How to travel the world with almost no money | Tomislav Perko | TEDxTUHH
At the heart of Europe, Brussels is glamorous, hip and full of energy all over the world, making it an ideal city with teenagers.
Fully aware that Brussels, Belgium is the capital of the European Union, my teenage son and I planned a long weekend there with great enthusiasm We hoped to learn more about world politics of what we read in the beloved series of Belgian comic strip, Tintin My son thought Colin Farrell and meet a cast of inept assassins visit to Bruges, I dreamed of the summer sales on designer clothes We anticipated explore once sophisticated city filled good restaurants, contemporary art galleries, and men in suits.
To our surprise, we got all that and more, we found a rich melting pot of cultures and contrasts with immigrants and visitors well beyond the borders of the EU shawls, sarees, miniskirts and, yes costumes, online Brussels medieval alleys narrow cobbled crowd platforms efficient subway system Tintin and his dog Snowy detective were there, as well as graphic novels X-rated, museums, and the largest number of Michelin-starred restaurants Europe.
The small Belgium is divided into states Flanders you, where one speaks Flemish or Dutch; Wallonia, where French is spoken, and a small Luxembourg region where German is spoken in bilingual Brussels also wrote the French predominates, but most people speak French and German in addition to English, which makes visitors feel very welcome multilingual harmony heard in the streets also contributes to the exotic air of the city.
Are many and varied attractions of the city, so we decided to visit on the bus Brussels Hop On Hop Off was the best way to get our bearings Journey offers a good view of the new and the old, with helmet guide available in eight languages once you circled the spread once road, and admired the highlights of modern architecture of the governmental center of the European Union instead of Luxembourg Luxemburgplein you can choose to get off at different stops.
Families who want to dig deeper into Belgian culture will benefit from many of the city walking tours While most are given in French or Flemish, English-language walking tours are given regularly by Brussels Walks 32 0493 50 40 60 routes and prices vary for tours of the history of beer, Art Nouveau architecture of the city, the secrets of master chocolatiers and other topics.
The group Vizit 32 0 9234 17 28 organizing their own culinary tours and tastings in the main restaurants, and this can be a great pleasure for budding young gastronomes But for us, Mom jetlag and adolescence, the first step was a walk in the medieval architectural highlights of the town square, the center of the city.
Famous Grand Place as the Grote Markt in Dutch is an incredibly large square lined with restored buildings that have earned the status of World Heritage Site by UNESCO evenings in summer, bring a blanket and join dozens of other travelers picnic on hard pavement, ease their discomfort by the pastel light of these magnificent Gothic monuments for free and son LUMIA re nightly entertainment provided by the Tourist office of Christian churches and parliamentary buildings returned to shore side with the guilds of medieval times who represented various trades of the town house home of the Brewers in the very important local beer industry, this guest day industry meetings and has a small museum the e MUSA beer in the city of Brussels has an impressive collection of royal and historical costumes that were worn during events in the city important and are now located upstairs.
The King of Spain is one of the traditional cafes to toast around a winter beer, or watch people on the square in summer Keep in mind that the age of consumption in Belgium is 16 years, a real teen pleaser all year, the narrow, cobbled streets that radiate from main square suddenly to life outdoor cafes overflowing with students, families and couples - either in the dining room or out fresh breeze heat beer pubs.
The Grand Place is the heart of a medieval town surprisingly large and dense, with large, cobblestones are certainly not the unequal friendly stroller parents should prepare portage toddlers on any visit.
Once you are in the old city maze, there is an inexorable pull to the answer to the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen Manneken Pis Belgium Nobody knows why the wall fountain surmounted by a naked boy urinating bronze was built, although some theorize that it was a gift from the Guild of tanners citizens whose urine was collected by tanners apprentices of the city to soften the leather in any case, he is loved by the locals, who actually dress the boy in different colors and costumes to celebrate national holidays This small fountain, surrounded by chocolate shops and security cameras, is located at the corner of the street at the oven at signalized also Stoofstraat and street Eikstraat of Oak, a few minutes walk from the main square a bronze crouching girl on a bowl says a recent women's version of it, is nestled in an alcove of the street Butchers.
During his visit Manneken Pis, take a few minutes to stop by La Fleur Dore Golden Paper Paper Flower Street Alexiens 53, a once frequented by the Belgian artist René Magritte coffee and his surrealist friends and even the stage for poetry readings and guest artists children will enjoy the windows, otherwise the Japanese price Kabuki 32 0 2218 86 96, located Kiekenmarkt 32 from view from the street, a toy train runs on tracks around the sushi bar, transport fresh fish orders on its freight cars.
