I'm referring to Brussels… Capital of Belgium, and the locals would argue, the Capital of Europe too. I can already hear the groans of displeasure at the thought of contending with the airport hassles or ferry drudgery, but fear not.
We stepped onto a clean shiny train at London's St Pancras International station at just after 2.30, where we sat briefly and watched some customers in the open-plan Champagne Bar immediately adjacent to our carriage before moving away slowly and just before my watch showed 4.30 we were pulling into Gare de Midi in Central Brussels. To me, this was incredible. The train's silence and comfort completely belies the fact that you're actually tearing across the countryside at up to 180 mph. After only half an hour we were watching the traffic queuing for the Eurotunnel Trains at Folkestone and before we knew it, France suddenly appeared in the late sunshine. After a brief stop at Lille we continued on to Brussels at breathtaking speed, but still able to hear a pin drop.
The convenience of the service amazed me. Being a seasoned traveller of many years, I have been quite used to jetting from one country to another, so international travel is nothing new to me. However, I had never considered using the train as a means of international travel before and I was totally taken aback by how easy, quick and convenient it all was.
The weekend was to be a completely relaxed, nothing-to-do-and-all-day-to-do-it-in, type of break. We had no specific plans and therefore no timetable to follow. The first evening, after checking in at the luxurious Renaissance Hotel, just a stone's throw away from the European Parliament buildings and a short walk from the city centre, we had a little walk around, remarking about the fact that so many local revellers were happy to stand outside the bars on a freezing February night while they drank and socialised. Must be mad, we thought! Too cold for us, so we returned to our hotel bar and did our own kind of revelling in the warmth and comfort instead.
The buffet breakfast was a true feast, with just about everything you could possibly want available in the "American" breakfast.
Brussels is not really renowned as a sightseeing city apart from perhaps the impressive "Atomium" which is a few kilometres to the North of the city and the diminutive "Mannequin Pis" which I was somewhat disappointed with, having expected a grandiose statue having a tinkle into the square below. However, it seems you are never stuck for something to do. The little restaurants tucked behind the Grote Plaz and Grote Markt are delightful, with spectacular displays of fresh seafood and colourful awnings. The restaurateurs try to tempt you in with warm smiles and friendly faces, although we couldn't help thinking it was their excuse for getting outside for a sneaky smoke.
During the day the parks around the city offer some peace and quiet and there is little to beat the taste of a cold local beer while sitting in the winter sunshine outside one of the beautiful old buildings in the Grande Place. The architecture is truly spectacular, with most of the buildings on the square dating back to the 17th and 18th century. Being a Saturday a few weddings were taking place in the Municipal Buildings, so onlookers were cheering as brides threw their bouquets into the crowd.
An absolutely delicious meal back at the hotel on the Saturday evening brought the second day to a lovely end. Another bright and sunny welcome to Sunday made us decide to walk back down to the Station from the hotel, but we stopped off just outside the Palais de Justice to admire the spectacular view over the city and its environs. A Sunday market in the little streets below proved irresistible as we ventured on.
Getting home was just as easy, quick and truly impressive as the outward journey, so we were back in London in a jiffy, relaxed and rested after one of the easiest weekend breaks you could hope to take. Time to unwind in a foreign country without the traditional trials and tribulations of international travel. Forget the airport – Take the Train!
 Eurostar operates up to 10 daily services from St Pancras International and Ebbsfleet International to Brussels with return fares from £59.
All Eurostar tickets to Brussels are valid to/from any Belgian station at no extra cost.
Tickets are available from eurostar.com or 08705 186 186.
Children under 4 Travel Free.
We stayed at the Renaissance Hotel, Brussels. Arriving early on a quiet weekend, we were very kindly upgraded to a "Junior Suite", a very pleasant surprise.
Renaissance Hotels are part of the Marriott Group and special weekend deals are available through their site at www.marriott.com
Nigel Crawford
Co-Editor, www.thebabywebsite.com
February 2008 |
