Photos....Brussels, Belgium

The Grand Place is the central square of Brussels. It is surrounded by guildhalls, the city's Town Hall, and other historical buildings. It's the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in all of Brussels. It is simply, grand!

In this city (and country) famed for its quality chocolate, it's not surprising to see little icons celebrating that tasty treat everywhere across Brussels. And yes, we bought our share.

This is the famous golden statue of Everard Serclaes (1320-1388) a citizen of Brussels, who helped recover the city from the Flemish. Locals say that the statue brings luck, and grants the wishes of all who touch it. Many tourists rub the statue, and this constant polishing keeps the body shiny. Other parts are also touched frequently by the tourists such as the face of an angel, a dog, and one of the shields. Ok, I rubbed it.

The Atomium is a monument built for Expo '58, the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. Designed by André Waterkeyn, it is 102 meters (335 ft) tall, with nine steel spheres connected so that the whole forms the shape of a unit cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. It's quite impressive

This is the famous golden statue of Everard Serclaes (1320-1388) a citizen of Brussels, who helped recover the city from the Flemish. Locals say that the statue brings luck, and grants the wishes of all who touch it. Many tourists rub the statue, and this constant polishing keeps the body shiny. Other parts are also touched frequently by the tourists such as the face of an angel, a dog, and one of the shields. Ok, I rubbed it.

"Manneken Pis" is a small bronze fountain sculpture depicting a naked little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. It is arguably the city's most famous (off beat) tourist attraction. In shops across the city replicas in brass or fiberglass are commonplace, and they sell. Note the risqué souvenir items as ashtrays and corkscrews. What a concept.