A remarkable event takes place every year in June, when Ommegang commemorates the first visit of Charles Quint, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, to his new empire in 1549. The spectacular consists of 3,000 extras fully costumed depicting citizens of different states that Charles had conquered all parading in its favor for the last 450 years, with some exceptions, citizens of all walks of life assembled historically accurate and rehearsed routines costume with musicians, horses, torches, dogs and Check dancers in the main square at the tourist office to get tickets to the bleachers for young people with restless children will do the pageant-long family three hours as well look for a while behind the scenes of parade route.
This is only one of many events that take place in the Search for city visits Friday Night Rollerblade, concerts of the Brussels Summer Festival artistic program, parades, the National Day of outdoor clubs and cine movies; check the Tourism Information Brussels for the event calendar.
Opened in 2009, the Magritte 32 0 2508 32 11 occupies the historic Hotel Altenloh at 3 rue gence of the Book - 1000 Brussels, on the Place Royale Koningsplein The colonnaded white building houses the masterpieces of Rene Magritte 1898 -1967 assembled from the collection of the royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the museum features more than 250 watercolors, paintings, photographs, sculptures, drawings, films, objects and even advertisements in old style exhibition space of five storey children of all cultures seem to relate to Magritte's realistic images posed in fantasy circles children under 18 EXEMPTION with an adult, and 18-25 students only pay 2 euros entrance closed Monday air museum CAFA open until 17 hours; popular brasserie open until 10: 30 pm Guided tours in English, French, Dutch, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese.
Of course, there are fun things for children and teenagers who just want to be children when the euro Culture gets to be too Hop a train and head to Bruparck near the Convention Center Océade Aqua Park Bruparck, 1020 Brussels; 02 478 49 44 is a contemporary indoor-outdoor waterpark, the year that serves the landlocked country It has tiny and larger water slides and a wave pool, but it is very tame compared to US standards, however, in the summer months can be hot, it can be a lifesaver.
Almost next door is Mini-Europe Bruparck B-1020 Brussels; 32 0 2 474 13 13, a kind of Legoland where all EU countries have contributed a model of a famous building is the perfect scale for school-age children, and fun to walk around the small museum on site is both interesting are in the shadow of the arachnid money Atomium Atomium Square, 1020 Brussels; 32 0 2 475 47 72 This sparkling collection of Christmas balls was designed in honor of the 1958 World Expo is a huge replica of an iron molecule, it is one of the most unusual buildings city.
These attractions are part of the must of the Brussels Program, which provides admission to Mini-Europe, the Atomium and Océade using vouchers at no additional cost We tried all three in the output of a long day, but the most families would spread out There is a casual cafeteria at each output; most are closed on Monday.
The Comic Strip Center Zandstraat 20, 1000 Brussels 32 0 2 219 19 80 is one of the city highlights While audio books cartoon as an ideal distraction for most children, this museum takes them very seriously, highlighting the work of many beautiful Belgium exhibitions artists could include Manga and other pop images of the world, but the attraction here are the stories of Tintin and the Smurfs, both the product of minds Belgian most families choose to avoid the gallery on the top floor, which we visit had a collection of comics oriented adults who have been a revelation for adolescents, and a real issue generator for young children shop expensive gifts has a large collection of books and coffee, Brasserie Horta serves surprisingly good food in a pleasant lunch setting.
Our 2009 visit was within the year of the comic celebration, and emphasis on innovative cartoon introduced us to not only Herge, author and illustrator of the famous series of Tintin countries; but Peyo, the inventor of the Smurfs; Willy Wandersteen; and many other Don miss the hiking trail that passes 32 decorated walls larger murals that street life made by 31 different artists; 10 other murals were commissioned to open throughout 2009, you can start to South Station, where the Thalys train stops with a print Tintin in America Herge, Tintin see the sign on the ade Faa the publisher Dargaud-Lomard street, then go directly to the Tintin street of Incubator near Manneken Pis, or just follow the tourist office plan that draws a neat walking tour the group PROVELO also bike tours following the road and the bike woudl be great fun for teens.
