Belgian Luxury Shopping After a hard day's sightseeing, your pet will love to explore the beautiful shops of the prestigious King's Gallery in Brussels, to perhaps spend a golden mole or two on gifts for those at home!
@ Belgian Luxury Shopping Rick O'Shade begins his tour of the Belgian city of Brussels.
While touring Belgium, you meet Bunnibuns.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Bunnibuns the Brown Rustic Rabbit. They both received one silver mole!
Bunnibuns gave you 10 "Chocolate-Pomegranate Candy Delight" FULL SIZE
Luxury Chocolate Shop One of the many chocolate stores in Brussels! Don't forget to stock up before your trip ends!
@ Luxury Chocolate Shop
White Daisy Egg My pets are in awe of these beautiful eggs—they would love to try to paint their own one year. Easter and spring are times of joy as the earth awakens, plants are pushing forth from the soil, and the days are becoming warmer. Many baby animals are born in the spring, and life is burgeoning. May these eggs bring you joy and be a reminder of the earth renewing itself.
While touring Belgium, you meet Sikandar.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Sikandar the Green Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
Elegant Luxury, Brussels Les Ecuadors is a luxury Belgian perfume designer, located in the King's Gallery, Brussels.
@ Elegant Luxury, Brussels There are 138 restaurants per square mile in Brussels! It’s a city famous for its food, and there are around 1800 restaurants in total. There’s even a gourmet restaurant on a tram where you can have a 6 or 7-course meal while exploring the streets of the capital.
While touring Belgium, you meet Bugsy.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Bugsy the Love Bug. They both received one silver mole!
Floral Art Nouveau A beautiful floral pattern on an art nouveau house designed by Ernest Blerot in the rue Vanderschrick in Saint-Gilles, Brussels, Belgium.
@ Floral Art Nouveau Brussels is home to over 80 interesting museums. There are museums ranging in focus from the sewage network, to celebrity underwear, to the history of street lights – if that’s your thing!
While touring Belgium, you meet Hershel.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Hershel the Brown Rustic Rabbit. They both received one silver mole!
Atomium Escalator Expo 1958 - a window on the world! The Soviet pavilion featured the Sputnik; the USA pavilion offered the American Dream and the host country showcased the Belgique Joyeuse. The structure of the Atomium remains a famous landmark in Brussels. It is shaped like a cube balanced on one edge and represents an elementary iron crystal magnified 165 billion times.
@ Atomium Escalator The airport in Brussels is the largest sales outlet for chocolate in the world! It exports roughly 800 tonnes annually. That’s one big suitcase.
While touring Belgium, you meet Splodge.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Splodge the Chocolate Milky Moo Cow. They both received one silver mole!
Gothic Gate, Brussels This sturdy wooden gate, set in a thick wall decorated with elaborate stone scrollwork, forms part of the 17th century Eglise Sainte Marie-Madeleine in Brussels.
@ Gothic Gate, Brussels Belgian waffles are beloved the world over. These rectangular, doughy local delicacies are everywhere in Brussels, where they originated.
While touring Belgium, you meet Franz.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Franz the Arctic Feisty Fox. They both received one silver mole!
Belgian Chocolate Delights Visit any one of the many, many chocolate shops in Brussels and you will face a cornucopia of delights! Start with a scoop of chocolate enrobed cherries, move down the counter and top up with chocolate nuts -- anything is improved when smothered in chocolate!
@ Belgian Chocolate Delights The Grote Markt, the city’s Grand Place is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s also the best location to blend in with the Belgians and watch the world go by.
While touring Belgium, you meet Daisy.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Daisy the Grey Playful Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
Royal Palace of Brussels Europe has a dozen countries that have a constitutional monarchy. The Palace in Brussels is the King’s administrative residence and main workplace, where he works daily with his staff. In his office at the Brussels palace, King Philippe receives heads of state, ambassadors and other guests. The Palace has many beautiful rooms, and it opens its doors to the public every year.
@ Royal Palace of Brussels The humble fried potato chip is claimed to have originated here. Now misleadingly called French fries, people first began frying potatoes in Belgium in the late 1600s. Today, there are fries on the menu at nearly all Brussels restaurants, and there’s even a fry museum! Some people (mostly students) swear by the local dish called mitraillette – a sandwich with fries. According to lore, the dish was born in Belgium in the winter of 1680, when the fried fish-loving denizens of a city called Namur had to find something else to cook when the local river froze over. While some historians have questioned the authenticity of this tale, Belgium has stood firm in its stance that it created French fries, and successfully petitioned UNESCO to add the dish to Belgium's list of cultural treasures back in 2017. So why do fries have the word "French" in front of them? The term most likely refers to the dish's method of preparation — not its origins. "Frenching" is a way of cutting ingredients for even cooking, basically a julienne that aims to expose all sides of an item, such as potatoes, to the heat of an oven or fryer. Technically, the name "French fries" should really be "French fried potatoes." Read More: https://www.tastingtable.com/740270/the-origin-of-...
