JULY 20-22, 2013
July 20
Brussels
First stop today is the Marc Sleen Museum. He is famous for his cartoon character Nero.
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Now to the Bande Dessinee, a museum with several exhibits of Belgian cartoon characters, most notably my favorite Tintin by Hergé.
From Explorers on the Moon: Tintin; Captain Haddock; Calculus (Tournesol)
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Snowy (Milou); Bust of Tintin with picture of Hergé and Tintin
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Cartoon strips of: Tintin; Snowy (Milou)
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Cartoon strips of: Captain Haddock; Calculus; Thomson/Thompson (Dupont/Dupond)
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Time for a lunch break at the Brasserie Horta downstairs. I ordered the Menu façon Gaston Lagaffe:
Les Rollmops a la confiture de myrtilles (Pickled Herring with Blueberry Jam); La Blanquette de veau au chocolat blanc (Ragout of Veal with white chocolate); La Tarte Tatin au witloof (Chicory Tarte Tatin)
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Cartoon characters: Spirou; Lucky Luke; Captain "Joel" Haddock
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Little Nemo in Slumberland; Model of the Walking Bed
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Later that evening I walked towards the palace and the city prepares for the celebration.
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I met four guys who were doing the Iron Brussels Beer Marathon. Starting at the Grand Place, on the day before Belgian National Day, the IBBM is a demonstration that combines challenges, special Belgian beer tasting sessions and discoveries all within a friendly and lively atmosphere. Jean Louis and Michel were from Marchin, Belgium and Tryph and Dayvay were from Rouen, France. I joined them and had fun, drinking beer at a few participating beer bars.
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We passed street art and fairs with rides, singing and dancing. Then with sore feet I got home way past my bedtime!
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July 21
Brussels
Today is a big day for Belgium. King Albert II abdicates and his son Prince Philippe will take the constitutional oath and becomes king. Went to the Cathedral in the morning and later at the Parliament where Philippe was sworn in as King but missed getting a glimpse of the new King.
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But at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers (Colonne du Congrès) I finally saw King Philippe. Later in my neighborhood there was a band playing and lots of people drinking at the beer garden.
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Celebrations continued into the night with fabulous fireworks.
July 22
Brussels
Today I will continue the Comic Strip Route.
Nero; The Angel; Cori, the Ship's Boy
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Back home drank Chimay Bleu beer with crackers and some appropriate Chimay à la Bleue cheese. Later bought take-out shawarma at Faraya, a Lebanese restaurant, in the neighborhood. Ate it upstairs in the top floor balcony with a glass of red wine. Much later went to meet my new friends in the neighborhood for some more Belgian beers. This time I tried Duvel.
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