Dimond Geezer Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 Anyone been? I'm planning to take Mrs Geezer there in the summer for a long weekend. I'm intending to take the Eurostar & stay in a hotel near the Heysel Stadium. What’s it like for sightseeing? I assume getting around will be fairly straight forward as they have a Metro system. Do they speak much English, I assume they mostly speak French. I hate going somewhere & assuming they can speak English, I like to make an attempt whilst secretly hoping the locals will help out with a bit of English. If they only speak Flemish I’m screwed. Is it expensive to eat out? Any (constructive) comments are welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petersfield Saint Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 Went on a school trip donkeys years ago but remember it as a nice place and easy enough to get around. A visit to the Atomium was my stand-out memory from that trip; well worth a visit (assuming it's still there!). From memory they were mainly French-speakers but most had a smattering of English too; don't think you'll have any problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelman Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 went there on a day trip not so long ago. Didn't really look around but what I saw wouldn't entice me back. Some nice parts but it's a **** hole really. Went to Bruges which is a bit touristy but in the evening things are much quieter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Londoner Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 Me and Mrs South Londoner went there for a long weekend a while and broadly speaking Angelman has got it right; not much to see and the rest smelt of p*ss AND I live in Brixton !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimond Geezer Posted 11 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 11 May, 2011 Hmmm. Thanks for the responses so far. It's not sounding to positive. A re-think may be on the cards. Brixton sound appealing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 The Grand Place and area around it are very impressive, fair few decent bars dotted around that you can get a good (expensive) beer in, but toherwise, as those above have said, it is a s**thole! Better off trying somewhere like Bruges, much nicer or do a day trip to Ypres, would definitely recommend that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 Anyone been? I'm planning to take Mrs Geezer there in the summer for a long weekend. I'm intending to take the Eurostar & stay in a hotel near the Heysel Stadium. What’s it like for sightseeing? I assume getting around will be fairly straight forward as they have a Metro system. Do they speak much English, I assume they mostly speak French. I hate going somewhere & assuming they can speak English, I like to make an attempt whilst secretly hoping the locals will help out with a bit of English. If they only speak Flemish I’m screwed. Is it expensive to eat out? Any (constructive) comments are welcome. I lived there for a while back in the late 80s mainly because I had to as I was home based at the EEC at the time;never particularly enamoured of the place myself, wouldn't call it a tourist city as such,unless you're into red light districts which I guess you won't be if you're taking the wife.Most people will speak at least 2 of the 3 official languages as it's a must for all civil servants in Brabant and they get taught that way in the schools.Once you've seen the Atomium and the Palace and all that it's no great shakes. As someone said Brugges is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 I don't agree with the comments above! We went for a long weekend a year or so ago. The hotels are good value because there are loads to cater for the eurocrats during the week and empty at the weekend. It depends what turns you on, but the Grand Palace is terrific and there are some cracking museums and other sites too; The Horta, Musee Royal de Beaux Arts and Notre Dame du Sablon for starters. We found the place a bit "grey", but very chilled and non threatening. The restaurants and pubs are really good, especially for the queer beers they brew and there are some very nice restaurants. Shopping is good too. Because of the easy travel via eurostar and the relaxed atmosphere, we really liked it. Sure there are some pikey bits, but aren't there everywhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaMarlin Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 Agree with Special K. Brussels is far from a cack hole, but it has changed from being a quaint national capital of a small European country, to the nominal capital of the EU, with all the associated crud you would expect of a town full of Eurocrats. They all clear off home at weekends, so hotel rates do dip. If you like your food, it is a great place. Belgian cuisine is very similar to French, but with bigger portions and you would expect a town populated by Eurocrats to be full of the type of restaurant they like to eat in. There is plenty to look at and see. The Grand Place is worht a look, and if you like your Art Deco, Belgium (and Brussels) was at the foreront of the movement. Good art galleries, and Waterloo battlefield is only 12 miles away. But if you're going to Belgium, go to Ghent. Everybody say Bruges is nice - and it is. But it's also full of tourists. Ghent is the same as Bruges - canals, lots of medieval Flemish architecture and loads of character - but is not full of tourists. I have rellies who work in and around the diamond exchange in Antwerp. Antwerp is a big lively port city, with a good Rubins museum, interesting cathedral and some good bars, restaurants and clubs. But it is a big, port city, with all the baggage that carries. It's worth having a day or two on the coast. Ostend used to be nice, but is a little run down and tired now, but Knokke-Heist is very nice. Funny enough, it's where the Euro MPs and Belgium's elite have their weekend homes, so it's a bit like Deauville in France (apart from the fact that they speak Flemish). