long overdue.. Brussels, 1 March part two

taking over the world, one yellow minivan at a time

the Cathedral, and the big wooden cows by the side where we left our mark, part of a project by someone for world peace or unity or something.. seemed pretty noble at that time, kinda futile and lame in hindsight (tsk where's this cynicism coming from)

basking in the semi-imagined sun.. it would be nice though if the weather were better
this is where we had frite-lunch on my first trip to Brussels, maybe an attempt to compensate for the supposed best frites in Brussels we were looking for then but turned out to be closed on Sundays.. frites (fries) in Belgium, where fries first came from, are supposed to be different though, so come try

flea market :) a much better-looking one than the Sunday morning market.. it mostly has handicrafts and gifts

and then it's back to Grote Markt, and Manneken Pis, aka tourist area

but j'adore cote d'or.. plenty of chocolate shops, but come here for free samples!! took so many mm mmm.. truffles, chocolate, buttons.. and then again the third or fourth time i went to brussels.. you'll read about it (hopefully) soon
Grote Markt, Unesco heritage site (i think), also tourist area

what better place to get inspired to paint.. and to earn some tourist moolah.. seriously man where is this cynicism coming from..wasn't the first thing that i thought of when i first saw this though, thought it was pretty cool.. it is, but woulda been cooler if it didn't fit so nicely with the milking money thing.. but oh well we all gotta make money, and bask in tourist and other locals' attention and maybe adoration

the lady and the unicorn, if you're familiar

tapestry shop

yes when you're walking in the street leading up to Manneken Pis from Grote Markt beware not to get ripped off by the two Vincent van Gogh statues.. if they ask you to take a picture with them, DON'T

this is the place where i got my very first Belgian waffle in Belgium!

Manneken Pis
don't walk through this street either, not unless you wanna get mistaken for Japanese by a misplaced konnichiwa, then guessed at again with a ni hao, and ultimately hassled into eating at their restaurant, over and over again.. touting happens all over the world wherever there are tourists i guess

a cul-de-sac..

where we were trying to find..
Jeanneken Pis, the response to Manneken Pis.. crude ain't it haha

parting shot: Rogier van de Weyden!! major Flemish painter!!

till next time..