I spent last weekend in Brussels, Belgium and then two days in Aachen, Germany. I wasn't sure what to expect from Brussels, but I found it to be a delightful town full of fantastic Art Nouveau buildings. I, of course, sampled the local chocolate (ambrosia) and was very glad to get a decent beer for a change. I had the opportunity to be in a student film as I came out of the train station when I first arrived - all I had to do was cross the street looking stressed - not a problem as the pedestrian light was not working and in addition to getting across the traffic with my roller bag, there was the added risk of street cars rumbling by. Watch for me at Cannes!
I decided that with only two days in Brussels, I would take one of the tour
ist hop-on hop-off bus tours to see the sights and get a bit of history. I discovered that Belgium is a monarchy and then 10 minutes later was hopping off at the royal palace where I was lucky enough to be in Brussels during the two weeks of the year that the royal greenhouses are open. I was thinking it would be a couple of greenhouses with some nice flowers. Two hours later I had filed through building after building where the greenhouses rivaled the plants for grace and beauty. I also had a chance to glimpse the royal grounds which were equally stunning with a lovely view of the city over a lake etc etc. One thing I did note though was that even the king and queen of Belgium couldn't avoid being out of the flight path of the airport! It was a great side tour, but it did mean I ran out of time and missed seeing the Star Wars exhibit at one of the museums - rats!
ist hop-on hop-off bus tours to see the sights and get a bit of history. I discovered that Belgium is a monarchy and then 10 minutes later was hopping off at the royal palace where I was lucky enough to be in Brussels during the two weeks of the year that the royal greenhouses are open. I was thinking it would be a couple of greenhouses with some nice flowers. Two hours later I had filed through building after building where the greenhouses rivaled the plants for grace and beauty. I also had a chance to glimpse the royal grounds which were equally stunning with a lovely view of the city over a lake etc etc. One thing I did note though was that even the king and queen of Belgium couldn't avoid being out of the flight path of the airport! It was a great side tour, but it did mean I ran out of time and missed seeing the Star Wars exhibit at one of the museums - rats!Sunday morning I found myself climbing off the train in Aachen. As usual I didn't have a map, but I had drawn myself one off the Aachen tourist page on the web the night before to navigate to the hotel. It was supposed to be less than a kilometre, and it was a lovely morning so I thought I'd walk. Half an hour later I was hot and sweaty and cranky, and obviously lost. I found a map on a local bus shelter and discovered I had turned right instead of left at one of the first intersections. It still wasn't too far to the hotel, so I shlepped back, roller bag clicking along the pavement behind me. For a geographer, I seem to have both a lousy sense of dire
ction, and a misguided confidence in my ability to travel without maps. I did get to the hotel, and stashed my bag to go off and explore the town (still no map). It wasn't until I had explored much of the gorgeous old town near the cathedral and was on my way back to the hotel that I discovered the tourist office a block from my hotel. I purchased the handy "Charlemagne's guide to Aachen" and was now able to understand much of what I had seen.
ction, and a misguided confidence in my ability to travel without maps. I did get to the hotel, and stashed my bag to go off and explore the town (still no map). It wasn't until I had explored much of the gorgeous old town near the cathedral and was on my way back to the hotel that I discovered the tourist office a block from my hotel. I purchased the handy "Charlemagne's guide to Aachen" and was now able to understand much of what I had seen. Charlemagne was apparently quite fond of Aachen and it is where he spent his final years, taking advantage of the natural hot springs in the area. The Aachen city hall has one tower (the one on the right) where Charlemagne lived in until his death in 814. The cathedral of Aachen is a UNESCO world heritage site (chalk up another one on my list), and seems small compared to some of the huge cathedrals in France, but it is much older. Charlemagne (naturally) built the first part of the cathedral and he's also entombed there. The cathedral was expanded in gothic style and consecreated on the 600th anniversary of his death, which brings us to 1414.
Aachen also is a city that loves its bronze fountains. This one is of a mythical
creature from recent history that would apparently attack men on their way home on pay day and take all their money (and coincidentally make them smell like a beer hall). In the background is the Aachen Cathedral's gothic spire.
creature from recent history that would apparently attack men on their way home on pay day and take all their money (and coincidentally make them smell like a beer hall). In the background is the Aachen Cathedral's gothic spire. I did conduct some business in Aachen with my friends at Kisters, visiting their office and discussing the upcoming migration of our data management software system. Curiously the more interesting part of my visit was to learn that Kisters also makes 3-D "printouts" of computer-generated models as another arm of their business. It was good to meet some of the people with whom we will be working over the coming months.
I enjoyed my time in Aachen, but was happy to come back to Paris on Tuesday where I am at least able to speak the language! I ended up eating at a Greek restaurant in Aachen, because it was the only place I knew I could read the menu!
A bien tot! - S.
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