Brussels, Belgium
August 22

Brussels is the Grand Place - the most beautiful square anywhere; Lace - here in Brugge, lace is an ancient art; and of course the Manneken Pis. We've got it all for you - sort of.

First the Grand Place. Well named. When Steve Perlman took Bob there in 1999 it was a jaw dropping experience. Bob remembers exclaiming over and over "We're in freaking Europe". That was a drizzly night with the place all lit up - no doubt at it's best. When we arrived, semi-trucks, cranes, and work crews were dismantling a huge stage from the previous night's concert. Too bad, but still a spectacular place. Enjoy.

Lace. Visits to a couple of lace shops satisfied Terry's lust for a while.

And of course the Manneken Pis. Does every Belgian city have a strange statue? Maybe so. It's really quite small, behind a fence. They obviously don't want tourists to rub bright spots in the bronze.

For a block in any direction you can buy Mannneken Pis souvenirs.

Beer. - The Manneken Pis Taverne.

Confections.

Bottle openers, thermometers.

Thimbles.

Beeer steins, handkerchiefs.

Corkscrews. Sorry about this picture. Really, really sorry.

Etc.

Did you know there's also been a Janneken Pis since 1988. It's not on any map.
Down a dead-end street. Behind a locked grate.
At the bottom of a filing cabinet with a sign saying "Beware of the leopard".
And it has 10 visitors a day instead of 10,000.

Then it was off to the Cantillon Brewery. That's over in the Belgium Beer page.