The capital of Europe – Brussels, Belgium

Two words: business and beer. This northern European city is known as the capital of Europe, as it houses the EU Parliament. When I flew into Brussels, the aerial view of the homes looked much like Toronto's west end homes, however when exploring the city, it reminded me of Washington or Ottawa. While the city is the centre for many businesses and has a corporate feel to it, there is also an old historic charm to it and vibrant night life which includes lots of beer.

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Atonium – just north of the city centre is a large atom-shaped structure/building. It was built in 1958 for the Brussels World Fair, and features a couple exhibits, meeting + event spaces, a restaurant and 360 degree panoramic views of Brussels. One of the exhibits is entitled “View from my window” and highlights people’s lives during the spring of 2020 as the world paused. There are thousands of photos and videos depicting what people saw out of their window during this time. It was interesting to hear people’s stories and learn about how different parts of the world lived through the pandemic. Another exhibit focused on light and sound, featuring various colours, sound frequencies and music.

Palace of Justice – the law courts of Brussels are home to a few of the country's different courts, including the supreme court of Belgium. The front of the building is currently under construction, but I walked around the exterior to see the other side and also explored the interior.

On the way to the Palace of Justice – While walking south, towards the Palace of Justice I stopped by a few city landmarks. Place of Martyrs, neoclassical square where martyrs of the 1830 Belgian revolution rest in peace. Theatre Royal de la Monnaie, the federal opera house. St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral, built in the 13th century. Mont des Arts Garden, a luscious garden surrounded by historic buildings, originally connecting the lower working class with the upper aristocrats. Musée BELvue, I spotted the Ukrainian flag on it from a block away and was intrigued to find out what building it was. Royal Palace of Brussels, around the corner from the museum and is home to the Belgian monarchy.

Coffee Lacrosse – near the Palace of Justice, I stopped in for lunch and enjoyed a delicious Belgian waffle. This café was opened up by two brothers and is a great spot to get some work done or hang out with friends.

Le Conteur – a middle eastern restaurant in the heart of Brussels. The atmosphere was lively, the staff were very friendly, and the food was exquisite. *Labneh - topped with zatar

*Yellowtail carpaccio - with Sumac, smoked labneh, pickled beetroot, walnut + basil oil

*Feast of flowers - roasted cauliflower + romanesco with middle eastern spices, tahini and a poached egg

*Crème Brûlée Tmarim - date custard with middle eastern spices, tahini biscuit + sweet yogurt

*Indigroni V2 drink - Marula' pomegranate gin, St-Germain's elderflower liquor + lemon juice

Grand Place – located in the old town, this square includes the city hall, guild houses, and the Maison du Roi. The square is now the venue for various cultural events and concerts.

Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries – an outdoor shopping area with shops and restaurants, enclosed at the top. A great coffee shop in the gallery is Aksum Coffee House, I stopped in to enjoy a couple of their treats.

Manneken Pis – this famous monument gathers visitors all year round. I passed by this small man, who is peeing multiple times, spotted him in a royal military costume one day and found a mural with him on it a block away.

Historic buildings - I enjoyed walking around the historic cobblestone streets and admiring the architecture. It was also wonderful to see so much colour, either through hanging plants, painted bricks or décor.

Museum of Belgian Brewers – in the basement of a building in the Grand Place, sits a brewer's house, promoting the culture and history of beer. I walked around the small museum, learned a bit about the process and history of beer making and then enjoyed one of their light brews.

Corné Dynastie – this 5 generation, family-owned chocolate shop in the old town, has the best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted. They served steamed milk with chocolate on the side, which you then dropped into the milk and whisked until combined. The hot chocolate was paired with a praline of your choice. I picked a milk chocolate with orange, so tasty!

Place Sainte-Catherine – this square is lined with restaurants and cafés, while at the top of the square sits the Église Sainte-Catherine de Bruxelles, a Catholic church.

Street Art – it was obvious that art has a big influence on this corporate city. I found various murals within the city walls.

European Union Parliament – the assembly place for all European countries and currently the place for very important conversations as Ukraine awaits membership in the EU. I didn’t visit the interior but walked around the exterior and found a large sign in support of Ukraine.

#StandWithUkraine – Everywhere I turned I saw a Ukrainian flag; whether at the airport, on a museum, royal palace, city building or a home, blue and yellow was present. I also found various stickers throughout the city while exploring the streets.

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I'll have to come back and try some more local beer, perhaps when it isn't snowing and it's a bit warmer. Until then, I'm off to the Netherlands!