If it wasn't for couch surfing, I would have absolutely nothing good to say about Brussels. After spending time in the beautiful cities in Germany and Scotland, being in Brussels was a real let down. The streets were filthy, the people scary looking, and every bridge had the smell of piss emanating from underneath it. Thankfully, for our first two nights, Ryan and I found one of the best people in the city. We left the dark streets for her stark white attic apartment. Alyn was originally from California but was living in Brussels as a teacher. The three of us just hung out and she advised us on the best places to get chocolate, and also the story behind the cities greatest attraction: Manneken Pis = Peeing Boy. Yes, in the city that smells like piss, their best tourist attraction is a peeing boy.

OH - side note: Forrest, our friend from Guelph, had flown to Belgium to hang out with us for a few days. The next morning we met up with Forrest, got him a hotel room, and the three of us set out to find this peeing boy. Well, we found it and it was not that impressive. There really wasn't that much else to do in the city until that night when Ryan and I went to a Couch Surfing monthly meeting. About 40 couch surfers showed up to the tiny cafe/bar to drink, chat, and hang out. When you are in a city that is not that great, it is really reassuring to go to an event like this to remind yourself that there are good people in the world.

The next day we bid farewell to Brussels early in the morning and set off to a much anticipated destination: BRUGGES!

(Blog to come)