While touring Belgium, you meet Wuzzy.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Wuzzy the Green Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
Wuzzy gave you 10 "Chocolate-Toffee Candy Delight" FULL SIZE
Ornate Edifices, Brussels These striking buildings are typical of the architecture in Brussels.
@ Ornate Edifices, Brussels Brussels is not just the capital of Belgium, but the de facto capital of Europe too. Being the headquarters of the European Union, it houses approximately 40,000 representatives from all over the Continent.
While touring Belgium, you meet Ms Stinkerbelle.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Ms Stinkerbelle the Baby Skunk. They both received one silver mole!
All the King's Horses Belgium has eight different horse breeds, used variously as draught horses or as general riding horses or in showjumping. The horses forming part of the Belgian Royal Escort (Dutch: Koninklijk escorte te paard, French: Escorte royale à cheval) are Belgian horses. The escort is a horse and motorcycle unit that accompanies the Belgian monarch (currently King Philippe) on ceremonial occasions. It also provides escorts for foreign visiting heads of state and ambassadors visiting the Royal Palace in Brussels.
@ All the King's Horses Brussels has a car-free Sunday once a year every September. From 9.30 am until 7 pm, the main streets of the city are closed to motorised vehicles. Pedestrians roam free, and public art, pop-up shops, and many community activities take place.
While touring Belgium, you meet Mimi.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Mimi the Meadow's Secret Caterpillar. They both received one silver mole!
Grand Place Architecture These magnificant buildings are part of the Grand Place in Brussels.
@ Grand Place Architecture If you’re interested in dinosaurs, you need to come to Brussels. The Museum of Natural Sciences houses Europe’s largest hall dedicated to dinosaurs, with over 37 million species in its collection.
While touring Belgium, you meet Applesauce.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Applesauce the Baby otter. They both received one silver mole!
Coach Above Reproach You can picture this splendid antique coach being pulled by two fine horses conveying a lord and his lady to a masked ball or cotillion in the city of Brussels—or did it perhaps belong to the Royal Family?
@ Coach Above Reproach Brussels was founded in 979 CE, but facts suggest that people have settled on this spot since around 580 CE.
While touring Belgium, you meet Ariilina.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Ariilina the Fox’Maid (Ariilina) . They both received one silver mole!
Fountain, Parc de Bruxelles Warandepark is the largest urban public park in the centre of Brussels and is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
@ Fountain, Parc de Bruxelles Brussels has a car-free Sunday once a year every September. From 9.30 am until 7 pm, the main streets of the city are closed to motorised vehicles. Pedestrians roam free, and public art, pop-up shops, and many community activities take place.
While touring Belgium, you meet Lou.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Lou the Spirit Bear. They both received one silver mole!
Lou gave you 10 "Chocolate-Toffee Candy Delight" FULL SIZE
Brussels Raven Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore; Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door— Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door— Perched, and sat, and nothing more. Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven, 1845
@ Brussels Raven The official symbol of Brussels is a yellow iris, which is a native flower in the region. This yellow flower is depicted on the blue flag for the Brussels Capital Region. The City of Brussels flag, however, is red and green with an image of St Michael (the Patron Saint of Brussels) slaying the devil.
While touring Belgium, you meet Sebastian.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Sebastian the Bashful Badger. They both received one silver mole!
Wondrous Waffles Brussels is renowned for its delicious waffles and the display here of a range of splendid dessert waffles does not disappoint! You can enjoy a waffle that is relatively plain, or push the boat out a little to eat one that is smothered in whipped cream, syrup and fruit pieces!
@ Wondrous Waffles Oh look ... you got a little gift!
While touring Belgium, you meet jimkitty.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with jimkitty the Grey Playful Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
jimkitty gave you 1 "Snow Globe, Brussels, Belgium" size 7
Time for Reflection An interesting angle on mediaeval architecture caught in Brussels after rainfall.
@ Time for Reflection As well as the European Union, Brussels is home to the headquarters of several different worldwide organisations, like NATO. Because of this, there are more journalists and ambassadors in Brussels than in Washington DC!
