BRUSSELS
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BRUGES
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BRUSSELS • BRUGES •
Roaming Brussels
All Belgium photos by Adele Berry
As soon as the school year ended, my daughter and I embarked on her first trip to Europe, with stops in Brussels and the picturesque Bruges. EU flags fluttered in the breeze just around the corner from our Brussels hotel as we ambled down the street, excitedly anticipating our first authentic Belgian meal at a restaurant nearby.
We explored Brussels in full tourist mode, with a city tour that took us past ornate Art Nouveau buildings and the Atomium, with its 360-degree panoramic views of the city and the surrounding municipalities. We strolled through the blocks of EU buildings, wondering what important global matters were being deliberated behind closed doors.
Before leaving, we loaded up on ridiculous amounts of Belgian chocolate to haul home as gifts.
Bruges Day Trip
One of my old college roommates had been living in Belgium for years, and we had hoped to meet up with her during our visit. After all, there's nothing like experiencing a new place with someone who lives there and knows the best local spots. Unfortunately, it turned out that she would be in the U.S. while we were in Belgium.
But she recommended Bruges, the UNESCO-listed medieval city, as one of the top places we should visit. Picturesque Bruges, with its distinct architecture, waterway canals, and a shop with unforgettable hand-made chocolate, turned out to be my daughter's favorite city during our visit.
