|
Post by bjd on Jul 20, 2015 6:36:33 GMT
Being one of the rare people on travel forums who actually likes Brussels, I was happy to learn this weekend that it is a lively contemporary art scene. Unfortunately, the author of the article called it "the new Berlin".
I agree with Kerouac about the London architectural mishmash though. The only parts of London I like now are the big parks and the river, although I confess I really liked it the first time I came from Toronto at the age of 19.
Sorry for the threadjack, htmb.
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Jul 20, 2015 15:39:06 GMT
bjd, I don't dislike Brussels at all; I've always enjoyed my (rather brief) stays there. It is extremely varied, not only because of Flemish, French, Europudding and other influences, but because it is made up of so many small independent communes. The first time I stayed there, I was staying at the house of a friend in Forest/Vorst (he stayed with his girlfriend at her place). It does have a high hill (by Brussels standards) that was fun to climb. Parts of it, all of these a very short walk from each other, were very elegant, and others downright poor and dilapidated; where I was staying was somewhat in-between.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jul 20, 2015 15:50:31 GMT
Glad to hear that, Lagatta. It's just that on TT, the general comments seem to be, "Avoid Brussels, it's boring and ugly. Go to Bruges."
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Jul 20, 2015 18:12:13 GMT
I'd never say that. Not only pretty cities are interesting; moreover there is conventional beauty in Brussels. I was happy to visit Bruges, but it probably wouldn't be my choice of places to live.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jul 20, 2015 21:18:23 GMT
What is that magnificent building on the left in the fourth photo? Assuming I'm counting correctly, that's the "Walkie-Talkie". Built that shape to maximise the amount of office space that can be squeezed on top of a relatively small footprint on the ground, it acquired some notoriety when the architects got a real-world demonstration of the effect of a concave wall of glass when it faces south on a sunny day: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23930675So they had to come up with some sort of additional screening. But they did put a garden and bar at the top for the general public to access (and without the ridiculous fee at the Shard). Thanks for the thorough reply, Patrick. I'd forgotten all about Bixa's question, but probably couldn't have answered it anyway.
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Jul 23, 2015 19:30:40 GMT
Another problem with this fancy building is that it can seriously affect the wind, magnifying it just as it did the heat from the sun, Apparently people have been blown over in the street.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Jul 23, 2015 19:36:12 GMT
But Mossie ~ that could be amusing!
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Jul 27, 2015 16:02:58 GMT
Not if it was you who was blown over.
|
|