Brussels bewilders!

 It’s not all chocolates, waffles and beer in Brussels. 

Despite tourism brochures extolling the virtue of ‘Once you've craned your neck at Gothic and Baroque splendour, don't forget to stock up on Brussels' famous chocolates’ it’s also a city of rough sleeping and begging. 

There is a distinct sense that the city is divided between those that gain benefit from the gothic and baroque guilded buildings and those men that watch passing tourists from their sidewalk middle eastern and Turkish cafes. 

‘Brussels is the capital of Belgium, principal seat of the Belgian Royal Family, and capital of the European Union’ and appears to live off its self importance. 

 

Whilst there was much to appreciate in this very diverse multi cultural city the need to rebuild the infrastructure in the non tourist neighbourhoods and also provide for those most in need, should be priorities for the capital city of Europe.