Brussels, Belgium

We took the train across the channel to see Brussels and visit with my Dad and Marion who had just arrived for the start of a short vacation. Taking the train is so much better than flying. Too bad it's more expensive.

I have to admit that Belgian beer has some fantastic variety and occupies a special place in my heart. The fries, however, that Belgium is supposed to be so famous for, we sampled many times, both in restaurants and from street vendors, and were only ever mediocre. This version of mid thickness, squared off edges, crispy outside, soft potato inside, is very common in the U.S. and U.K. and is almost always better.

Be sure to stay off the grass in these highly manicured parks or someone on the far end will blow a whistle at you. Illegally captured picture above. I endured the distant toots just long enough.

The crappy fries had me thinking that these things that tourist cities claim to be famous for are completely arbitrary and only exist for tourist marketing purposes -- magnets, mugs, etc. Then I reluctantly ate this. And it was very good. Not at all the breakfast waffle that I expected. They sell these out of vans all over the city and offer toppings that are unnecessary. For me, it falls into the category of doughnut. 

We took a tour of this chocolate store where they show you how it's made. This guy was making truffles and the chocolate needed to be aerated on a marble slab until it was the correct temperature for forming. He would test it by putting a little dab on his pinky and touching it to his lip.