Oops… I went to Brussels

“Want to go to Brussels?”

….. I sat thinking. My very cozy, comfy, normal Sunday just got thrown a curve ball. 

The question bounced around in my head as I read and reread the text message until I finally sat up decidedly. Why not? 

I gathered my things quickly, said goodbye to my vision for a movie marathon weekend, and traded it in for a spontaneous trip to the Belgian borough of beer. 

Brussels greeted me with an eclectic mix of Dutch-influenced architecture and a buzzing cityscape that pulsated with youthful energy. The history of the city spoke through its walls, whispering tales of a bygone era. 

Nostalgia-lane

After spending the day with some family, I took off to the plaza to meet an old friend. Snapshots from my first few months in Europe flooded my mind as I remembered my first trip to Brussels. I saw the city through the eyes of a younger me; seeing it with renewed wonder. On every corner I could see flashes of memories, hear faded giggles erupting from my friends, and feel the excitement and panic we did then as we bounced through the streets on bikes. I sat with my friend on a rooftop overlooking the city, Belgian beer in hand, as we regaled each other with tales of present and the nostalgic past. 

I looked at the grandiose buildings of the plaza and tasted the sweet waffle in my hand, the perfect backdrop to a spontaneous night. 

The following day, after a bit of work, I wandered the streets of Brussels. Eyes wide, I drank in the scene of everyday life around me. Groups of friends sharing a beer and a laugh, light and jazz spilling out of pubs, waffles and chocolate galore. The day gradually faded into dusk, I made my way to meet my family for dinner, stopping at an overlook to see the sun dip under the horizon. After night of jokes, jazz, and jukeboxes, I snagged couple of hours of sleep before my return to Paris.

I’ve been missing home, missing my friends, missing the past lately, and just for a weekend, I got a glimpse of what once was. Often, life’s most interesting and unforgettable stories are written in the ink of unplanned journeys and impulsive ‘oops ’-like adventures – so… go for it.