Herge, the creator of Tintin, now has its own museum in the Labrador street 26, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve 32 0 10,488,421, a picturesque small town outside Brussels Open Herge Museum in time to honor 80th anniversary of Tintin, the beloved journalist, the first cartoon was published on January 10, 1929 after the Tintin films to be directed by Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, hit theaters, it will become even more a major destination in addition to its vast collection of Herge drawings, the modern museum, prismatic designed by award winning architect Christian de Portzamparc is an attraction trains and buses offer easy access to the capital, with trains running several times a day for 50-65 minutes travel plan a day trip to see the museum and walk around the city.
Fashion shopping is a treat in the heart of Europe, and weeks from June to July and January are dedicated to the sale Rue Neuve, near the Grand Place is the main street where teens can watch their budget to find Springfield popular and well priced shops and HM Centrum is located near a paved road lined with busy shops at lower prices; Place du Grand Sablon is the place of antique shops and a fun market on Saturday morning and Sunday.
For trendy fashion, walk along Rue Antoine Dansaert or visit the stylesheet before heading As you can imagine, the latest changes often Galeries Louise is the classic New art covered shopping arcade lined with elegant shops , the original branch of the famous Neuhaus Chocolatier whose architecture spawned imitators across Europe from London to Milan from Avenue Louise name of the eldest daughter of Leopold II at the Avenue of the Toisin and boulevard of Waterloo, there is another section of high fashion designers of Europe.
For gifts, among the city is best buys of chocolate pralines or chocolate with a filling of any type were invented in the outpost of Brussels Neuhaus, a store that can be visited today confuse Don does a Guylian praline in Brussels with a bought in Los Angeles or New York, because the import regulations require the addition of preservatives, and purists despise chocolate conservative price can vary from 50 Côte d or Monobloc great for carry daily treatment with a box of chocolates 100 designer Pierre Marcolini Marcolini s artisanal line of confectionery products is infused with aromas such as African coffee, cardamom, India vanilla beans, mango jam the Brazil because, as he says, I became obsessed with fulfilling my duty to the cocoa bean, which has given me so well that pretty much sums up the impression of a gift his shop will do.
Beer and colored glasses that go with each brand are as good gift items There are several supermarkets in Brussels, but 5 minutes from the Grand Place near Brucker stop subway is a large Carrefour supermarket, where great chocolates, gifts of beer and decorative biscuit tins are a fraction of the price they are elsewhere.
American Airlines makes it easy and affordable to whisk the family of the east coast of America in the center of Europe They took the road of Sabena, the former Belgian national airline, and provide extensive round year of service if you Ever wonder why there are so many businessmen Hasidic top hat traveling with family, it's probably because they go to Antwerp diamond trade and enjoy a family holiday in the countryside Belgian flight attendant explained that many will continue to Israel after Antwerp, having bought their new polished stones and show their children the Holy Land.
Brussels reasonable prices, good food and shopping, coupled with a mild climate compared to many other European cities, and easy access via the Thalys high-speed train from Paris less than 2 hours Eurostar from London about May 2 pm, or 99Euro rates on Brussels Airlines, are also a popular weekend getaway for Europeans book hotels early in the weekend, so plan ahead.
Of course we ate fantastic food and loved our friendly hotel, Novotel a few blocks from the old town, you can read more in another story about family Brussels hotels and restaurants Because some of Brussels top restaurants Michelin starred located in the old city s knotty web channels, we were sure to ask the concierge to write the names Expect french and German a variety of cuisines; Mussels and fries of course, but we found as falafel and gyro places, French bistros, restaurants and Thai British pubs in a variety of prices.
For more tourist information in the city, visit the Tourist Information Brussels ILO at the Brussels Town Hall, Grand-Place, 1000 Brussels 32 0 2 513 89 40, open daily They sell higher value Brussels Card a card that gives you discounts to 30 attractions on a 24-, 48- or 72 hours, starting from 20 euros the most useful for families, it allows the whole family to travel throughout the free transportation, and rise 25 down to museums, restaurants and shops Must Brussels Card is 18 euros offer superior value with 10 coupons that can be used to attractions.
For more travel information for Belgium, stop the Tourist Office of Flanders Street Marché aux Herbes 61, 1000 Brussels 32 0 2504 March 00 In the United States, contact the Office of Tourism or the Belgian Regional Office for the schoolchildren Flanders want to prepare their trip by visiting the youth information website tourist office, while older siblings should check the use-Pin given by the tourist office for free plot unconventional stops.
Note that this story was accurate when it was published Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question and stay up to date with current events to ensure safe travel and successful .
Being young in Brussels Belgium My Family Travel, young, Brussels, Belgium.