Wednesday 6 August 2014

In the ville de Bruxelles

Heart and capital of European government, Brussels has the feel of a serious city, full of weighty institutions, politicians and foreign diplomats. 

Round and about the Grand Place, the Beaux Arts and Galeries Royales


Children playing on the almost deserted square in front of the Brussels opera house, La Monnaie/De Munt, a few hours before it filled up with opera-goers for a startling production of Orphée et Eurydice (see here), based on a real-life case of a young Belgian woman with locked-in syndrome.



Peering up at the grand vaulted glass ceiling of the colonnaded 19th century Galeries Royales 


... a perfect place for a pre-opera drink.


And from the sublime to ... Europe's oddest tourist attraction? the jolly little Manneken Pis, unadorned by outfits on this day but still drawing the crowds. 


Brussels, June 2014


3 comments:

  1. Looks impressive but a bit chilly!
    I love the Grand Place and the art museum which has such a good northern renaissance collection.
    Superb food as I recall.
    Please come to visit new York before too very long.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Un plaisir de voir ma vie natale! Decembre me verra la pour la St Nicolas!
    Merci!

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  3. These straight line converging perspectives absolutely knock me out! Brussels perhaps isn't as picturesque as some of your other destinations, but your photos really capture its own special beauty.

    ReplyDelete

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