Copenhagen, Denmark

We arrive in Copenhagen late in the afternoon, check into our hotel, and immediately head out into the city.  Our hotel is near Tivoli Gardens, the second oldest amusement park in the world, but we first head the other direction, toward Vesterbro, a renovated former meatpacking district, now trendy clubs and great restaurants, to find something to eat.

 Arriving in Copenhagen

 Dining in the meat-packing district

After dinner, we walk over to Tivoli Gardens and enter a fabulous wonderland.  Tivoli Gardens was named after the Tivoli Gardens in Paris (Jardin de Tivoli amusement park located near the current site of the Saint-Lazare train station) and opened in 1843, occupying 82,717 square meters (20 acres, 8 hectares) just outside the original west gate of the city.  From the beginning, Tivoli included exotic buildings, a theater, band stands, restaurants, cafes, flower gardens, and amusement rides.

 Tivoli concert hall, open air stage

As soon as we enter, we hear the sound of happy people enjoying themselves.  Families, couples, friends, and people on their own fill the park with joy.  Everyone is having fun and so do we.  This is a magical place!

We first wander and see some of the rides scattered through the park, some calm, some terrifying.

Rides

Not only are there exciting rides, but all through the park there are beautiful lakes, gardens, and buildings containing displays of beautiful plants and flowers.

 Grounds and gardens

As we walk by one of the lakes, the fish are all begging for some sort of treat.  We don't have any, but others offer them something to eat.

 Feed me!

As the sun descends in the sky, we stop for a glass of wine and watch the lights come on along the paths and walkways throughout the park.

Getting darker

Leaving Tivoli, we cut through Copenhagen's fabulous Central Train station, serving Denmark, Sweden, and European destinations since 1911, the most direct path back to our hotel for a nightcap and a relaxing sleep.

 Copenhagen Central Train Station

A Quick Trip to Bruges

We've always wanted to go to Bruges, and not just because of the 2008 dark cult film In Bruges with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two Irish hitmen doing their bloody work in Bruges.  The city is quaint, beautiful, and only an hour-long ride from Brussels.

Catching the late-morning train from Brussels

We arrive in Bruges and start to wander down the small streets into town.

 Bruges city streets

It's a chilly day and everyone is bundled up, but doesn't keep people from a ride on the canals that weave through the city, either the on a boat tour or a kayak tour.

 Boating on the canals

In the center of town, the Market Square is quiet in the inclement weather, with many people in the restaurants, observing from the warmth under heat lamps, with the benefit of a glass of wine.

 Bruges Market Square

On another side of the square is the striking Provincial Court building, originally the government meeting hall, now featuring exhibitions and ceremonies.

Provincial Court Building in Market Square

Most importantly, we have to see the Belfry of Bruges on another side of the square.  The 83 meter (272 feet) high medieval bell tower, with the former market hall behind it, is featured predominantly in the movie In Bruges.  It's closed today so we can't walk up the 366 steps to the top, but we take a few pictures from afar and up close.

Belfry of Bruges from up close and afar

We continue to wander through Bruges, crossing back and forth over the canals, enjoying the quiet ambiance of the city.

Bridge across canal

Eventually, though, it's time for a quick frite snack and the train back to Brussels.

Mr. Frites in Bruges

 Catch the train back at the Bruges station

We enjoyed our quick trip and filed Bruges in the "must return" category, maybe when it's warmer and we can rent bikes and/or kayaks.

Day 2 in Brussels

After our arrival and initial stroll through Brussels, sampling the beer and chocolate, we get to the important task of choosing a spot for dinner.

We head over a few blocks from La Grand Place to Rue des Bouchers, a pedestrian street jammed with restaurants, where we walk the street, perusing the menus and forcing ourselves to choose from the many great options.  And, of course, as soon as we choose, we start with another beer and get right down to business with moules frites.

 Pick any one for dinner

After dinner, on the way back to the hotel, we pass a frites stand and, for desert, have frites with mayonnaise.  It takes a little getting used to, but we like it!

Mr. Frites outside the frites stand

We start our second day in Brussels by wandering through the European Parliament buildings - very impressive.  Then, only a few blocks away, across from the Royal Palace, the Parc de Bruxelles offers paths, gardens, and sculptures.  We enjoy the change from the city streets, but eventually head back to La Grand Place and take the tour of Le Musee du Caocao et du Chocolat, down the Rue de la Tete d’Or from the square. 

There we start with a demonstration of chocolate making, samples, and a tour through the history of cocoa, chocolate, and, particularly, Belgium chocolate, on the upper floors.  

Chocolate-making machine

We then head over to the indoor shopping arcade, Les Galeries Saint Hubert, with indoor restaurants and shops, perfect for the sometimes-gloomy Belgium weather.

 Les Galeries Saint Hubert

After this, it’s time for another beer and consideration of the important choice of where we'll get our moules frite tonight.

Brussels, Belgium

The high-speed train to Brussels is quick and pulls straight to the Brussels Midi station, where we catch a local train to Gare du Luxembourg, right next to the European Parliament

From the Parliament buildings, we walk all over the Brussels.  La Grand Place, the magnificent main square is about a 25 minute stroll, past the Royal Palace, Place Royal (Royal Square), and the museums, conveniently located on Rue du Musée.  Along the way, we pass through a great small park by the museums, the Jardin du Monts des Arts, with a view of the Brussels Town Hall in the distance.

Jardin du Monts des Arts

At La Grand Place, we first settle at an outside café table in the square for a Belgium beer and to admire the buildings that make this square a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

 Two beers in the square

But, very importantly, in some of those buildings are chocolate shops and they give free samples to enjoy while we watch chocolate being made in the back.  We wander from shop to shop, sample, and end up purchasing some for later consumption.

 Chocolate Shop windows

Of course, no discussion of Brussels is complete without a picture of the famous Manneken-Pis sculpture, in place since 1618 or 1619, a few hundred meters from La Grand Place.

Manneken-Pis

But, this being Brussels, we also have him in Chocolate!

Manneken-Pis in Chocolate

This is turning out to be a great adventure and a perfect weekend jaunt!