Tourist Trap

menu boards

By the Grand Place there is a warren of small streets populated almost entirely by restaurants. Whilst many are tourist traps the legendary Chez Leon is also found here.

These streets are a real experience, squeezing between diners, the colourful lights and menu boards and the cobbled paths.

Sadly there isn't that much variety in the food offerred, but you can't have everything.

Photographer in Grand Place

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As I wander around the Grand Place, I find it an interesting place to photograph people. I've become slightly obsessed with photographing photographers, especially those who use unusual stances and poses.

This guy was trying to set up the camera for a shot of him and his girlfriend. It would have been easier to ask someone else to do it, I'm often approached to take a quick picture and I never refuse.

Anyway, it's all part of the joy of the square.

A hard day's work

A hard day's work
Originally uploaded by zoeinbrussels

You get a lot of people doing caricatures around Brussels, especially close to the Grand Place but something tells me that it was the end of the day for this old man who was sitting there, fast asleep.

Not enough tourists wanting a caricature of themselves? A long day? Who knows, but if I could draw I would certainly have made quite a good picture of this man.

And sold it to him.

The Finished Floral Carpet

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Here's the full glory of this year's floral carpet in Brussels' Grand Place and the many hundreds of visitors who came to admire it.

Floral Carpet

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The bi-annual Brussels Flower Carpet has become a major event for locals and tourists alike. In preparation for the opening teams of eager planters worked throughout the day to lay the intricate pattern of this year's design, La Savonnerie, based on designs from 18th century French tapestries.

The event only lasts for three days and the highlight for many is the sound and light shows in the evening when colours dance across the Grand Place, accompanied this time by an original score from Belgian composer Gregoire Dune.

Botanique

Brussels Skyline 2

A cold winter's morning, but at least the rain seems to have stopped. This is taken from Hotel Bloom, overlooking Botanique, where I've been photographing artists engaged in decorating the hotel bedrooms.

I'm off there again this morning to get some more shots and on Friday to when the works should be complete.

It's an interesting experiment and inspires me to get out of my lovely warm bed on a morning like this.

Hotel Bloom

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22 European artists have won chance to paint an artwork in Brussels' Hotel Bloom. Each bedroom is unique.

I had a great time wandering around the eighth floor, taking photos for Upfront magazine and chatting to the very friendly bunch of artists who explained what they were trying to do. I didn't seen any works that I didn't like, most I would describe as interesting and some were outstanding.

I'm going back later to photo the completed works, but click on the photo to see my flickr collection of some of the artists and their works.

Plaisirs d'hiver

Place Ste Catherine
Originally uploaded by MKWM

The Christmas Market is now open and the Winter Wonders have begun in Brussels.

Gluehwein, frites & croustillons, tartiflette, you name it... everything is there, waiting for you. Dress warmly, wear flat shoes and don't forget your umbrella. Enjoy!

Trees

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A nice bit of light and shade in the Palas de Congress

Dark Clouds

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By the Gare Central I managed to risk my neck by taking a photo in the middle of the road ad the clouds gathered.

Atomium

Built for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair (Expo ‘58), the Atomium represents a magnified unit cell of an iron crystal. While it was planned originally to last only six months, it still stands today.

In my humble opinion, the more accurate description of this tourist attraction is the one provided by Up Front Brussels. Simple as that: it is literally a load of balls.

No matter how thrilled I am by Blogger's new video publishing tool, instead of a video recorded last night, showing the monument, blinking balls and all, here goes a shot, also taken in the dark. I’m afraid magnifiying glasses wouldn't help much so I'd better refer you to the " plateau du Heysel ", which is definitely worth a visit.

Meanwhile, here is the inside of Roi Baudouin Stadium, located closeby the above mentioned brilliant monument, where I was yesterday for the Belgium-Argentina rugby match. Our national rugbymen did play very well against a highly ranked team. Who cares about the 8-36 score, the marvelous rugby spirit was yet again the winner here, and both teams' supporters enjoyed themselves altogether, not only through the whole match but also during the third half that followed, as usual.