Brussels – MalinExplores

Strictly niceness rooftop session

One of those super hot summer nights, refreshing drinks, music, best company, intriguing conversations and lots of fun… Need I say more?

Ghent – Laissez les bons temps roulez!

People told me, I had to go and see Bruges but Ghent would be way cooler and I agree!

We were lucky enough not only to walks around and visit Ghent, we also got to experience the Ghent festival called Gentse Feesten. There were stages all over the city, bands playing all kinds of music, people out on the street drinking beer, the city was covered in lights and fire installations – simply amazing!!

Fire installation

main stage

three beautiful soul divas ❤

peace and quiet

Bruxelles, ma belle!

Some impressions of the capital of Europe:

20170707_105049093_iOS

Sunny Brussels…

Place Royale

Petit Sablon

Église Notre-Dame du Sablon

Summernights

Parc du Cinquantenaire

20170712_192740784_iOS

Brussels by night…

Grand-Place

Palais de Bruxelles

Really, guys?? 😀

Saint Géry

Peculiar details…

Doors of Brussels…

Doors of Brussels

Czech Street Party

Different people told me separately about the Czech Street Party and I must admit, it was really fun 🙂

They had different stands for each region with free food trials, free beer and Czech liquor. Also very interesting music and then there was this guy who advertised the amazing Mendel University in Brno. Apparently they have their own brewery and make their own wine 😀 Check it out! Amazing guy, we asked him for a photo after his speech

Mendel University fovever!!

I was super afraid we would fall 😀

Exploring Antwerp

One good thing about Brussels is that almost every other destination in Belgium is just a one hour train ride away. On the weekends the ticket price for a return trip is 50% off – so I thought, why not go to Antwerp just for the day?

Antwerp Central Station

The famous castle of Antwerp

…hidden passages…

Antwerp Central Station

City Hall

Antwerp Cathedral

…tiny backyards…

really loved this piece of art

Beautiful botanical garden

Beautiful botanical garden

Restaurant in a hidden passage

I did one of the free walking tours to learn some things about the history of Antwerp and mainly to get an overview of the city. I discovered this amazing food truck market where I enjoyed a delicious Quesadilla right at the waterfront:

Veggie-Quesadilla

Bienvenue à Bruxelles, Malin!

Hey guys,

I just decided to “re-open” my blog! Last year I wrote about my time in the US, this year I will tell you the story of my time in Brussels, the capital of Europe. Enjoy 🙂

I got arrived in Brussels almost two weeks ago and I’m already in love with the city. It’s very lively and welcoming. Before I came here I thought, well there are the institutions of the European Union, so it’s probably a place to work and nothing else. It is very much more than that. In Brussels you will meet people from all over Europe, from all over the world in fact. I have the impression that everyone around here speaks at least two different languages fluently, many people three or more…

In everyday life I have the opportunity to practise my French, at home I speak English with my lovely Greek roommate with whom I share a tiny apartment in the Flagey area. At work we also speak English. For those who don’t know why I’m here, I am doing an internship with the European Commission, DG Economic and Financial Affairs, where I’m a lonely lawyer amongst all the economists 😉

On my first day of work I attended a very interesting conference here in Brussels, the Brussels Economic Forum. George Soros held a most interesting and inspiring speech on his perspective of the (economic) future of the European Union.

My first days in Brussels: