[QUOTE=Slartibartfas;1560495]This thread is about great cities of the world. I would like to mention what is said to be a "rough" beauty. The capital of Belgium and (de facto) of Europe:
Brussels
I have heard its chaotic , rich, poor, old, new, breathtakingly beautiful and mindbogglingly ugly at the same time. It is an officially bilingual city (French, Flemish/Dutch) and a national capital of a nation many doubt that it exists in first place, Belgium. About 100 thousand people are said to either work directly for the EU or make a living in a job related to the EU. Add to that number those who are working at the NATO headquarters and don't forget the officials working for the Belgium government and you realize that this is a true global capital of bureaucracy.
At the same time, the city features all that Belgium is famous for a great and rich beer culture, for being a chocolate lovers heaven and also for Belgian comics. From what I have heard, after the first shock people find out that you can make a quite good living in this city, which is lying on so many cultural crossroads that it truly deserves being the political centre of Europe.
Sorry bout the mistake, but then again, es lebe der Zentralfriedhof.
I would have mentioned Brussels, but only the city center is beautiful, the Golden Place especially.
But the rest is just another belgian village.
The Atomium still exists, but is now closed when Anderlecht plays. There were too many people in the Restaurant, which offers a view directly into the Heysel Stadium about a hundred meters away.
They all came with binoculars and tilted the weight of the top globe to the west, it became a problem.
They did a lot around the northern train station, the former red light district.
Havenīt been there for quite a while, I will have to check up next time I go to Aarschot to fish in my pond.
The above mentioned RLD was rather amusing. Very much like in Seoul and Amsterdam, the Ladies were sitting in the windows, knitting, while waiting for Customers.
I did some jobs in the neighboring industrial area and the harbour, so we walked through the quarter to get to the city center in the evenings.
They should have renovated the houses and leave the quarter alone,
Then again, most cities in Belgium have nice centers.
Food is good in Belgium as long as you donīt eat too many freis ( they were invented there, so was the fast food business.
Seafood especially is, compared to other Euro countries, very cheap.
Where else can you get a lobster for a fiver or a huge pot full of mussels for about 7.
The smaller hotels give you a boteram in the morning, itīs included in the price.
A big bag with white bread, and you can pick what else on meat, sausage, marmelade or else you want to have.
I love the flamish part of Belgium.
Btw, if you ever get to Antwerp, go to the Grote Markt.
Absolutely amazing.
There are old town houses of the former nobility there, som even only eight foot wide, just enough room for a door and a window.
No houses to live in but just built just to show, you were still around and important.
Around thr corner is a restaurant, divided into a fish and a meat part.
It has huge windows between dining and kitchen, so you can see, how your food is being prepared.
Some steps further on there is "De Leeuw van Vlaanderen", a pub.
When I went in there I got the shock of my life.
Nazi flags everywhere, showcases with SS daggers, Medals, SS pay books, letters from Hitler and other Nazis.
A huge painting of Hitler on the wall.
The place is the hangout of the former Belgian (vlaamse) SS.
City center
The Groote Markt.
The Zoo is one of the oldest in the world, quite an attraction today.
Behind the Centraal Station you have the jewish quarter, the largest Diamond market in the world.
I regularely accompany my jeweller pal there to buy stones.
Usually, the sellers just pour out some bags with stones of different sizes and colors on the table and leave you to take your pick.
Iīve seen Diamonds worth about 10 Million poured on the table in front of me.
And the guy, an orthodox Jew (Mazikadasch), Tallit, Kippa, Peot and all, just walked out of the room, leaving us alone with all that wealth.
Trust is absolutely important with these people.
These days, they do have cameras as well, but up to the mid-nineties there was no such thing.
And usually, after business is done, we are invited for a snack and a chat.
One of the places where I feel practically at home.
Centraal Station
50 meters to the right of it starts the jewish Quarter.
The kosher restaurants are worth visiting. The best one is probably the Lamalo.
Some 130 jewish shops in the area.
The harbor is one of the largest in Europe, in total freight per day second only to Rotterdam.