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 We had a long week-end in Brussels 4 or 5 years ago and we loved it. We did the whole thing through Thomsons as a "City Break" with 4 nights for the price of 3. Everything was included including the Euro Star and we found it a really good value package. We stayed in a 4 star hotel just outside the city centre but only 10 minute walk to the Grand Place which lovely. We did a day trip which took in the very impressive museum complex and the Waterloo battlefield which to me was incredibly interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 Been there a couple of times, and went on Eurostar to Brussels, and it was easy to get a train up to brugge which is really nice for a day trip. Brussels we went to see the ****ing boy and the main square was really nice. We went in December and it was rammed with tourists. Really liked it and it got us into the Christmas spirit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baj Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 Brussels is a **** hole. Brugges is amazing. That's all you need to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brussels Saint Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 Brussels is a great city to visit, and with all the above in relation to beer, restaurants, museums, architecture, dirt and grey probably true. If you visit just as a tourist, you could get unlucky and see a lot of the rubbish side. However with a bit of local knowledge you will love it. If you still decide to go and want sone local info just let me know what you would like to do and roughly your budget and I'll give you some ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tractor_Saint Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 No idea how much you're willing to spend but go to St Malo in France. You won't be disappointed. PM me for a decent and cheap hotel in the old city. I go there at least twice a year via ferry and also fast cat. Loads of travel options Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 Go to Brugges! Better still, go to Ypres and walk the old battlefields. One of the best things I've ever done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 11 May, 2011 Share Posted 11 May, 2011 Go to Brugges and stay here http://www.hotelterbrughe.com/index.htm (Go into the pictures link and see the photos of the 'renovated room'. We stayed there - it overlooks a canal, very romantic ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimond Geezer Posted 12 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Thanks chaps & chapesses, I've got some pondering to do. Brussels Saint, Thanks for the offer, if we make the decision to go, I'll pm you nearer the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dellboypete Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Brussels is OK for a long weekend. We lived there for a few years before we went to the middle east and really enjoyed it. Plenty of things to see over a weekend - of course if you are near Heysel you can see the atomium - built for the 1958 world fair - I don't think its been updated since and should be put in a museum itself. Belgium is famous for it's beers - loads of bars with hundreds of differet beers. Could keep you going for the weekend. And if you want to see something really different - take the tram out to the old Royal Park in Tervuren a few miles out of town (my kids went to the British School there btw) to see the Museum of Central Africa. This shows how Belgium basically raped and pillaged it's way through what is now the Congo. I used to work for the old Belgian oil company Petrofina - until it was taken over by the frogs (total). Our head office was in Rue de la Loi which is one of the main drags out to the EC place. During the war it was the HQ for the SS in Belgium. It was a really creepy place to work (that includes the belgians) and the archives were stored in three levels of basements which reputedly were used for different levels of torture by the SS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Go to Brugges! Better still, go to Ypres and walk the old battlefields. One of the best things I've ever done. ^ This. Plus hang around for the playing of the "Last Post" at the Menin Gate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 The food and beer was good in Brussels when I last visited. Been 3 times; once when my Dad was temporary BA manager at the airport. The upgrade and G&T at 10 in the morning was great! Before that I went for a certain match... Chanson d'Amour and Peter Osgood... ah. Most recent by train, which is indeed fast and convenient. Antwerp's a nice little city: superb chocolate, beer and fashion, strangely enough, so that might interest your OH. I must visit Ypres though; every year on the way back from Italy I drive through northern France and Belgium, but I'm normally in a hurry to get places. What time is Last Post played SourMash? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MongoNeil Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 I love Brussels and have had a few good weekends there. I was expecting it to be all grey and boring but I was pleasantly surprised it has to be said. If you like your beer, make sure you visit the delirium bar, quite touristy but worth going to. I do agree though, even without having been, Brugges is probably better but then I don't know anyone that lives there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skintsaint Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Brussles = for the over 40s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Go to Brugges and stay here http://www.hotelterbrughe.com/index.htm (Go into the pictures link and see the photos of the 'renovated room'. We stayed there - it overlooks a canal, very romantic ) Do you still put it out at your age? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 ; What time is Last Post played ? 