The Roo Story...continued. From nowhere to now-here.
Brussels – June 2024
A little impromptu trip outre-Quiévrain. See Cherry Glazerr gig review also for context.
A web update failure coupled with memory laziness presented that opportunity to go and see a concert in nearby-ish Brussels. Why not? And then why not stay for part of the next day and try to do a little tourism?
So that’s exactly what I did. The first afternoon was just a case of walking from the station to the hotel, checking in, wandering out early to enjoy a local beer then walk to the venue, get a little pissed, enjoy the gig and walk back! I had a quick web browse to see what could be worth seeing, and this, coupled with someone’s advice on the arseblog comment system led me to sort of plan my itinerary for the next day.
As I was up a little early, the second day started with a little walk before the Museum of Musical Instruments opened, then visit to said museum – which turned out to be truly amazing- a little wander about, deciding that I had time to check the Chocolate museum after all, more wandering about between sights (one that came about through twitter interaction) and a long walk back to the station, via a few classic cartoon drawings on the walls.
All in all, no time to get bored, a great gig in a fabulous and newly favourite venue, a new favourite museum, and an enormous lot of walking. A very profitable trip, good stuff coming out of erroneous planning. Enjoy the photos and videos below!
Obligatory Cannons photo, in the small park near Porte de HalPorte de Hal Saint-Jacques-sur-Coudenberg church on Place RoyaleFirst glimpse of the beautiful Art Deco building hosting the Musical Instruments MuseumThe beautiful Pharmacie DelacreA pause to enjoy a proper Belgian beer. Not Tripel mercifully. Bozar (definitely a pun)Monument to Général Belliard, in the next streetParc de Bruxelles‘Le Messager’ by Jean-Michel Folon, in the same parkColonne du Congrès, midway between the Park and BotaniqueFirst glimpse of Jardin Botanique from the Main StreetThe Orangerie from outsideOverlooking the Jardin du Mont des Arts, bells ringing time!
The fountain in Parc de Bruxelles; Chamber of Representatives in the background.
In The GardensNeatly trimmed hedgesInside the Orangerie, where the bar/food is for all venuesEnjoying a pre-beer gig in fine surroundings.This photo makes the stage look bigger than it was.Clementine and chums rocking the Witloof BarPrime spot for me to enjoy the gigOn the way back: Palais Royal de BruxellesBack past the church before reaching the hotel again.Walking around the incredible four-way-open stage.Juicy SocksDaddi
Day 2, mostly but not totally in a chronological way.
First a small wander before the Museum opened as it didn’t open before 10am.
Saint Jacques, in better weatherCarillon du Mont des Arts (yesterday’s sound source)Albert 1er statueAlbert 1er riding under the gorgeous sunshineThis building on Albertinaplein doesn’t seem to have any particular nameAnneessenstorenEglise Notre-Dame des Victoires au SablonSquare du Petit Sablon (opposite)Another entracnce (shut) to ND des SablonsCour des Comptes (Ancien Palais du Compte de Flandre)
And so to the Museum of Musical Instruments. I decided not to take the audio guide (even though it was included) as this could lead me to spend too much time there. Next time maybe, guess it would really be worth it. As it is, while there are a lot of modern instruments not there (namely electric guitars, but I’m sure there’s another museum for that somewhere), this visit turned out to be amazing. An incredible exhibition with various instruments from all ages and all over the world. You know the name of an instrument? It’s probably somewhere in this building. A truly unbelievable collection. I felt a little guilty of taking pictures, while at the same time having to stop myself from taking pictures of every single item….so there’s probably too much from the basement floor. Which is a very varied floor already and where I discovered the origin of a Stereolab song name. Turns out Jenny was not a girl, but the last name of an inventor…
BellsA strange machine and phonographsAutomatic piano/pianolaAnother oneNow that’s a stylish turntable!Music box of some sortVarious instruments, the only electric bass in the buildingElectronic music, original-styleOndioline from Georges Jenny. Aka ‘Jenny Ondioline’ !There are some strange instruments: how do you play that?The weird world of….harps?There are a few bagpipes: here a piob mhor, the Irish versionApparently this qualifies as an instrument.Instruments from IndiaSome Chinese (I think) set-up.There’s an impressive collection of VirginalsIt’s a small keyboard for a big instrument.A truly magnificent pieceSome interesting guitarsA few more bizarrely shaped stringed instrumentsBeauty and the BeastDetail on a Paris-manufactured keyboard instrumentSnakes make music tooWeird brass creationsAnother sumptuously decorated keyboard.Original HMVProper gramophoneMore beauties on the next floor, that is actually……entirely dedicated to keyboards.Is this a piano? Is this a buffet?Moving forward with synthesizersGenuinely not sure what this monstrosity qualifies as.Why type letters when you can type music?Ultra Modern Keyboard-type instruments
And let’s finish our visit with a few choice quotes.
The front of the building, in better weather today.
View from high up in the museum buildingFrom a slightly different perspective
Time to wander further towards the city centre, no definite plans, but they would take shape.
Jardin du Mont des ArtsStatue of Elisabeth (not of England: Queen of Belgium 1876-1965)Interesting outer layer at Parlement Francophone BruxelloisA huge photo for the very small and disappointing Mannekenpis that is drawing so many crowds….
I wasn’t sure whether to go in the Chocolate Museum, but I figured I had time. Not necessarily a very photogenic museum, but very interesting all the same, so I didn’t regret it.
Many ways to serve hot chocolate, drink it in.Maybe that’s just the truthSlighty truncated ‘eat chocolate, it’s good for your health’Chocolate MouldsSome very nice old vending machinesProper chocolate eggs?More vending machines
Time for some proper sightseeing afterwards. I wandered through the amazing Grand Place (can’t name most of the buildings I’m afraid), then pushed towards St Michael and St Gudula cathedral as a mate (online) was wondering whether works there were finished. Clearly they were, and it was anothe gorgeous monument to admire.
The whole square looks fabulousBrussels Town Hallaka Hôtel de Ville de Bruxelles of courseWell, the stand spoilt the place a bit that dayMusée de la Ville de BruxellesI DID resist going into the Belgian Beer museumAnd to finish, a sweeping look at the whole squareGaleries Royales Saint-HubertLe Roi Baudouin, statue near the CathedralCathédrale Saints-Michel-et-GuduleA golden angel to the sideThe back of the cathedral, all works definitely finishedThe other side
Various other landmarks, mostly when I was wandering slowly towards the station (and the weather was not as great)
Eglise Notre-Dame-de-la-ChapelleThe infamous Palais de JusticeRamp towards the PalaisOne of the façadesLa Grande Roue Place PoelartWeird sculpture on top of a building opposite Place de L’EpeeA waffle! (I had to)Le Singe, place de L’EpeePalais du Midi, near the stationIt’s a very wide building, but lots of works still left to do to make it look truly good again
The next section is a little different. Brussels is well known for comics, and all along the city there are paintings on the walls. Sometimes I bumped into them, but there’s also a couple I looked for as they seemed to fit my planned route more or less. There are also lots more I missed, so if you ever want to chase them, it can make for a thematic and interesting wander through the streets of Brussels.
That was on the first evening, not even sure who that is.Smurfette mosaicTintin, Milou (Snowy) and Capitaine Haddock!Have yourself some Boule et Bill.Spirou anyone?I randomly bumped into Benoît BriseferThe lesser known Yoko Tsuno
