View from our Brussels hotel room |
Simon prefers the swanky lobby |
Belgium has lots of good chocoloate |
An evening stroll |
Simon with street mural |
Matt with the famous irreverent statue |
Old city wall |
Every storefront on this street sells chocolate |
Dinner at a brasserie |
National delicacy: mussels |
Simon has an omelette |
The pickle is more sour than expected |
The main square |
Ornate carvings |
This guy is holding an elephant tusk |
Street scene |
My eye is inexplicably drawn to the "bowling" sign |
Sunset on our first day |
Second day: train to the Tintin museum |
Simon is excited |
Running down to the entrance |
Simon is sad he can't read French |
But excited to be here |
In elevator with (English) audio guide |
Main atrium of the museum |
Simon with Tintin and Snowy |
Selfie with Tintin |
Sampling Belgian beers |
Matt's favorite appetizer ever |
He would like three more of these, please |
Back in Brussels, at the European parliament |
We all like this statue |
Lady Europe with flags |
European parliament building |
Algae-covered pond, with ducks |
At the main square |
Another train ride, to Bruges |
Biggest bike rack I've ever seen, as viewed from the Ghent train station |
Central Bruges |
At the Henri Maes brewery |
"We went to the Tintin museum, so now you're touring this brewery with us, kid." |
Fermentation vats |
Dried hops |
On top of the brewery |
Downstairs in the restaurant |
Maria likes Belgium |
Simon is not OK with arugula on his euro-pizza |
Land of many languages |
In the Bruges bell tower |
We climbed 300+ steps to get this view |
The descent |
Why don't we have bikes like this in America?? |
Simon on rental bike |
Exploring the roads outside of Bruges |
Simon alongside the main canal |
He likes riding a bike with gears |
Happy boy |
Off the main road |
A country home |
Nice views from the bike path |
Maria in the lead |
Simon races ahead |
Pit stop at a windmill |
A mere 2km from the Netherlands border |
Simon exhausted after a big day |
So exhausted he fell over while asleep in his seat |
Back in Brussels, the comic-book museum has a Tintin section! |
Even Snowy has a space suit |
Simon with Professor Calculus's moon rocket |
Simon as Sir Francis Haddock |
Three Simons = three times the fun |
Simon on Thorgal's boat |
Simon in Smurf house |
Simon with an unidentified Smurf |
Lane guys with Tintin bust |
Too bad Simon doesn't read French. |
Amazing tapestry in the metro station |
View from Bruxelles-Midi station |
On the train back to London |