Brussels: first impressions and coffee contemplations
I'm sitting at a corner café in Brussels, watching the city unfold around me on this surprisingly sunny Sunday. It's just past noon, and I've already been exploring for a some hours, trying to get my bearings in this new city.
The temperature is surprisingly warm for September—around 23°C now and expected to reach 29°C later today according to the hotel receptionist. I'm glad I packed my light shirts for this trip!
I've noticed quite a few gallery signs around the city and just learned from a poster that it's the final day of Brussels Gallery Weekend. I might check out a few exhibitions this afternoon, though I'm not sure how many will be open on Sunday.
One thing that's immediately apparent is the bilingual nature of Brussels. Signs are in both French and Dutch, and I've heard both languages spoken around me. My rudimentary French from school is coming in handy, though most people switch to English as soon as they hear my accent.
The coffee here is different from Amsterdam—stronger and served in smaller cups. The waiter looked slightly amused when I asked for a refill, but obliged with a smile. I've been sitting here for almost 45 minutes now, watching people pass by, families dressed in their Sunday best, tourists consulting maps, locals walking dogs.
I haven't made any concrete plans for the afternoon yet. I'm considering visiting the Musical Instruments Museum I spotted earlier, or perhaps finding one of the galleries participating in the Gallery Weekend. The weather is so pleasant that I might just continue wandering and see where the city takes me.
One small technical victory: the hotel wifi is surprisingly fast and stable, which made backing up yesterday's photos much quicker than expected. 237 photos from Amsterdam—I'll need to sort through those properly once I settle somewhere for a few days.
For now, I'll finish my coffee, pay the bill, and continue exploring. Brussels feels like a city of contrasts—historic and modern, French and Flemish, bureaucratic and artistic. I'm curious to discover more of its character over the next few days.
Days on the road: 12 Days remaining: 488