Vacation in Brussels, Belgium Belgium,

¶ … Vacation in Brussels, Belgium Belgium, approximately the size of the state of Maryland, is multicultural and multilingual and is regarded as the essence of European culture (Introduction pp). Belgium's capital, Brussels, is one of the world's great cosmopolitan cities and is home to the European Union and NATO (Introduction pp). Brussels is also a major center of international trade and finance, with a long history of commercial and cultural exchange (Introduction pp).

Both Dutch and French, as well as English, are spoken in Brussels, and the locals are courteous and cooperative (Introduction pp). The city has numerous museums, historical buildings, theatre, music and festivals, with architecture representing the past and present of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and Nouveau (Introduction pp). A round trip ticket from LAX to Brussels, plus fourteen nights at the Astrid Centre Hotel Brussels, which is located within a short walking distance from the Grand Place, is only $2,218, including all taxes, and buffet breakfasts (Travelocity pp).

The Delta flight leaves Los Angeles, LAX, at 9:35 AM on Saturday December 17, 2005 and arrives in Brussels Sunday morning December 18 at 8:30am, and departs Brussels National Airport on Saturday December 31 at 10:35 AM, arriving in Los Angeles, LAX, at 5:37 PM (Travelocity pp). The Astrid bus will transport guests to and from the hotel and airport (Travelocity pp). The hotel offers patio area, concierge, currency exchange, dry cleaning, free weekday newspapers, 24-hour desk service, high speed wireless Internet, pay-per-view movies, satellite TV, and hairdryers (Travelocity pp).

Meal plans are also available for dining at the hotel (Travelocity pp). The Grand-Place, called the Grote Markt or Market Square, is the main tourist attraction of the City of Brussels and is one of the most beautiful town squares in Europe, if not the world, and is within walking distance from the hotel (Travel pp). The square is filled with shopping and entertainment, and especially restaurants (Travel pp).

In fact, Brussels is one of the main restaurant cities in Europe, and it is best to consult the Michelin guide for restaurants for decisions concerning dining (Travel pp). After checking into the hotel Sunday morning and resting a while, a stroll to the Square will kick off the visit with shopping and lunch, then back to the hotel for dinner and bed.

On Monday, the 19th, it is breakfast at the hotel, then a tour of the King's House, then lunch and shopping, and again dinner at the hotel (Travel pp). After breakfast Tuesday morning, the day is spent touring the Guild Houses, Royal Park and the Royal Palace (Travel pp). A restaurant for dinner is selected having consulted the Michelin guidebook (Travel pp). Then back to the hotel to refresh and stroll to the Square for drinks (Travel pp).

After breakfast on Wednesday morning, most of the day is spent touring the Government buildings, then back to the hotel to relax and consult the guidebook for a dinner restaurant (Travel pp). Thursday is spent at the Heysel Exhibition Park and the Atomium, which is called the Eiffel Tower of Brussels (Travel pp). After the tour, then it is back to the hotel to refresh and again a low-key night on the Square.

After breakfast Friday, the day is spent at the Museum of Modern Art near Royal Square (Travel pp). A restaurant is chosen to dine for dinner before returning to the hotel.

Saturday, the 24th, is spent at the Sablon Square, where there are hundreds of antique shops and art galleries, as well as a weekend flea market which is at the Vossenplein/Place du Jeu de Balle in the adjacent Marolles area, and dozens of good restaurants and cafes, not to mention the Wittamer, which is the most exclusive pastry maker in Brussels (Travel pp). Sunday is spent sightseeing at the Trimphal Arc and the Cinquantenaire Park, where there are the Exposition Halls and the Bordiau Halls (Travel pp).

Then return to refresh and dine at the hotel. Monday is spent touring the Royal Residence and Greenhouses and then a low-key night on the Square (Travel pp). Tuesday is spent.