Paris didn't connect with me on this trip. Too much dog shit, frantic shoppers, bears who ignored me at the bar, and rude annoying Paris street kids.
But Brussels? I have a new favorite European city. Wow... on the first night there, I was entranced by a huge Christmas market that ran down the hill from our hotel like it was a ski run. The city was great, and the people really friendly. What can you say about a place known for beer, french fries, comic strips, and chocolate? It's french without being pretentious.
Here are some things I saw. But I hope to go back there soon and see more. Bruge, Ghent, Antwerp, and go up to Amsterdam. Maybe I'll stop learning French... I could never speak it well anyway. I'll switch to German and make my way east across Europe.
Here is my first ever attempt at a flikr set for the trip... because all the cool kids are doing it.
I didn't to any museums in Paris (except one), and stayed in cheaper hotels on the north side since the dollar sucks right now against the Euro. So, it was a rougher part of town, and that probably colored my experience. But I got to visit the excellent flea market, and saw a bunch of new places in the city that I had never seen (Defense, the area around Luxenbourg, Bastille). I'll definitely be back... wanna go with me?
I can't say the city blew me away while I was there, but it was very "approachable" and a good size. But any European city at Christmastime is always a treat; the holiday just feels more authentic somehow.
I think Londoners are worse than Parisians - but I'm biased (I live 100 miles from the French border and we *just* hate them)