Day 20: Trip to Belgium- Antwerp and Brussels

Around 7am we went to the hostel where Mr.S and Mr. A were staying, to wake them up and get ready for the days trip. We got ready by 8:45am and left for the tourist office. We also bought some eatables for the way journey. Mr. S as usual came just before the bus was about to leave (but in time), Mr. L had to go back to call him, otherwise he would have definitely missed the bus. Mr. L told us that both Mr. S and Mr. A were sleeping when he reached there. Finally at 9:15am all of us were on the bus and it left for Belgium at soon after. The guide continuously told us about the history of places we were going to visit when we were in transit and how they differ from Netherlands in terms of culture, activities, language and what is the importance of these cities today.  

The first of leg of the trip from Amsterdam to Antwerp took about 2 hours, around 11:30am we were in the main plaza of Antwerp, where a wedding ceremony function was underway. We enjoyed their dance and also recorded it, was a different beat comparing to wedding functions in India. Coming back to the plaza, the buildings around it, the main town hall, and other important building surrounding the it were quite old. It was like a fully packed place with entries from all four corner places. A monument in the middle of the plaza is known as the "Hand of God", mainly because of its structural similarity to a hand.

It was first time, we saw a plaza, we liked it very much specially the environment surrounding it. The guide told us that we have 1.5 hours to go around the nearby places on our own. Mr. S, Mr. A and Mr. A Junior went to a restaurant for eating. While me and Mr. L went ahead and started exploring places. We first went to an old cathedral, it was very a glorious example of 15th Century Architecture, the outside was very attractive and so was from inside too. The old furnished wooden structure around the bishop's platform,sitting gallery and other holy places inside were truly amazing to see. In particular I liked the sitting place in the middle, where only priest and other religious leader can seat. It was in between the public benches and the podium of the Bishop. The View must be quite amazing when you look from the podium towards the people. 

After taking a good look at it, we came out and went to find others. They were sitting in a restaurant just outside the plaza. We also set there, till they finished. There were many chocolate shops there,  as Belgium is very famous for its chocolates. you can see various kinds of chocolates, a lot of different tastes and shapes there. A treat for almost everyone I guess. 

Then we went to the river side castle, it was small but very beautiful. The view from there was very nice indeed. We had some picture clicking and some fun for ourselves. After that we went up on a platform, just next to the castle, it was just on the river bank and also a statue was on the top of it.  There was ice tea being served to all, so we also took one each and enjoyed it fully while taking a break on the platform, seeing the nice view along the river bank. We did some photo shoot styles, pulling each other and action scenes.

We boarded the bus again and left for Brussels at around 12:30pm. The journey is about 1 hours and full of scenic views. After reaching Brussels at 2pm, first pit stop was at Atomium, a large structure build analogues to the structure of a molecule (a combination of atoms). Also in front of it, is the headquarters of UN/UNDP.

We reached the city center at around 2:30pm and the time to return was 5:30pm. But since we were a bit late, all except one pair insisted till 6 o’clock. Somehow every one agreed and so time to gather back at the plaza was set to 6pm. First thing we did was a tourist information center and  get a city map. The tourist office is situated in the plaza itself. So we took 2-3 maps and started to make a plan. We marked all the places we can go by foot till 5:30pm, as we had to come back at the plaza at 6pm. Started our journey from the streets, there is a famous statue of the MANNEKEN PIS (better known as the peeing prince), small but quite famous(It was a gift to King of Brussels by some other king but doesn't matter). 

Then we went to the Albert  square, first we saw the statue of Elizabeth in the middle of the square, then statue of Albert (on whose name the square is named) near by. There is a very beautiful park just there, behind the Albert statue, we crossed in and went on the other side of the it, clicked many pictures of ourselves and blondes moving around. Since you can see it was a marathon only that we were just walking, we continued and went to another cathedral, almost same as the one we saw in Antwerp in terms of beauty and likeness. The inside of the cathedral was pretty awesome- paintings, artifacts and the overall structural design. While going to our next stop we crossed a small garden named "THE SABLON SQUARE". We walked a long way to reach our final and most awaited place the Poelaert square, the view from here was amazing. You can see whole of the down town Brussels.  The pillar in the plaza is dedicate to the world war I and II.  It was about time for us to start our journey back to the plaza. 

