In the morning I take The Boy out for as long as possible. Mainly because I cannot tolerate four and a half hours each morning playing with brightly-coloured toddler-toys. But also because the Parc de Woluwe is absolutely massive and we can explore at will. After this morning's fowl-feeding with the swans getting a little cheeky and pecking my elbow, we set off over the hill. In one swept glance I saw tufty red squirrels and bright green parakeets. While The Boy slept, I walked and walked round the lakes, and was just so happy. Passed the Tram Museum on the way back and, accompanying child or not, I am
definitely going there.
Early for babysitting tonight I sat in Parc Leopold, the hindquarters of the European Parliament just in sight, as more (or maybe the same) parakeets partied in the trees. I ate a huge bag of Lays crisps as they swooped like coked-up Disney cartoons. The air started looking milky and the pale lamps round the lake all came on together. By now my lips were burned by the salt but I kept eating.
Brussels is not an instantly seductive city. It's more like the mate you hang out with for a while before realising that you
really like them. I
really like Brussels.
It sounds like it's beginning to feel like home.
ReplyDeleteHello, I started reading your blog as you posted quite a bit on the Brussels expat board on Facebook. I agree with you about Brussels. I have been here for almost three years and I still can not get over how ugly the city seems and then boom you find a patch of beauty like the wide street by Montgomery, ambiorix, sablon etc. It is definitely a city that grows on you.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's an ugly city, but then I do love cities. The country is all wrong and full of space. It feels like completely the right choice to be here, and yet that choice was based on very little...
ReplyDeleteI love cities as well but I think Amserdam, Paris, Antwerp, London and other cities have a charm to it where you want to soak in everything. Brussels is different. But then again, I am from NYC and Brooklyn.... and will always be an urban girl
ReplyDeleteI only know Paris, London and Brussels of those cities. I think all cities have both an urban edge and the weight and beauty of history, and that's what I like. Brussels is very edgy in places, as is London, and in others it is elegant and beautiful.
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