Markets of Brussels

A couple of weeks ago, on April 22 to be exact, my Belgian friend Pol showed me some of the markets in Brussels. Being from Seattle, the home of Pike Place Market, I thought the markets of Brussels couldn't compare, but they were really something.

First we went to the Brussels flea market. People from all over the city come and lay down a blanket and sell their trash/treasures. I really wished I had some space in my suitcase because their were a lot of fun antiques and novelty items, including one rather lewd Japanese sculpture that I would have liked to have brought back. There was also an assortment of stolen goods for sale. It's inspired me to make a point of going to the New York flea market when I get back to the City.


The market that really impressed me though was the Moroccan style market near Gare du Midi (one of Brussels three big train stations). Brussels has a big (compared to the U.S.) Arab population, and this market caters to them. There were rows and rows of stalls. The ones selling CD's blasted Moroccan music from cheap speakers, setting the mood. This market was huge and everything from meat and fresh produce to cloth and stuffing for making floor pillows was on sale. The long line of nut and olive sellers was particularly enjoyable, though all the people taking nibbles from the sample tray with their bare hands seemed a bit unhygenic.




Pol and I found a nearby cafe and sipped some deliciously sweet mint tea and enjoyed one of the first really warm days since I've been here. The weather has been getting warmer and warmer, and that makes it increasingly harder to study. I've got to crack down soon though. I come home in less than a month. I'm still hoping to do a bit more traveling if I can squeeze it in between all the reading I need to catch up on. Wish me luck, with this weather, I'll need all the help I can get.