It had been a long time since I last visited Brussels. It’s not, by any stretch, the most beautiful city I’ve ever been to. But there is something about it that draws you in. Suited diplomats chatting on terraces while sipping a cold Leffe. Those aromas drifting through cobbled streets and that mix of cultures that seem somehow destined to coexist in perfect harmony.
Many say Brussels is gloomy, ugly, damp, rainy… And yes, there’s some truth to that. But getting lost in its narrow streets, surrounded by grey brick houses —some dirty, few brightly lit— has its own charm and, why not admit it, preserves the soul and essence of old Brussels.
Because between those grey walls, sometimes a little worn, you suddenly find old bookshops, crêperies, chocolate shops, cheese boutiques and cosy cafés —some traditional, others surprisingly modern. And also the spectacular French pastry shop Aux Merveilleux de Fred, whose enormous crystal chandelier catches your eye from every angle. There is always a queue there to get one of their exquisite meringue pastries. I try to wrestle with them as they threaten to spill over the corners of my mouth with just one bite.
It is the whole ensemble that captivates you. The rhythm of life. The smells. The languages crossing paths —French and Flemish—. That atmosphere where immigrants and diplomats seem, curiously, to dance to the same rhythm.
The smell of “frites” served in a paper cone is something I love. The aroma of a freshly made waffle, rich with butter, is simply irresistible.
And while wandering through the most unkempt corners, I can’t help imagining Tintin and his faithful Snowy turning a corner, chasing some hunched and foul-smelling thief. The heroic Tintin, created by Hergé, who has given us so many wonderful moments and will always remain one of the most beloved and popular comic characters in Belgian history.
Brussels doesn’t need to be perfect. You just have to look at it with different eyes. Sit for a while, observe it, feel it. Because old, dynamic and cosmopolitan Brussels has so much to offer.
¿Te animas a visitar la ciudad ardiente?