Brussels was put on the world stage a couple months ago, and it broke my heart to see the pain of the world as the events of the attacks unfolded. Security is still tight, but Brussels has since resumed to its fast paced environment once again, this time stronger than ever.
I had never been to Belgium before, and have always wanted to visit, especially after hearing my Belgian roommate (when I studied abroad) tell stories from where she came from and her life at home. Brussels has a very rich history that I simply could not summarize in a blog post, though the tour I went on discussed a very condensed history in about 2.5 hours. I recommend Sandemans Tours since I've had consistently great experiences with them in many different cities in Europe (Prague, Paris, London). It was amazing to see the pride of the locals and how much they truly love their country. It was also really fun just to walk around, explore the many chocolate shops, indulge in street food, and wander around with fortunately, great weather.
Brussels is known for its perpetual rain, so our 3 days of sunshine was a blessing. I chose to wear a comfortable blue romper with a cute twisted strap detail on the back, and paired it with a plaid headband. I had just purchased a black leather waist belt in Florence, and decided it was the perfect accessory for my simple outfit. Belts definitely help to give your body some shape from looser clothing, so pairing them with a shift dress or romper is a great use for them!
Lunch Recommendation: Tonton Garby
This hole in the wall sandwich shop gets a 10/10 in my book. Uncle Garby's sandwiches are handcrafted creations based on what you like and the owner's expertise of meats and cheeses. I've never encountered a shop owner so friendly and helpful to his customers, and I would come back here in a heartbeat. Warning: It's a small shop, and each person gets very individualized attention, so the wait can get very long even with a few people.
Sweets
Atomium
When I think of Belgium, two of the top things that come to my mind are waffles and this peculiar, silver sculpture. I knew very little, if anything, about the Atomium until I finally did some research before our arrival in Brussels. It was actually built in 1958 for the World Expo and is also museum. If you are curious about the name, it is a combination of the words "atom" and "aluminum"! It was modeled to be the shape of a unit cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Having been to the World Expo in Milan just last year, it was awesome to see the site of another Expo since so much goes into the building of each. The Atomium is a 20 minute bus or metro ride from the heart of Brussels and is surrounded by lush greenery. It is the perfect place for a picnic (if weather happens to be on your side), and I recommend a 2-3 hours out of your day to come see it. We didn't go inside, but tickets are 8 Euros if you decide to visit.
I love lace (if you couldn't already tell from my many outfit choices) and I also am a sucker for cute, patterned shorts. These shorts are slightly high waisted, so I wore one of my favorite cream crop tops, and added a bold statement necklace to complete the look. I'm also pretty obsessed with lace up flats and sandals, and these black ones are no exception. They are so comfortable and match pretty much any casual outfit.
Outfit Details Outfit 1: Romper - Macy's (similar), Headband - Etsy , Shoes - Zara
Outfit 2: White lace crop top - Forever 21, Cream patterned shorts - Zara (sold out)