Brussels in Belgium is the de facto capital city of the European Union (EU). Even more; its an important centre for international politics as it also hosts the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Thus, Brussels is the polyglot home of many international organisations, politicians, diplomats and civil servants. So for me, a network evangelist from Norway; going there is like an Eldorado. Adding to that, last weekend, I invited my wife with, so don’t tell me I don’t know how to mix business with pleasure. I was attending CEPIS (The Council of European Professional Informatics Societies) 42nd council meeting on Saturday, but Diane and I arrived Friday afternoon. Another quality time for us and we gladly share some with you:
Let’s start with our hotel: Le Châtelain in Center at Rue du Chatelain, strikes the perfect balance between gracious hospitality, exceptional comfort and State-of-the-Art technology. Of course the last appealed to me – I just love it when I can connect WiFi with both my Nokia mobile phone and computer you know :lol: The suit we had was really nice, so we invite you in (click all pics to bigify and enjoy!):
Bed, desk and sitting aria.
Bar and the bathroom.
Although it was nice in the hotel, we wanted to explore the neighbourhood and took a walk. We left Oslo, Norway in 12C (54F) and entered the streets here in the afternoon in almost 20C (68F). Soon we found lots of cafés and restaurants and most of them with outdoor servings:
To a Norwegian, that’s also an Eldorado at this time of the year. I mean, to have your dinner in the evening the 4th of April outdoors, is only for Vikings in the Nordic aria :-) So we found a nice table on the sidewalk and asked one servant to help us capturing this magic moment with our Nikon S2:
Sitting there, relaxing and talking about how lucky we are to be able to stay in the present and share this moment of happiness – I mean: if that isn’t quality time? So we order our food and that was delicious too:
Left: I had Fruits de Mare (I love seafood you know!). Right: Diane had Pasta Carbonara.
Since we where in Belgium, we had beer of course; Leffe, which is my favourite. You see, The Belgian Breweries is one of the oldest professional associations of the world, since it was founded in the 14th century. All Belgian breweries belong to the association. From then and onwards, the first stone houses on the Brussels “Grote Markt”(means “large marketplace”) were built on the South side, the side on which the splendid Brussels town hall was built. I’ve also heard that Belgium holds the most breweries per capita in the world and the variety of taste and flavour is amazing. Did I hear another good reason to go to Belgium? :lol:
Well, all things must pass and we walked to our hotel, heading for our suite. However, passing the reception, we found this charming fire side launch. So Diane ordered caffe latte and some bisects while I picked up a book for her and the computer for me:
I just had to check my mail, the Blogsphere and what was going on in different social media you know!
Then off to bed and you’ve already seen that ;-) The day after, as I’ve told you before; Diane met our blog friend Gattina in Waterloo. Don’t miss that part, so click them! – And I had the meeting – That was the business part of the trip if you have missed it :lol:
On Saturday evening, we had the loveliest dinner at Basil & Co. Restaurant and on Sunday we had another adventure at Brussels city – so stay tuned!
Wow Renny – That was such a pleasure to see all of these photos. I can imagine, our weather is much like yours right now and it would be a dream to be going to 20C weather as I’ve also heard this from Switzerland. But alas this won’t happen yet here..
Love everything you have shared with us. I was calculating and well in 5 years maybe I will be able to take a nice long vacation… 5 years!
The link URL works now! :)
your job is really lots of fun. You look great in the picture. Happy Easter!
It is nice to be able to mix pleasure with business. Brussels sounds very nice.
The hotel suite is gorgeous! Especially the bathroom fixtures.
Your seafood dinner looks scrumptious, and to eat outdoors is perfect almost anytime for me. Food almost always tastes better enjoyed outdoors, in my opinion.
Glad you had a great combination business/pleasure trip, and thanks for sharing with us, Renny.
Happy Easter to you and yours, my friend. :-)
Love and hugs,
Diane
Wow, what a huge suite for Europe! I’m so glad that Diane got to go with you and that you met up with Gattina.
In my younger years I always traveled with Hubby, all over the world. Oh how I enjoyed that!
Happy Easter to both you and Diane!
Glad Påsk and love the photos, too
What a charming street! I haven’t been to Brussels in ages. Sounds like a great trip.
Yo…in style Renny…in real style there :D What a grand hotel and you looked so smart in that suit ;)
Visited Brussel in 1990 and I bet there is a lot of changes now ya :)
Thanks for the visit to my blog and would love you to come visit me with Diane – love to show you around ;)
Looks like you had a really great time there! Lovely hotel suite and mouthwatering good BEER’s. Yum. Yep, it’s of course the same for us Swedes: the lovely weather making it possible to sit outside is simply divine .-)
so nice you and diane could enjoy the trip together and as always, thanks for sharing it with us.
and enjoy your easter egg hunt in the woods tomorrow!
Night…pleasure…Brussels. Do you know what those three words conjured up in my mind, Renny? Heheh. Anyway, your hotel room looks very comfortable and you and Diane do seem to be enjoying yourselves. Have a Happy Easter and don’t overdose on chocolate!
I just love the photos and posts here Renny … they are so “culture based”. Here were I live the streets are so generic – and lack character.
Looks like you stay at better hotels than I do too – ha haaaaaaa !!!!!!!
Thank you Renny for promoting Belgium as tourist destination… by looking at your pictures I almost feel homesick :-(
Glad to see and read you had a great time in Brussels. Hope we can drink a beer together in Belgium in the future !
Wow! Nice hotel room!
Sounds like a nice time!
Wow !!
Renny you appear to have had a most magnifficent time and lived like a king in his very own palace. Thank you also for your comments on My blogg we are doing our best and will never quit on these unfortunate children.
hey…life is good….
Allen Sentance
Fisherman
Looks like you and Diane had a great trip, Renny!
It is a beautiful city . . . I have to add it to my list of places I must visit someday!
Happy Easter, my friend! XXXOO
That is a lovely suite you’re staying in! I was a little worried you would be too comfy in it. haha….
I’m glad you brought us out for sight seeing. ;p
This is the first time I hear of Belgium beer. interesting.
Happy Easter Renny!
Yes Brussel is a european and international plateforme!
your pictures show really well that this is a beautiful town I will for sure visit one day! Leffe is one of my frefered beers! And of course I want to taste this national seafood, moules/frites! It is very popular since a few year in France too but as a traditional food of Brussel I’m sure it is still better in Belgium! I red the adventures of Diane with Gattina in Waterloo! I would want to be there with them! I stay tuned!
In Bruxelles – Ohhh, a place to have wonderful food.
I see U enjoyed.
And, can you please take a picture of us – hi hi hi;)
Have a great end of this Easter. Drive save back from wonderful Mariestad. Poromise?
I’m glad to hear you had a good time in Belgium! I hope I can pay a visit to lovely Norway someday!
That’s a really nice suite. I love the outdoor restaurants. Glad you had a great time.
that was a wonderful trip.,. i love the pictures with you and your wife ..you really had a wondeful time, it shows in your faces ;)
your hotel looks really nice a cozy fire and a wonderful room, there’s even a coffemaker just for your use. wonderful service
Aside from the event itself, I think the most important thing is sharing this with the one you love :)
Oh! Connecting the mobiles, computers with WiFi; if you didn’t who esle should ;)