Brussels Confidential

White Night and Full English

Saturday night was Nuit Blanche in Brussels - White night - when all establishments are encouraged to stay open all night for a festival of life. Musicians and performers line the streets of the city centre - for pedestrians only this night. White streamers and white carnival decorations hang on every street light.

Art galleries, The Town Hall in Grand Place, Cathedrals, Churches and even the Bourse, Brussels' tiny Stock exchange is open for visitors all night.

Special food stalls appear, children with waffles and cotton candy follow their parents. Patrons at restaurants spill out on to bulging terraces, feet tapping to the African drums. Adults dancing on the cobblestones, beers in hand. This party is meant to go all night. A romantic and fun night - to be shared with good friends.

We started at PP Cafe for Mint Daiquiris - so good, fresh mint. We wandered to Grand Place for the classical singers, who stood atop a 40-foot podium, dressed in white, singing arias and solos - the amazingly pretty buildings enhanced by blue- white lights as a backdrop. It was so beautiful and peaceful and so right.

We went to Place St. Catherine where they had set-up a Brazilian village. We drank Caiperinhas and ate grilled brochettes, danced, danced, danced. It started to rain. To pour actually. Danced in the rain. Eventually, got a bit too cold and shivery.

We went to the Monk - named for Thelonius Monk - though there's a grand piano in the centre - I have never been there when someone whips it open and jams. Apparently it doesn't happen often. If nothing, it's a warm place to dry off.

Couldn't stay out long enough to take advantage of the free breakfast served all over town at 5am. Too much everything. On the way to hop a cab at 3:30 am we see tons of drummers on the steps of La Bourse with hundreds of revellers dancing on the steps and around the plaza in front. So alive, so fun.

A special night, full of colours, good food, excellent music, fine dancing, fun cocktails, festive moods, happy people.

The flip side - morning (later that day). A request has been made. Sure, I will make a full English breakkie. Nothing else will really do after a night like that.

posted by Brussels Confidential @ 10:30 AM