Frites, Beer and Canals - More of Belgium

Well its only been two days in Stuttgart but I'm already ready to get moving again and the first leg of this trip did not disappoint!


The journey between Stuttgart and Luxembourg is a combination of sweeping open plains which are used as wineries and make for amazing photo opportunities...

...and forest roads, which make for great...beer gardens? The coffee and strudel here was incredible!

Pushing further through the forest I eventually turned up in Luxembourg, a landlocked country between France, Germany and Belgium. Luxembourg City's history is deeply tied to its strategic position and was originally a Roman Fort built to guard the river crossing at its center.

But I cannot stay for too long as I have to get to Brussels! Arriving at sundown I immediately set about finding a suitable place for a drink. 


The Grand Place (Grote Markt) is the center square of Brussels and has it's origin as an open air market near the river Senne and along the trade route between Flanders & Rhineland. Eventually with the city's prosperity came the buildings!

Thankfully I managed to order a beer in German and although not the beer I was after; I wasnt going to complain.

I did however finally get the beer I was after! I'm not sure how rigorously their claims were tested however...

Next morning it was time to do the museum thing again; I was on my way to the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History when I got distracted in the carpark.

​Owing in part to this distraction I paid my 10 euro entry and WAS IN THE WRONG MUSEUM!

This is the national transport museum, which actually had some interesting things! Including amazing examples of why current cars all have four wheels.

Racing around the empty museum (it was a weekday) I found an old Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. This is how cars used to be delivered; the bodywork was done separately by a coachbuilder.

And because I've been told there are far too many pictures of cars...only one more. I absolutely love this design!

Working out my mistake I quickly found the building I was looking for, it was the one on the right.

Walking inside I decided to do the museum in backwards order and start with arguably the best bit. Aircraft Hall.

Beginning with the very first flying machines - these are from 1908 & 1912 respectively

A few years later these were tearing through the skies of Belgium and sadly were not available for purchase in the gift shop.

Neither were these sadly; however I doubt I could bring them as carry on either

Couldn't leave the room without a quick photo either!

Next room they had a left behind WW1 British Tank. The idea behind tanks came from the stalemate of trench warfare and the muddy conditions it was conducted in. Previously tractors had been used to move artillery and it was found that tracks were far better than wheels on this terrain.


The first tanks were essentially large tractors wrapped in iron with some small guns for good measure and named "Land Ships".  The shape is different to those today as it was designed to cross trenches and climb walls. 

They were named to disguise their purpose - supposedly they were meant to be water carrying vehicles; tankers. They were not particularly pleasant to operate however; like sitting in the engine compartment of your car without any exhaust vents.

In the next hall there was an enormous collection of historic artifacts from Belgium's time in the Congo (their only substantial colony).

Climbing all the way to the top of the building affords a great view of the city; and also their solution to congestion - the center of the road is a series of tunnels which underpass every intersection - essentially an underground freeway through the middle of the city.

Next day I'm on the train to Bruges which has a completely different feel to Brussels.

Bruges was a central trading location and a very prosperous city similar to Venice during the middle ages until the city, in an attempt to maintain its autonomy, revolted against its ruler from Austria. He in turn moved the bulk of trade to the nearby port of Antwerp and the city lost most of its wealth. 

This however did mean that the city remains largely unchanged since the 1500s as there was no investment or modernisation until tourists came in the 1900s.


There was of course three compulsory things to do in Bruges; one beer. Or at least a beer museum!

Even Australia got a mention!

Two; photo in the main square of the Belfry.

And three; frites. Apparently Belgians invented the French Fry; the name is taken from the language of the area in Belgium as opposed to the country France. Apparently this is also a contentious issue! Photography was however not my strong suit.

Returning to the train station we passed this; it sounds EXACTLY like a piano.

Goodbye from Belgium!