Life of a yummy baby ... and now there are 2!!!!!

Chocolates, beer and mussels - that seems to sum up Brussels pretty well for the happy tourist. Armed with 2 bicycles, a map, our baby and couple of empty panniers, we adventurous ones were heading to visit a lovely Spanish-half-Welsh couple and baby Aran whom we got to know in Wales over the summer. As much as a getaway, it was the perfect opportunity to work on our Christmas shopping. Our 'lovely' weekend was covered mostly in wind and rain, plus a couple of cycling hazards - nothing serious. Thanks to Ana & Dafydd, our exceptionally kind and hospitable hosts - we had a chill time indeed!

Starting from Malvern Link on a Thursday evening on the train at 5pm, we got into London Paddington by 8pm which was half an hour later than expected. We were put up by cousin David who chaperoned us around the city before arriving at his posh pad in Pimlico. As this will be Morgan's first proper cycle ride, he was very excited!


FRIDAY - From Eurostar to Brussels city

The Eurostar is a comfortable and affordable ride. We paid about £148 return for 2 persons (bicycles need extra fee of £40 return each) and had booked this at least 2 weeks in advance. It takes only 2 and a half hours from London to Brussels direct and is also a way of minimising one's carbon footprint. Once again, the French trains put British trains to shame with their cleaner seats and better service. Everything just looks well-kept and better maintained.

Once in Brussels, we went into a random cafe called Walvis by Rue de Flandre. While Lewis went to search for a cash machine, I was left to watch for our bikes by the window and to order cafe au lait for 2, in French. I then vaguely pointed to some Danish-looking pastry that a lady nearby was having. Having a flustered baby in arms perhaps warrant more sympathy than I expected. I was pleased that we eventually managed some smiles from the waitress despite my non-existent French!













In the evening, we had the luxurious company of our lovely hosts who took us around the city. In true European style, cobbled streets lay everywhere leading to quaint little shops and grand old buildings and churches.

Little alleyways lined with sweet shops selling Tintin chocolates, authentic cafes and cosy galleries ..... it all seemed so romantic until Morgan signalled us for a nappy change!













SATURDAY - Art museum and frivolous shopping

I picked to visit the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts (Royal Museums of Fine Arts) and managed to catch the Rubens exhibition. It's been such a long time since I've looked at any great master's work that my eyes could not stop feasting! There were lots more to see but we simply didn't have enough time to get around, oh nevermind.













More trivial shopping snapshots ....



Traditionally-baked stone-shaped biscuits and chocolates galore!








Display of the popular Manneken Pis cockscrews and the famous Tintin character endorsed on an expensive chocolate metal box.






SUNDAY - Cafe Horta

For lunch, we stopped at this fish-bar kind of place where I had yummy escargots soup for the first time. Lots of people were crowding around here to make their orders though its cold and there were no stools to sit on, the food must be good then I thought! Actually I think escargots taste quite like abalone. It has a rubbery feel to it.


Following on, we thought of taking a leisure ride to the Horta Museum.
I must say - cobbled streets don't make for easy cycling especially when there are tramlines too. After riding on many pavements and against the traffic of various one-way streets, we finally arrived at the art nouveau museum only to find it closed! Suddenly the weather looked like it was brewing a storm and we lounged in a nearby cafe all afternoon instead.


MONDAY - Home sweet home

Some last-minute shopping with baby Aran before we headed back to Blighty.

Despite what you see here, bikes and cycle-seats are despatched seperately from baby ....