Of Waffles, Chocolates and The Hand-throwing story

Train Station of Bruxelles

Before and after Netherlands, we stopped over at Belgium. My mind was filled with Belgian waffles and chocolates even before the trip has started. Haha. I have this soft-spot for desserts. And to make my craving worse, you can just smell scent of freshly baked waffles one you stepped out of the train. After doing some research, I found out there are two types of Belgian waffles, the Brussels waffle and the Liege waffles. Since I have soft spots for sweet stuff, I tried both! We got a Liege waffle from some street vendors and a Brussels waffle from this famous shop called Le Gâteau de Bruxelles. But personally, I do not really like the famous Brussels waffle. First because of the cut throat price (4.60 euros) and second, it was not as fragrant and warm as I thought.

Liege Waffles

The Brussel Waffle with cream and chocolate syrup

THE Belgian Waffle

For the day in Bruxelles, we just wander around the town, walking on cobbled-stone roads, awed by the magnificent architecture of the buildings in the town with boyfriend taking endless photos, walked around Grand Place and getting amazed by the seafood stalls around and getting cheated by this van Gogh imposter person, who asked for 2 euros per person from us. We didn't realized that it was a tourist trap after he "gladly" took pictures with us. Lucky us that we didn't brought out much coins with us. In the end, we still got cheated 1.50 euros :(

Bruxelles town

Amazing architecture on the wall of a cathedral

Magnificent cathedral

Grand Place-The north, south, east and west has building with different architecture

Another building in Grand Place

The famous Manneken Pis

Awesome seafood range

After Netherlands, we went over to another town in Belgium called Antwerpen, which we visited another friend of boyfriend's. He took us to this Turkish restaurant which I could still remember how juicy and tasty the food are. Generally, Turkish food and Kebabs are very common in Netherlands and Belgium. Some may taste just so-so but others are really very delicious.

Entrance of Antwerpen Train Station

Some Dorayaki look alike thing which you can stuff meat and salads in to

My first Turkish food. 

This place serves awesome Turkish food

Durum for Lunch

For fries lovers, Belgium is your heartland. People like this snack called Frites. The French Fries, fresh from the fryer French Fries will be bought and dipped into various sauces of your choice. Apart from normal ketchup and mayonnaise, you can have something like the Samurai sauce. Boyfriend's friend brought us to this shop with long history for fries and according to him, the shop will have long queues on peak season! One thing bad about the fries is you have to pay for any dippings that you want. And it's 0.60 euros for each dipping.

Frites from Fritkot Max

So, according to friend, Antwerpen's name came from this story. Long ago, a village was attacked by ogre and a hero came to fight it. He managed to break the ogre's arm and decided to throw the arm away. There's a statue in the Grand Place which shows the hero throwing a hand of and ogre, like this.

The Antwerpen symbol

How can we go home without Belgian chocolates. While the chocolates are a little bit pricey, but I guess it's worth all the money. The famous brands out there are like Leonidas and Godiva. But instead of this two, we tried a new brand called Chocalate line. The retail shop is situated in a building which was the royal's kitchen once. In the shop, they have statues, all made from chocolate. Like this! I was so afraid that I could not refrain myself from leaning forward to take a bite, hehe.

It's all made from chocolates!!!!

Once the royal kitchen now the Chocolate Line's retail shop

And, right before we headed back to London, we had another round of waffles, from Belgraufa, which is much much more yummy than the one I had in Bruxelles. After that, we also had ice-cream, in a cold day! Hahaha shiok! This ice cream beats any other creamery outlets in Singapore! And the shop in Antwerpen is the first outlet to open!

Belgraufa Waffles

Australia's hand made ice cream

Ladies, if you want diamonds, Antwerpen is a good place to get one. There's a street, filled with shops selling diamonds. I did not find out about the price though!

Buildings in Grand Place of Antwerpen-each has a gold statue on the tip

Gothic-designed church in Antwerpen

Don't you just love the architecture in European countries? If only I have more time and money to slowly walk, sit down somewhere, to really admire all of them and to understand their stories.