DAY 120 - 122: From Boscastle to Brussels

On Tuesday the 4th of September I drove from Boscastle back to Barnstaple to return the rental and catch the train back to London where I stayed at the YHA St Pancras, right by the International Railway Station. And on Wednesday the 5th I caught the Eurostar to Brussels.

I had always maintained that I am not comfortable with the idea of being in a train in a tunnel going deep under the water. But, challenge yourself a bit I always say (usually right before I do something really dumb and hurt myself or put myself in a weird situation!). This time it all went well I am happy to report. The train goes at close to 300km/h and crossing under the channel takes only about 20 minutes, the whole trip only taking around 2 hours. Before I knew it, I was in Brussels and getting myself lost in the streets around the station.

As in so many cases, the area around the station is not nice. Not nice at all... full of staring men just hanging around, some talking loudly on mobile phones, others just.... I really do not know what they would be doing all day other than not being at some sort of proper job. One group of men standing around, reminded me oh so much of a bunch of South African taxi drivers... you know the type!
Eventually a lovely young Belgian girl came along and used her phone to point me in the right direction. It was quite a trek to the YHA, some of it uphill and with all my luggage in tow (now you know why I travel light and do not shop while travelling!) and I was exhausted by the time I got there. And oh me gosh... one of those without a kitchen, not even a way to make a cup of coffee..... because they have a restaurant..... which of course is closed that time of the day!!! Ugh. Anywho… 'nough with the moaning.

Brussels. After that not so positive impression, I made myself at home at the hostel and then I walked to the city centre which is beautiful. Such very impressive buildings and I had forgotten what Brussels is actually famous for: Chocolate and Waffles. And oh yes, also lace.

I noticed a "mob" of people down the road and walked over to see what they were doing. Expecting some sort of demonstration or something as they were quite loud. But as I got closer I realised they were just excited and laughing... and there he was: Mannekin Pis. I had forgotten about him too! He is actually a lot smaller than I was expecting. But he sure is cute and the Belgian people are very proud of him.

There was lots to see in Brussels and all within walking distance from the hostel, so that is what I did and did the next day too. And of course I had to try the waffles. The chocolate I missed. They are charging tourist prices for them and I had such an oversupply of Belgian chocolate when I worked in the confectionary department at the Warehouse, that I was just not prepared to splurge on it. The supermarket chocolate in Holland and Germany will be just as nice.

At the station in Barnstaple. Caught the GWR from here to London via Exeter.

British trains are roomy and clean and comfy. This lady kept nodding off.

St Pancras International Train Station. I am guessing they will add a lot of red tape once Brexit goes ahead.

It is an enormous and very impressive building.

St Pancras early evening from my 6th floor window.

Comment on society today?

Inside St Pancras station

Info screen on the Eurostar.

Mannekin Pis. See how small he is.

The building across the street

And in the window of a chocolatier

They sure are proud of their national symbol! It's all about freedom - and this sure feels free!

In the window of a waffle shop.

Beautiful lace

The detail on the buildings is phenomenal.

The shiny bits is where people touch the figurine. People like silly tourists, who have no idea why they are doing it.

All the gold detail in the evening light!

There was going to be a beer fest on the square on the weekend.

When it rains and/or you need a loo.... McDonalds is always a good solution. In this case it was both. I had a coffee which I drank really slowly while reading my kindle in Dutch! Until the rain stopped. I think many had the same idea, the place was packed.

Look at that huge roof in the background.

Mural on a building close to the hostel.

The Our Lady of the Sablon Church right next to the hostel. It was build between 1400 and 1549.

In several places, there is a huge church at the end of the street. This one was covered in scaffolding.

I cannot get enough of the beautiful artwork, carvings, stonework, statues, leadlight windows in the European churches.

Beautiful organ pipes, windows and simple detail of the ceiling.

I often photograph ceilings of churches, castles and palaces. They fascinate me. This church had metal cables going across, literally holding the walls together.

A beautiful window.

Sorry, cannot remember who these dudes in tights were....

Narrow hallways and steep, narrow stairs... so this is how you deliver furniture. I wish they had one of these when I moved into the house in Te Marua!

Luckily the window was large enough.

The white cobble stones are actually white cobble stones. Not painted on, actual white stones.

This park I found really disappointing. Did not look like it was well maintained.

No matter where you go in the world, there will always be a few idiots around.

You cannot see it but this pond was so filthy.

Look at this mess!

Trams going right past this large church.

As I said, idiots everywhere in the world.

At the botanical garden.

This church looked so old and like it was in much need of work. But then look below how beautiful it is on the inside.

This pillar is partly covered in bent wood. Don't know how they managed to do this.

Yum. Beautiful waffle. The way I like it. Crisp on the outside and a faint taste of cinnamon and none of the loads of sweet stuff and cream on it. Not cheap though. EUR 2.5 for the plain one like this.

St Catherine.... see below for it's claim to fame.

Not so nice. This is a urinal that has been installed against the wall of St Catherine... Not sure why it had to be right there? Another someone who reeeealy wanted to make a point?