Paulette's walk in the city followed by our annual Christmas Lunch

It was very cold yesterday when we began our walk from the Place de l'Europe in the centre of the city but we were well wrapped up as you can see.

 Here is our itinerary

We first went to the Mont des Arts, went up the stairs to have a view of downtown with the spire of the Hotel deVille, admired the Palais des Beaux Arts designed by Horta and the art nouveau style of the magnificent Museum of Instruments of Music,  Place Royale with the famous statue of Godefroid de Bouillon who lead the first crusade in 1099,  the neo-classic Church of St Jacques sur Coudenberg and all the beautiful buildings around it like the Palace of Charles de Lorraine, the Museums Fin de Siècle and Magritte, the Museums of Modern Art and Ancient Art, and on the left the Cour des Comptes.We then took Rue de la Régence to go and see the Place du Petit Sablon, lovely garden surrounded by statuettes representing the medieval guilds. 

From there we could admire Notre Dame du Sablon, one of Brussels' most beautiful churches. It is particularly beautiful when the sun streams through its stained glass windows.

We arrived then on the Place du Grand Sablon well known for its antique shops, and its Antique & Book market every Saturday and Sunday. Also for its delicacies and its chocolate shops
Here is the new shop La Durée, famous for its macarons

  Wittamer and its wonderful pastries

 Afterwards, the walk took us to the Palais de Justice, Brussels' Law Court and the big esplanade where we had a nice view of Brussels. We then took the lift down to the rue Haute and the Quartier des Marolles with typical shops of the working class, a different atmosphere. We followed the Rue des Renards to reach the Place du Jeu de Balle where Brussels' Flea market is conducted everyday. Then we arrived at the Porte de Hal, the only one of Brussels' 14th century fortified gates remaining today transformed in a museum of arms and armour from the Middle Ages to the 18th century.

And finally the brasserie "La Porteuse d'Eau" where we enjoyed a very nice christmassy meal

Vyvyan and Marcelle

 Sheila, Audrey, Ryoko and Anna


 Yuko and Penny

 Margaret, Margosha, Gisela and Paulette

Idit, Daniele and Pernette

Janet, Joyce and Anne

Susan, Joan and Idit