On the way we were doing the usual business of taking pictures of moving attractions and also searching for food places. As usual, Mr. S and Mr. A Junior went in the subway restaurant,  we waited for some time (me, Mr. L and Mr. A), but when the two of them didn't come back, so we went to check them, but couldn't find them. So we decided to go back by ourselves and wait for them at plaza. We reached the plaza at 5:35pm had some time more, so again we went to see a museum nearby. On the way back at an street corner, there was a group of people playing some wired never seen before musical instruments. To be true, the music was very pleasing and heart warming. I liked it very much. We waited there and then came back to plaza but still both Mr. S and Mr. A Junior were not back yet. We then went inside a Chocolate store to buy gift, me and Mr. L bought a special chocolate pack for €2.85 for Dhairya (our land lords son). Mr. A also bought something for his sister (Miss Sh).  Then we came out and saw that people from our bus and the lady guide was there standing in a corner of the plaza, just next to the store. Still both the missing persons from our group were not back yet. The people started their journey back to the bus, Mr. A has to stay only in Brussels, as he had his return ticket to Paris from Brussels only on the morning of the next day. So he stayed there, the missing persons also got back in time and we came back to Amsterdam at around 9:15pm. After reaching there, Mr. A Junior insisted to visit the red light area and strip club. So now begins the night and Amsterdam as all know it. 

As we all were interested to visit the strip club at least ones, not that we wanted to enjoy all and everything it offers but just out of curiosity. So we set our course to the red light area. The red light area is a place where the prostitution business is situated. All the adulterated activities happen in there. Its a legally recognized area in Amsterdam. We saw the prostitutes watching from inside their glass cabins, trying to lure anyone they can. But we all were not interested in such kind of things at all. May be due to the kind of society we came form or the backgrounds itself. Never came a thought for this, but then again may be it is not that immoral to say. All depends on what as a person you think, and what the society you are raised in terms it as. We were just not into this, boring it may sound but the choice is personal. you can make your own, when you go there. 

So back to the walking, we couldn't find the place strip club. Mr. A Junior was very energetic still, trying all possible to find the place. We then set beside the canal and buzzed our thoughts on what to do now. Suddenly we saw some look alike people were coming our way, interns from another IIT. They told us about the place they were went and also they asked about if there is any other strip club around. But we told them that we haven’t been to any and as far as we know there is only one. After a brief talk with them we started walking and reached the strip club at around 10pm. The entry fee was €5 we all then went inside, and enjoyed the show for about 2 hours. Most girls were ok type but one of them was stunning. She was quite a beauty. I would have loved to get a lap dance from her, but my morals and my heart kept me far from that. Mr. S went out early (as fast as we came in, he was out the next moment), he didn't like it I guess. Don’t know why on the first place he came inside. We then came out too at around 12:30am, found him at a restaurant outside the street. We also set there for 1 hour. Around 1:30am, the police came to disperse the crowd from there. 2-3 lady officers on horses came and went straight to the strip club street,  if they were male officers, probably they might get stuck in the club themselves. 

As the police instructed all people there to empty out the place, we again left with the quest to search for a place for night halt. We had no money to spend on hotel, and we had to survive there till evening next day, as our train for Copenhagen was scheduled at around 6pm. So we all went to a square next to the madam Tussaud wax museum. We played cards till morning (till the central station opens), at around 6am we went inside the central station of Amsterdam and slept for 2 hours. The day though just began, but we were exhausted by the already long trip. So another day, and another story to follow. But do wait a while, let us rest and rest your own eyes.