Brussels

I braved the bus/train/metro/tram system to Louvain-le-Neuve to go to the Herge Museum.  Really very easy.  I keep waiting for someone to be rude to me, but it hasn’t happened yet.  For those of you who are not Tintin fans, it would not have been an enthralling excursion.  But for myself, it was just wonderful: all kinds of background on the creation of the stories, drawing, the studios, etc.  I had already read several books on the subject and about Herge himself (at least those in English and translated to English).  But this had all new dimensions.  Unfortunately, the museum does not allow photography.  So I could not capture the bits that were so appealing – the chandelier made up of every character in the books (over 200 individual faces) and the list in Herge’s handwriting with the top ten given names for Captain Haddock.  Although Archibald eventually won, number 4 was Patrick  (!!) and number 5 was Marmaduke.  The notation next to Marmaduke was, “preposterous”. 

Visiting Brussels was not really a high priority, beyond the Herge Museum, but I have to say I am delighted with this town.  Today I went to the Musee Magritte.  Other than the sloppy 1945-1950s-era stuff, almost everything of his is so visually appealing I feel like I could live with it.  Not true of the stuff in the Musee de Beaux Artes next door.  Waking up to Breughel, Van Dyck, Ensor, and most especially Hireronymus Bosch?  No way.  Uff da.

Wandered from the museums to the nearby parks.  I was very taken with the Grand Sablon, if only because it’s the only park with a working fountain right now.  And given the weather predictions and the growing ice in the basin, I expect they’ll be turning that off pretty soon.

Last stop of the day was Wittamer Chocolatiers.  Obviously there are many chocolatiers to choose from in Brussels, but this one came recommended by my hosts.  I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.  Because sugar coma begins in three….two….