Brussels Freeze-Seeing

Brussels, Belgium: I would like to say we were sight-seeing, but it was so bitter cold AGAIN today, we had to keep moving in order to not freeze solid. We had breakfast in the hotel dining room (included in room rate) and then bundled-up to walk the two blocks to the Manneken Pis.

We were lucky enough to find the little guy completely naked and uncostumed! The real deal.

Our next stop was just down the block from this bicycle installation - the Manneken Pis costume museum. Thousands of costumes to display, including a copy of the oldest get-up, donated to the MP museum by King Louis XV of France in 1747. (That’s really a long time ago, people!)

We were the only visitors in this museum, and Leo and Lucile were able to dress a replica statue:

There were so many costumes on display and they need to be rotated constantly due to the vast amount of gifts from Heads of State. The statue is dressed for national holidays in other countries (4th of July, Bastille Day, Canada Day, etc), and sometimes the costume is changed up to EIGHT times in one day!

After this fun (indoor/warm) activity, we once again braved the frigid temperatures (no rain all day!) to climb to the top of the hill above the Grand Place to see the Carillon Mont de Arts. This gilded clock chimes on the hour and on the quarter-hour and the figures “step out” on their appointed hour. No ticket necessary.

After this climb, we walked back towards the Grand Place and walked through one of the oldest “malls” in the world - three long galleries with domed glass ceilings. Unfortunately, the two entrances/exits to this gallery were not closed, so it was just an icy cave.

Lucile continued her chocolate quest - this time at my favorite shop, Mary. Lucile can’t make a decision to save her life, but she went right to work, pointing while charming the sales clerk. He was very impressed with her selections.

Leo and his grandfather wondered exactly how much guacamole could fit in the bowl and then wondered if it would fit in the dishwasher.

We had a light lunch (nothing special) and then I went back to the hotel while DT took the kids by the city museum to see the original Manneken Pis and the original Louis XV costume:

Later, being too afraid to bundle-up and freeze again, we had dinner in the hotel bar. Great sliders and fries that were more than plenty after our late French lunch. We are dining in the hotel dining room tomorrow evening as we have another BIG (FROZEN) adventure tomorrow. Stay tuned, and wear your gloves.

PEDOMETER: Only 8000 steps again… but everyone of them was painful.

Until my next update, I remain, your warming-up correspondent.

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