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Brussels Airlines Offers a New Way to See More Europe

I wasn’t sure what to think when I first saw a picture of the Atomium in a Belgium guidebook, but it turned out to be one of the coolest kitschy tourist attractions I’ve ever visited. The Atomium was built for the World’s Fair hosted by Brussels in 1958. It’s not quite as famous as other monuments like the the Eiffel Tower and Space Needle, built for similar expos, but in some ways it’s far more intriguing. Visits start with an elevator ride to an observation deck. After returning to the ground floor, visitors explore remaining levels of the Atomium by escalator and stairs. The exhibits inside focus on the history of the Atomium and on Belgian design. The exhibits aren’t always thrilling, but there is absolutely nothing like spending a couple of hours wandering around inside a giant metal atom.

Located at the foot of the Atomium, Mini Europe is the only park where you can have a tour around Europe in a few short hours. A truly unique voyage ! Stroll amid the typical ambiance of the most beautiful towns of the Old Continent.

If you want an original souvenir from Belgium, with a quirky sense of humour, visit the Brussels Corner shop. You can find two of these colourful stores within minutes of Grand Place. They are filled with fun and funky images of Belgian icons. You’ll find t-shirts, aprons, bags, hats, mugs and ties with colourful drawings of Belgium’s best loved images: waffles, Belgian endive, chocolate, beer, French fries, the Atomium and our loveable Manneken Pis. The humorous designs include quips about the Belgian weather and gems like a cone of Belgian frites with the words “This is a Belgian invention; therefore we call it French Fries!”

One of my favorite places in Brussels, mainly becuase I love soccer, is the King Baudouin Stadium. Although I have taken in several Belgian national team soccer games here (not to mention a Mexico vs. Italy game), the stadium is also used for rugby and also athletics. The stadium was formerly named the Heysel but was renamed back in 1985 after it was refurbished mainly due to a tragic incident where several Italian soccer fans died. The stadium lies int he shadow of the Atomium in the northern part of the city.