While touring Belgium, you meet Enterbeauty a name for this pet.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Enterbeauty a name for this pet the Green Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
Enterbeauty a name for this pet and you found 5 Travel Tokens!
Brussels City Centre An aerial view of the Brussels Botanical Gardens after snowfall showing the main artery of traffic heading for the imposing buildings of the financial quarter.
@ Brussels City Centre The Royal Palace of Brussels is similar looking to the famous Buckingham Palace in London. However, did you know that it is 50% longer?
While touring Belgium, you meet DrakeStingray.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with DrakeStingray the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
DrakeStingray gave you 10 "Chocolate-Coffee Candy Delight" FULL SIZE
Snowy Cityscape An aerial view of the Brussels Botanical Gardens after snowfall with the orangery (Le Botanique), composed of a central rotunda with a dome, designed by architect Tilman-Francois Suys, in the foreground. In the background are the imposing buildings of the financial quarter.
@ Snowy Cityscape There are 138 restaurants per square mile in Brussels! It’s a city famous for its food, and there are around 1800 restaurants in total. There’s even a gourmet restaurant on a tram where you can have a 6 or 7-course meal while exploring the streets of the capital.
While touring Belgium, you meet Icy.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Icy the Arctic Feisty Fox. They both received one silver mole!
Stained Glass Window, Brussels Stained glass in the Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon in Brussels, Belgium, depicting Catholic saints. Built in a Gothic style, Notre Dame du Sablon has been a site of pilgimage since the Middle Ages. The central nave has beautiful natural light which streams from eleven stained-glass windows, each measuring 49 ft (15 m) high. It is the effect of the stained-glass windows that encircle and light up the altar that makes it a major attraction to the church’s visitors.
@ Stained Glass Window, Brussels A whopping 27% of the population of the city is foreign, making it one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities.
While touring Belgium, you meet Sugar.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Sugar the Green Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
Clock and Carillon, Brussels This landmark is located at Mont des Arts, part of the Palais de la Dynastie. The Carillon is a star-shaped clock designed by Jules Ghobert. The clock alternates every other day playing folk tunes in Walloon and Flemish on the strike of the hour.
@ Clock and Carillon, Brussels As well as the European Union, Brussels is home to the headquarters of several different worldwide organisations, like NATO. Because of this, there are more journalists and ambassadors in Brussels than in Washington DC!
While touring Belgium, you meet Balthazar.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Balthazar the Bashful Badger. They both received one silver mole!
Galeries Royales, Brussels The Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert: a fascinating place right in the heart of Brussels to shop for luxury goods, feast on coffee and waffles and perhaps take part in a chocolate-making class!
@ Galeries Royales, Brussels Brussels was founded in 979 CE, but facts suggest that people have settled on this spot since around 580 CE.
While touring Belgium, you meet Grayson.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Grayson the Grey Playful Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
Christmas Market, Brussels The Brussels Christmas Market in Belgium is said to be the best in Europe and contains everything needed to get you in that feel-good Christmas spirit! It's a real-life Winter Wonderland. Held each December in the Place Saint Catherine, this charming market offers a glimpse into Christmas Past with over 200 traditional wooden chalets filled with local treasures and perfect gifts. If shopping isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other seasonal activities to choose from, like ice skating, carnival rides and a son-et lumière show.
@ Christmas Market, Brussels Belgian waffles are beloved the world over. These rectangular, doughy local delicacies are everywhere in Brussels, where they originated.
While touring Belgium, you meet Itchy.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Itchy the Merry Mole. They both received one silver mole!
Itchy gave you 10 "Iridescent Red Candy Drop" FULL SIZE
Grand Place, Brussels The palace in the Grand Place lit up at night.
@ Grand Place, Brussels If you’re interested in dinosaurs, you need to come to Brussels. The Museum of Natural Sciences houses Europe’s largest hall dedicated to dinosaurs, with over 37 million species in its collection.
While touring Belgium, you meet Hero.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Hero the Arctic Feisty Fox. They both received one silver mole!
Brussels Cityscape A fine aerial cityscape looking over Brussels in the early morning. Note the crow-stepped gable end of the house in the centre foreground, typical architecture in Belgium.
@ Brussels Cityscape Rick O'Shade has now completed his tour of the Belgian city of Brussels. As he prepares to go home, he receives a wonderful gift!
Rick O'Shade has enjoyed his tour of the Belgian city of Brussels, but it is time to go home now! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also tour a Belgian city!
While touring Belgium, you meet Robby.
Rick O'Shade shook paws with Robby the Bashful Badger. They both received one silver mole!