, and also where there are also plenty of business meetings will be the attractive seaside village called Bugibba. It is north from Valletta along the coastline about four or five miles. Now Malta is an autonomous nation, getting its independence from United Kingdom in 1964. This is actually a highly regarded vacation spot with Europeans, and if more Americans knew in regards to this overlooked tourist destination they would be flocking there, too.

These are a few ways to save on train travel. It takes a bit of effort, but that effort can pay off in substantial savings if you choose to travel by car, train, or airplane. For additional tips to help you save money when planning your vacation, visit http://bestvacationeurope.com/tips-for-airline-travel/ for a wide range of travel ideas. 


Jim O'Connell is a writer and travel enthusiast.


via Amazine

10 Top Tips for Visiting Croatia With Children

Brela, Kroasia (Flickr Creative Commons / Sergiu Bacioiu)

By Desiree Michels

As everybody gears up to book family holidays to Croatia, those who’ve never visited this wonderful country may have some apprehensions as to the reality of its 'child friendliness'. Rest assured it is, in my experience, one of the most family friendly destinations you could choose in terms of its safety, accommodation and many accessible attractions.

Of course, any destination becomes a little less daunting if you have some insider knowledge, so I'd like to share a handful of helpful tips that I have offered clients over the years to make their family holidays to Croatia run smoothly.

1. Language: If English is your first and only language, you're in luck! Tourism is one of the major drivers of the economy, so English is widely spoken and understood. You should not encounter any difficulties communicating while you are holidaying in Croatia, except possible in some of the very rural areas – in which case the universal sign language should work a treat! The fact that most people you encounter will speak a little English will also help younger children feel at ease in their unfamiliar surrounds. (But take note of my last tip coming up as well.) 2. Accommodation: Being such a family friendly destination, many of the best hotels and resorts cater specifically to youngsters, with aspects like connecting rooms, children's clubs and onsite babysitting services. With so many historical attractions to explore, there may be times you'll want to take advantage of the latter for some adult downtime.

3. The people: Despite a fairly rocky recent history you'll find the locals very friendly, if perhaps a little reserved at first. As a rule they're extremely amenable, very helpful to tourists, and every Croatian I've ever met adores children.

4. Baby supplies: If you're travelling with a toddler or baby, the DM market (just outside the walls in Dubrovnik) is an excellent go-to source of baby products, but, generally, you can find anything you need in local pharmacies. Fresh milk is readily available at local markets or supermarkets.

5. But be prepared: Having said that, for those holidays to Croatia situated in some of the more rural (or the smaller islands), make sure you stock up on supplies like nappies, formula and baby wipes before you head off.

6. Food: All holidays to Croatia should include many opportunities for trying the more unusual foods (I especially recommend you sample some of the unique seafood even if you can't convince the children to do so!), there's no need to be nervous of the local cuisine – even for children. Familiar foods are readily available and much of what you'll find on the menu has a very Mediterranean bent to it – like pastas, pizzas, rice dishes, vegetables and grilled fish.

7. Driving: Hiring a car for a road trip along the stunning coastline of Croatia is an absolute joy, and one that should not be missed. But if you're on a tight time schedule you'll need to factor in the element of traffic, as the roads can get very busy in the peak season. This should be considered if your children are inclined to get restive in slow moving traffic. Remember to drive on the right hand side of the road and that most of the usual British rules apply: like compulsory seatbelts and using your mobile phone only when the vehicle is stationary.

8. Playing pedestrian: On the other side of the coin, it's prudent to keep your wits about you and a firm grasp on your child’s hand as a pedestrian as well. Croatians are not so much sticklers for the rules as the Brits, so never assume that just because you're about to step on to a pedestrian crossing, motorists will necessarily stop. Check and double check.

9. Taxi! Getting around by taxi can be a convenient mode of transport for short distances and to get you to and from the airport, but if you're travelling with younger children, be aware they do not come equipped with car seats. You'll also be charged for carrying luggage, and it's important to ensure that the driver actually turns on the meter before you set off.

10. A few useful words: Finally, while English is widely spoken, knowing a few words of the language (and at least having a go) will certainly endear you to the locals, and most children usually find it great fun as well. Some are easier than others…

•hello – zdravo •please – zadovoljavati • thank you - hvala •emergency – kriticno •taxi - taksi • doctor – doktor •bathroom – kupaonica


In my many years of visiting Croatia I've found it to be a warm, wonderful and entirely fascinating country and, no matter how many times I return, every trip brings it just a little closer to my heart. I've no doubt your family will find it to be the same.


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Train travel

By Barry Sheppard

Don't like flying? Or have a fear of flying?

Want to make adventure part of your travel plans?

Want to see different places without extra expense?

Are you environmentally aware?

Do you know you can travel the world without stepping in an airport?

Which brings me to my story.

I was travelling back to London via Moscow from Japan. (The ticket I'd bought was one of those earlier days cheap fares.) As we crossed the South China Seas the plane seemed to be struggling. After a while announcements in Japanese & Russian were spouted out. The whole lot on the plane started bending over and putting their hands over their heads. I knew what it meant after serving nearly 4 years in the Army Air Corps in the Far East. I looked around. I couldn't see anyone else who looked like a Westerner. Ah! They remembered me in the cockpit by shouting out "We are crash landing".

With this, the plane started banking and going down in quite a decent fashion. It wasn't a tumble. Seemed like a normal descent. As we got nearer the ground it banked again. Yahoo. I see a lake and that made my mind up. I decided to run across the seats on the backs of all the passengers. Push the door off and get ready to jump into the lake. Anyone wants to follow, up to them. For crashing into the ground was not going to be me. Take my chances with a jump, even if only a foot deep.

So, there I was. A young man. 5 years out of the Army. Still very fit. Taking my own life in my hands rather than people up front trying to control a huge ball of metal hurtling about in the sky. And to all intents and purposes about to crash and most probably killing every one onboard. Not me Bud. I'm off.

The plane got nearer the ground. The huge wastes of Siberia facing us. I'm just about ready. My thoughts were, I'll wait until it's not a huge jump. Just enough to clear the ground and make it easier if that water was only a foot deep. Hopefully not push my legs up my body but alive. Here we go.

At the moment of decision, balancing on the top of a seat, I half fall, due to the plane taking a steeper bank to the left. Through the window see a beautiful site. A piece of land cut out like an Airstrip...it was. I stayed. We landed heavily, but who cares, we landed.

After a while, I found out, the plane, due to strong facing winds and too many passengers across the China Seas, had run out of fuel!

Long story short. Got to Moscow. Told changing planes as this one is useless. Help.

On reflection, and I do a lot with this flight, some was maybe due to language differences.

Still didn't help me. That flight seemed to last forever. Tried to read a book after getting back up in the air. No good. Every shake or shudder set me off.

I never flew again for over 25 years and found a brand new world. I went to America from the UK, New York, by rail to Chicago and Los Angeles. Drove 3,000 odd miles to Miami, Washington up to Quebec. Down thru Canada to Niagara Falls. Through New York. Up to Montreal to catch my ship to London....

.....absolute magic but that's another 150 stories.

That's it folks.