Travel Day: Brussels, Den Haag and Amsterdam

I left Brugge yesterday morning around noon, and caught the train to Brussels Centraal. Since I had to get off in Brussels to get on the next train headed to Den Haag and Amsterdam, I figured I might as well have a look around. So I put my luggage in a locker, stepped outside the train station to the center of Brussels, and was completely underwhelmed.

I've never been to Detroit, but I imagine it's about as exciting as being in Brussels. For being in the center of Belgium's largest city on a week day, the streets were completely empty. Office-park style buildings surrounded me, and I thought for sure I somehow traveled through space and time back to the Midwest (not to say anything bad about the Midwest -- it's home).

I wandered about for a while trying to find the Manneken Pis fountain, what Brussels is most famous for, except for maybe the carpet of flowers in Grand Place that I think is only created every couple of years in the Spring. And, to be fair, the buildings that make up the Grand Place square are actually quite lovely and historic looking, and nothing at all like something you would find in Detroit.

The Manneken Pis fountain is a small statue of a cherubic little boy peeing. You can guess which part is the fountain. And, get this, they dress him up in little outfits. They have a whole schedule posted on when they will be changing his wardrobe. I got there just in time to see them redress him, which drew quite a crowd of spectators.

So I grabbed a Bel Pils beer, the local brew, in the Manneken Pis Taverne just across the street. Then I stepped in a couple of the dozen shops that line the street with Manneken Pis souvenirs to marvel at the tackiness.

I almost picked up one of these Manneken Pis corkscrews, but couldn't justify spending 7,50 euros on something I probably won't get through airport security anyway.

After spending a couple of hours in Brussels, I got back on the train with the thought of staying the night in Den Hagge (The Hague). It's by the sea, and I thought it might be nice.

From my walk between the Den Hagge HS station and Centraal, I tried very hard to find something appealing about this city. But it was unattractive and not at all exciting, much like all the people I saw loitering in downtown Den Haag. This place made Brussels look like a dream come true. I didn't even make it down to the water, I just got on the next train leaving for Amsterdam when I reached the Centraal station.

When I got into Amsterdam, I could tell right away that this is where the party is, and that I would probably have a tough time finding a room. Luckily, across from the station there is a hotel finding service. My 50-60 euro price range gave the girl a pained look, but after just one call she said she found me an apartment to rent for 70 euros a night.

I walked a couple blocks to the aptly named Budget Hotel Tourist Inn, which handles the accommodations. I'm not sure how they're affiliated, but I pay cash to the off-duty front desk guy, who shows me the place located 2 minutes from the hotel, gives me the key back at the hotel, and then hands me a fresh set of towels from the hotel linen closet.

The entrance to the apartment is located between a bakery/deli and a porn shop, and is up 2 sets of narrow winding stairs that remind me of the bell tower in Brugge. It's a studio apartment with bathroom, big comfy bed, refrigerator and coffee pot. And it's located pretty much dead center, first ring, a couple blocks from Amsterdam Centraal station. I'm pretty sure I lucked out on this one.