August 3, 2015 - Brussels, Belgium - Belgium Private Tour

This morning Francis met us at the apartment and we went by bus into town.  We walked into Central Station just to see what it looked like.  This is the station for local trains.

We walked past the Tour d'Angle (the Corner Tower)  which is a section of the 13th century medieval city wall.

 They have a mark in the sidewalk that shows where the rest of the wall was.

 I think someone had a little too much beer and decided to fall on his face in the grass.

 We headed to the Sablon neighborhood to see the antique shops which to our (but not Fred's) dismay many were closed since it was Monday.

 This place reminded me of a place that my friend Karen introduced us to in downtown Fresno.

 Oh if only I was home, or had any more room in my suitcase, I would have been in trouble here.  It was still fun looking.

 We walked to the lift that took us up to the Palace of Justice (Palais de Justice)

 Can you believe we haven't even entered the building yet?

 After going through security we were able to go inside.

 It was built by King Leopold II and still serves as a Hall of Justice.  

 To say it is grand is an understatement.  They are currently making renovations on the building that you can tell it needs.

There are big tables all around the room where lawyers could meet with their clients before going into the courtroom.

 I assume this is one of the courtrooms.  Lawyers are the ones in black robes here.  Judges wear read ones.

 The statue is a little dusty from a ceiling cave in.

 Back outside we had some fun with the statues.

 We headed back to the elevator to go back down to the lower level of the city.

 We stopped to check out another part of the medieval wall.

 I just thought this was a fun window dressing.

The grandeur of the Grand Place does not fade even though I keep walking through it I keep taking pictures because it still amazes me.

 Well we walked back to the fish restaurant and guess what...yep they were still closed.  Well I guess it is a Doner for lunch.

But a quick side step before Francis left us to head home.  He took Roger and I to see the Maison du Spectacle house of performing arts.

Fred headed back to the apartment after lunch while Elaine, Roger and I got some chocolate at Leonidas which of course we had to eat quickly so it would not melt. Then we did some shopping before heading back to the apartment ourselves.

August 2, 2015 - Brussels, Belgium - Royal Palace of Belgium

 Today we ventured out on our own and went to the Royal Palace of Belgium.

 It opens to the public for from July 22 to September 6 every year and it is free to visit.

 The grand staircase

 They have multiple story boards of what the royal family was up to throughout the year.

 Now this room had the WOW factor.

 This was the first room that had the exhibits in it.

 Yuck!!!!

 I believe the art work was done by the royal family members over the years. 

This 'Heaven of Delight' was created in 2002 by Jan Fabre with 1.4 million Thai jewel beetle wing cases.

 This room had fun things for the kids to do.

As I was walking out of the room I had turned around and saw these beautiful carved wood doors.

I have to say of the royal ancestor families that we have seen pictures of all over Europe these are the better looking ones.

 I could sit here and have a cup of tea.

 Fred and Elaine found somewhere they could sit and wait for us outside since they finished before us.

 So we headed to the lower part of town for lunch.

Only to find that the fish restaurant that they wanted to go to was closed.  So we had chicken instead at Hector Chicken.

As we headed home on the bus I thought that this building was a little out of its element.

At 5:00 Francis came and picked us up and took us back to his house for a private beer tasting.  We also got to meet his dog Prince William.

Fred put Francis's hat from his Ommegang costume.  I guess that means it is time to go home.