Spyglasshill.com There are many ways to the top, but the view is always the same

Brussels Belgium From the port in Antwerp, we took a bus to Brussels, and did some sight seeing there. Home of NATO and the EU, Belgium is also known for it's diamonds, chocolate, lace, and waffles! We enjoyed strolling around the Grand Place/Grote Market, taking in the incredible architecture and enjoying the warm & friendly people.
Copenhagen : Oslo : Ship Life : Antwerp : Dover : Le Havre Vigo : Lisbon : Gibraltar : Barcelona : Monte Carlo : Ajaccio

We noticed many off shore oil rigs in the North Sea, on the way to Brussels.

Built for the 1958 World's fair in Brussels, the "Atomium" is a molecule of iron, magnified 158 Billion times. The round things hold meetings for people now.

The river Schelde is the principal waterway of Belgium and hosts the ports of Antwerp, Brussels and Ghent.

Belgium also has a Tomb to the Unknown Soldier.

And a 150 year old mall.

The architecture was incredible! Including a very cool pub.

There was a lot of traffic and surveillance cameras everywhere! I tried to find a few blocks without them, and couldn't!

Interesting notes:

• All citizens >18 yrs. are required to vote in parliamentary elections and may be fined for not doing so.

• Health & hospital services are the responsibility of public assistance commissions located in each town.

• Additionally, the government collects from employers and employees for health insurance, old-age insurance, holidays and unemployment insurance.

• Their comprehensive welfare system has resulted in great improvements in public health, but also exacerbated Belgium's budget deficit. 

Belgium Facts:

• Government: Constitutional, representative & hereditary monarchy Population: ~10 million

• Currency: Euro

• The people of Belgium are primarily two ethnic groups, the Flemings (Teutonic origin) and the Walloons (Celtic origin) with the Flemings speaking Dutch (often referred to as Flemish) and the Walloons speaking French. Along the eastern border German is spoken.