Day two with our tour guide was in and around Brussels, the capital city of Belgium and headquarters to the Euuopean Union. But before we started our tour proper of Brussels we saw a little of Overijise, the small town closest to Susan and Roger's place. It is a town of about 22 000 people and because of it's rural aspect it is an attractive area to live. In the village of Jezus-Eik (part of Overijse) is the church of Our Beloved Lady and it is famous for the pilgrimages made to see the Jesus Oak. Miracles could be had by touching this tree, which now is merely a stump, but still able to be touched, inside the church. The stories date back to the 17 th century. Even the art work is reason enough to visit this church which lines the walls.
The village centre of Overijse. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overijse
The remaining part of the Jesus Oak.
Brussels is a fascinating city with its new and old buildings often side by side. Susan pointed out various buildings on our way into the city, and explaining their different styles of archetecture with Art Nouveau having a strong influence. Our city tour started by taking us to the Royal Palace, which dates back to the 18th century, where we were free to wander through all the reception rooms. The first Belgium king was King Leopold in 1831.
We then parked the car for the day and did a walking tour through the main city with Susan pointing out the interesting features of the city. We saw the covered shopping galleries built for King and Queen, sampled Belguim chocolate, saw the Brussels Town Hall with its fine archetecture, the spectacular stained glass windows in the cathedral and the famous Mannekin Pis. The day we saw him he was in his birthday suit but we understand he has a whole wardrobe of costumes he can wear, depending on the occasion.
The City Hall with its fine archetecture including the central portal that isn't symmetrically lined up and according to legend caused the architect to take his life by jumping from it on its completion.
Susan had us ducking in and out of shops and buildings to show us specific points of interest such as a bakery/patisserie, original bars and into the cafe of the traditional puppet theatre. At one stage we stopped for lunch at a 'le pain du quotidien' cafe, where we enjoyed our lunch at a communal table.
"It is said among locals that the statue of Everard t'Serclaes brings luck and grants the wishes of all who touch it."
One iconic sight we actually saw the day before on our way home from the Battlefields tour. This was the Atomium, built for the 1958 Brussels World Fair and like the Eiffel Tower not suppose to remain after the event but here it still is, now a symbol of Brussels.
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