NIGERIA , Lagos - NETHERLANDS, Amsterdam - BELGIUM, Brussels: Spring has sprung (DAY 1)

We left Lagos a few days after the school ends. We wish not to caught up with the rush to leave Lagos, but simply wait until Madam has had enough of her work and wants some RnR.

We choose Brussels simply because we have friends there. We, did not, in any way choose to put our children into harms way when the calamity happened. We've had booked hotel and flight ticket months earlier, and when the calamity happened, only cautionary statement given by most of the High Comms in Brussels. Not even one gave out restriction to travel to Belgium. So we proceed, with caution.

Schiphol Airport train station

We left Lagos and traveled to Amsterdam at around 10.30pm after a delay about an hour regarding fuel. Ohhh don't let me start on fuel ooo... Anyway, we arrived in Amsterdam without a hitch and immediately we went to Thalys counter to get our ticket to Brussels. 

Dear Boss, we're in holiday mode. Madam
is still with her laptop...

Sprinter train

Thalys is what TGV to the French and Shinkansen to the Japanese, probably Gordon to islanders of the Island of Sodor. 

Thalys (Amsterdam - Paris)
via Rotterdam, Antwerp and Brussels

All the while, Madam was still busy with office work, the children were entertaining themselves and I, on the other hand acts as the tour guide of the family. I make sure our trip to and fro as seamless as possible. In fact before we traveled, I pore over maps and apps for this trip. Places to visit and ticket price for train, tram and bus. 

Thalys....

seat for 4

The train arrived at 8.33 am, got ourselves on board coach number 13 and off we went. It was comfortable and I think there was power socket and table lamp at the table. Anyway, I turned on the GPS and the Digital HUD in the phone just to see how fast the train was actually going.

ok...

almost there...

Bingo!!!

We were doing 301km/h, but I doubt we were going that fast as the train's recorded top speed was 300km/h. Obviously the inaccuracy of the GPS...+- few kilometers give or take. But still, me and Ben were thrilled to be traveling that fast....on rail. We arrived in Brussels-Zuid (South) station about 10.30am and Ramon was already at the platform. 

coach no.13, train number 9322

Ramon

Army personnel presence were quite heavy. A sombre mood in the train station, with K9 units were patrolling here and there. Everyone looked serious and some platforms and train station were closed so we had to check our route. We finally arrived at De Brouckere. Arrived too early actually since the apartment room will only be ready at 2pm. 

the metro station, De Brouckere in the middle...so convenient 

Kebab and Grill restaurant

Exit the De Brouckere station, there's the Boulevard Ansbach Laan and we were happy to see many Kebab restaurant  lining up the street and each with names better than the one before it. Price wise, it's Euro baby...USD in parallel market is high in Nigeria.. Imagine Euro..easily 20 pips higher.

There we realize when hungry, how bottomless the childrens' stomach were. We had fries and kebabs which both ate with such enthusiasm. It rained outside and we stayed indoors...but as soon as it cleared, we began to explore the surrounding area of the boulevard.

The Belgian Stock Exchange

St. Nicholas church

A few hundred meters away was the Place de la Bourse, or the  Belgian Stock Exchange was transformed into a shrine and giant message board. It was full with flowers, flags, candles and message of peace, love, defiant and solidarity. It was just weeks after the bombing in Turkey and before that, Paris. 

News crew from various TV station were there 24/7 giving life coverage about the current situation in Brussels after the bombing of the Brussels Zaventem Airport and the metro station, Maalbek. 

We were walking towards the Grand Place, the central square of Brussels when suddenly, Madam said "I've been to this place"...what puzzled me was..when did she came here? Surely most of her travels, I was with her....almost all the time. When she mentioned Brugge...then I remembered in 2004 just two weeks after we settled down she flew to Belgium to attend a course. She had a short visit to Brussels and had clam for lunch....oh ok...

Grand Place

The Town Hall, Stadhuis (Dutch) or
Hotel de Ville (French)

Built in the 1400's and completed 20years later in Gothic style architecture. Opposite this building is the "King's House" also the Museum of the City of Brussels.

This square is famous for 'Flower Carpet festival which is a biennial event (once every two years). Colorful begonia set up in patterns and this year, they give tribute to Japan. It will be in August, fyi.

We walked quite a distance and made our way back to the apartment when the children wants potty break and refuel their stomach. We went to this cafe and for the next few days,  I will be their regular customers sampling coffee from every conceivable place that produce coffee....so far, Blue Java is top on the list. 

The apartment we checked-in was nice. It was as we expected and more. I had a good rest till Ramon came with his wife, Amelia for tea. We had good chat with them and gave suggestion about routing. Madam cooked dinner and just channel surfing the whole night looking for 'interesting' program to watch...there goes Day 1.