Almost caught up.. since plane prices are fairly high around Christmas and New Years, I opted to stay in Europe and delay a holiday visit to the States, taking a road trip to Belgium instead. Here's the German city of Koeln (Cologne)..
.. and its bridge covered in love locks. I'd like to see the engineering plans that accounted for the added weight of about a billion padlocks.
Then onto Bruges, Belgium, with their famous frites...
.. and some lovely scenery and buildings. Bruges went through hard economic times several centuries ago and was never really updated architecture-wise. Finally in the 20th century, they realized they could capitalize on the medieval appearance of the city and become an attractive tourist hub, so now most of the buildings in the city are protected, such that you can't change the exterior, and with certain buildings you can't even change the interior's appearance!
The main square..
.. and iconic clock tower and canals. They don't call it the Venice of the North for nothing! (Actually, I think there are several cities that share that nickname, but whatever. Still aptly nicknamed.)
Then NYE in Brussels, with its own main square/Grand Place/Grote Markt..
.. with a church you can pee on the side of, if you happen to use urinals...
Plus some creepy steampunk carousels for kids..
.. the Atomium..
.. Monument of the Dynasty in Laeken Park..
.. a piece of the Berlin wall in the European parliament headquarters..
.. and lots of Belgian beers, chocolate, the iconic Manneken-Pis (peeing boy) statue, and curious mix of French and Flemish language. (Not to mention the terrifying firecrackers being set off by teenagers on the streets and sidewalks all night every night.)
