Brussels Grand Place

A sweltering afternoon in Brussels today. Most people were indoors watching the World Cup, so the city was relatively quiet. Rain or shine, the cafes around the Grand Place or Grote Markt are never short of customers for their overpriced beers and ice creams. The ornate building is the Hotel de Ville, or city hall. I envied the African gentleman who looked very comfortable in his colourful cotton bubu.

When we lived in Brussels 20 years ago, we lived 5 minutes away from the Grand Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The thrill of living a stone's throw from one of the most beautiful squares in the world eventually paled when we realised that having a spacious apartment in the heart of Brussels turned us into the designated free hotel for an endless stream of friends who were trying to see Europe on the cheap. And - swish as a penthouse apartment in a listed building might sound to someone who doesn't live in one - it turned into a gigantic oven in the heat of summer. We would spend sleepless nights longing for a house outside the city, where we could have pets and enjoy barbecues in the garden.

We were very glad to get back to our little house in the country this evening, leaving the noise and heat of the city far behind.


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