A Weekend in Brussels

Hi friends,

Fall has fallen onto Paris like a patchwork blanket made from fallen leaves and evening haze.

One of the main reasons why I’m so determined to extend my residency in Paris is to have the opportunity to explore various cities throughout Europe. It’s true I haven’t gotten the chance to see much outside of Paris and I want to take every opportunity to see what else European life has to offer.

Brussels is a place I’ve heard mixed things about. On one hand getting scammed to pay 8€ for bottled water at a restaurant isn’t my idea of a great time but on the other hand, I can’t say people aren’t kind, friendly, and inviting.

My expectations for the city were thus not particularly high but what I did find to meet my expectations were the legendary Belgian waffles and fries. As an American, I can compare my preferred Liège waffles (Gaufre de Liège) to funnel cake batter with a sugary sweetness and soft texture. Belgian fries are dangerously addictive served in a cone for sharing.

For me, the highlight of the trip was visiting Maison Hannon, one of the many small yet iconic homes embodying art nouveau style architecture. Built in 1902, the house was designed by architect Jules Brunfaut for the couple, Marie and Écouard Hannon.

I read somewhere on Twitter (I refuse to call it ‘X’) that “art deco looks like it’s made by elves and art nouveau looks like it was made by fairies.” By the looks of this small enchanting house with golden butterfly stained glass overlooking the street, five year old me would have believed this house was made by faires. My favorite part of the small, unassuming house was the sweeping staircase wrapping around the entryway. Designed to represent harmony and inspired by the staircase at the Petit Palais (one of my favorite free museums in Paris), the staircase looks like a spiral into the heavens.

Though I would say my day-to-day interior design preference is currently Scandi-Japanese, I do appreciate other architectural eras that represent history and other cultures lost in time. Next time I manage find myself in Brussels, I would love to visit other famous art nouveau homes like the Horta Museum.

Pro Tip: Book in advance as they only accept a few visitors each day.