Saturday 27th August - Sunrise 6:49am – Sunset 8:38pm
Weather Forecast: 32c and humid
Steps: 21,522 14.85 kl
I had a reasonable nights sleep last night but woke a bit
earlier than I normally would. After trying to go back to sleep, I decided to
just get up. Caught up on the laundry and sorted the suitcase.
 |
| Room 312 |
Brussels
is Belgium’s capital and home to the headquarters of the European Union. The
ornate Grand
Place at the heart of the city has shops and cafes inside
17th-century guild houses and the intricate Gothic Hôtel de Ville (town hall)
with its distinctive bell tower. The 19th-century Maison du Roi houses the
Musée de la Ville de Bruxelles history museum, including costumes for the
city’s Manneken-Pis statue.
I had arranged to meet Cyndy at 9am and we headed out walking.
We only managed to visit a few of the places that I had on my walking
itinerary, as the map was a little deceptive.
 |
| Palais de Justice under scaffold |
The
Palace of Justice is the Supreme Court of Law for Belgium. Commissioned by King
Leopold II it was built between 1866 and 1883 by architect Joseph Poelaert in a
neo-classical/eclectic design. The main
controversy of the Palais de Justice was the fact that 3,000 homes in the
Marolles-Sablon area had to be demolished to make way for it. The people of the
area were so furious. In return they defiled the building on the day it was
open to the public and the word ‘architect’ has become a derogatory term;
‘schieven architek’ (twisted architect).
 |
| Place du Petit Sablon |
The
Petit Sablon Square is surrounded by Gothic columns with little bronze statues
on top.
They represent the ancient professions. 48 professions are illustrated
in this way. Four statues are crowned: the masons, the
stone-cutters, the sculptors and the slate-quarry workers. On a small height, a
monument and 10 big statues can be found. The monument, of Flemish
neo-renaissance style, was realized by Fraikin in 1864. It represents the
counts of Egmont and Hornes who were executed on the scaffold on 5 June 1568
because of their resistance to the Spanish tyranny. The monument had been set
up on the Grand-Place at first, in front of the Maison
du Roi, the place of the execution. It was transferred to the Petit Sablon in
1879.
Church
of our Blessed Lady of the Salon.
Place
du Grand Sablon. There was an art market being held there, so no photos.
 |
| Madame Chapeau, who wasn't on my list |
 |
| Manneken Pis |
The
Town Hall.
The
Grand Place.
We
were back at the hotel around 2pm. Very hot & humid, so another shower and
change of clothes, before meeting the rest of the group at 4:30. We all then boarded the bus and headed to The
Grand Place. After Sharon spoke for a while, we had free time before meeting
again for our welcome dinner at one of the restaurants on the square. Far too
much food. Drank 1 beer and lots of water. The temp peeked at 30c today. Very
hot for this part of Europe. Only 20 people on the tour, so won’t be long
before we all get to know each other.
We
were back at the hotel shortly after 8:30pm.
Heading
out again at 8:45am tomorrow.
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