20:00 every night. I would personally recomment a visit to Ypres, well worth a day there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 20:00 every night. I would personally recomment a visit to Ypres, well worth a day there. Ta, I can just about do that the route I come up (cheapskate off the French autoroutes). That leaves me poised for the channel ports the following morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joensuu Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 IMO Brussels is alright. It's pretty enough in the centre - the Grand Place is definately worth seeing. There are okay views from the hill near the central law courts. The beer is obviously fantastic, and not too terribly priced. However, the price of food is expensive, expect at least £15-20 per meal. After you've seen the central sites, you quickly run out of things to do. If you do go (and are under say 40), make sure you try http://www.deliriumcafe.be/ - it might not be your cup of tea, but I enjoyed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelman Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 ^ they've got a p*** poor selection of English beers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Special K Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 At the risk of demeaning the thread, they have a fabulously titled metro station called "Kunst Wet". I lol'd, although the wife wasn't impressed with my schoolboy chuckles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimond Geezer Posted 12 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Brussles = for the over 40s. I'll be fine then I'm 43. I hope they turn the music down at 9pm, that's when I like to drink my ovaltine before getting in my jim-jams ready for bed at 9.30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 12 May, 2011 Share Posted 12 May, 2011 Ta, I can just about do that the route I come up (cheapskate off the French autoroutes). That leaves me poised for the channel ports the following morning. It's only 40mins from Ypres to Dunkirk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MongoNeil Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 ^ they've got a p*** poor selection of English beers. Which is a good thing IMHO. Remember being in there and this English bloke getting all angry that they didn't serve Stella, what a muppet, have you seen the selection?? Try something new, you never know you might like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 Ta, I can just about do that the route I come up (cheap skate off the French autoroutes). That leaves me poised for the channel ports the following morning. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suewhistle Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 :eek: Well, I was going to say 'tight cow' but thought that might get the wrong reaction. How about 'financially challenged'? It's only 40mins from Ypres to Dunkirk. Ta VFTT, that's more or less the idea. I never book a ferry I can't easily make. Driving like an idiot to make a ferry wouldn't be fun. Funnily enough going UK to Italy I've done it in a day quite often, but there are no deadlines to meet and I can stop for a 15minute nap if I need to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintbletch Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 As others have said the Grande Place is worth a visit to sit and have a coffee/beer, look at the architecture and watch the world go by. I also used to enjoy strolling along the Rue du Bouchers (just off the Grande Place if memory serves), looking at the menus and picking a restaurant. It's a tiny, winding lane FULL of restaurants. It's very touristy and quite pricey and you can get better food away from the centre but it's nice to visit. Having travelled with work all over Europe I think Belgium food is amongst the best. I remember being there in early autumn one year on a cold day and we ate outside as they had these enormous gas heaters on the wall that kept it nice and warm. That was before we all got patio heaters in our gardens. I also spent £96 on a bottle of wine that night. It was in the days of the Belgium Franc and I'd had too many Leffes and I misplaced the decimal point in my mental conversion to Pounds. A lovely drop of red, completely wasted on me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Warrior Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 Brussels had four days there lat year, thoroughly enjoyed it good food good bars and plenty to see and do. Go to the war museum well worth a visit . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Warrior Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 I also recommend the delerium bars 4a Impasse de la Fidélité, 2000 odd beers, plus a cocktail bar and spirit bar , worth a visit , watch out for some of the hassle you might get from the outdoor resturants located close by Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eurosaint Posted 13 May, 2011 Share Posted 13 May, 2011 I worked there for 13 years and lived as an expat for about 7 !! Thoroughly enjoyed it and never had any problems of note ! All of the tourist spots have already been mentioned as have visits to Gent, Bruges and Antwerp which covers more than you will achieve in a weekend ! Speaking English is absolutely no problem these days and public transport is cheap and easy ! Avoid the restaurants around the Grande Place as they are a bit of a rip-off ! Would suggest that you do NOT stay out near the Bruparck (Heysel) as it is too far from the centre and there is not so much to do !! Those who have called it a '****hole' clearly don't know the city very well or just had a bad experience, personally I think it's well worth a visit ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimond Geezer Posted 16 May, 2011 Author Share Posted 16 May, 2011 Cheers all, were only be there for 2 days so it could be a go-er. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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