Sometimes, land in a foreign country isn’t a easy thing. If for an English man who went to Brussels, the weather isn’t a very serious problem, one day, he could have the nostalgia of seeing again his dear country. So, why don’t let try to fight this pain by having a glass in a familiar place?

Everybody knows Belgium is well-known for the diversity and the quality of their beer products but it exists in the centre of the capital, some English oasis who resist against the invader and show loudly their traditional UK character. One of them is the “Celtica” café, situated near the Bourse.

At the first sight, the building doesn’t seem very welcoming but the inside is very warm and dives you directly into the smoky atmosphere of those atypical places that are the pubs. This café is resolutely turned to a modern conception since it’s provided with a dance floor and concerts are played regularly there. However , this doesn’t stop the “Celtica” to keep his pub identity with his old wood seats , tables or barrels ,his fully glasses and his sport broadcast (especially football matches from the English Premier League) announced in front of the entrance .

But the main advantage of this place is great list of alcohols and beers from across the Channel suggested to democratic prices. Moreover, this establishment implements the “Happy Hours” system from 18 ‘o clock to midnight: it consists of a reduction of the prices to ,obviously (sometimes the half of the habitual price!),favor the consumption of drinks*

And for those people who don’t like the Guinness, whose the worst nightmare is drinking a glass of whisky but who like to enjoy the particular atmosphere of this kind of place, the menu offers them the possibility to drink a soft or a traditional Belgian beer .

So, here we go?

You can get more adresses of pubs in Brussels on this web page

Hadrien Seret

Everyone knows the famous « double-decker bus » in London. This bus has a particularity : it has two levels and it is a symbolic image of United Kingdoms.
English people can be happy, we also have two level bus in Brussels!
Do you want to catch this bus with Hadrien, Aline and me? If you do, follow us!
Oh, did I not tell you? That kind of buses are only used for sightseeing here. We are going to visit the wonderful city of Brussels!
We will start by visiting the “old-town” and the “Grand Place” .
It was built in the 12th century and was bombed by Louis XIV in 1695. It was rebuilt according to the same style afterwards. Every two years, you can admire a wonderful carpet of flowers during the summer time.
After that, we will see some other important places of the city, such as the Saint-Michel cathedral, old of ten centuries and built in honour of Saint-Michel archangel, protector of Brussels.
We will also go to the Heysel and see the Atomium, the most important symbol of Belgium around the world. Maybe you will have the chance to stop and go into that huge atom of steel.
The bus will drive over the “Place Louise” and the “Botanique”: a park and a big construction that became a cultural centre very important for the capital.
Another thing to see with this bus is the “Palais royal” but I will not tell you about that because my friend Aline is writing a very interesting article about it…
So leave the “Palais Royal” and come with us (and the bus of course!) to the “Parc du Cinquantenaire” where we can see a lot of museums: museum of aviation, museum of the army, museum of royal arts and history and the Autoworld museum.
And, if I remember well, we are close to the European Commission and European Parliament! Yes, you are in the centre of Europe!
Oh my God, it is already time for Hadrien, Aline and me to come back!
Well, have a nice visit of Brussels!

Johane Bar

Hey readers, it is time to continue your visit!

Did you know that Brussels has his own Buckingham Palace and Royal Family ?

The King Albert the Second governs Belgium since 1993, after his brother’s death, Baudouin. Our first King was Léopold the First, at the creation of Belgium.

Albert the Second became the sixth king of Belgium. He is married to the Queen Paola. There have three children and twelve grandchildren. In this great family, the heirs are Philippe and his daughter Elizabeth, second in the succession order, born in 2001. If she comes to the throne, she would become the first Queen of Belgium.

The Royal Family lives in the Chateau de Laeken where are the greenhouses which gathers an impressive collection of worldwide plants. The domain is surrounded by the greatest green space of Brussels.

The Royal Palace is the place where the King takes care of royal events and meets politicians and royal persons coming in Belgium. The Palace has been built after 1731, there were two town houses on this site before the construction. The building is located near the European Commission and in front of the Royal Park of Brussels, known for his sculptures.

Every 21th of July, on the place which separates the Palace and The Park, a parade takes place to celebrate the national holiday. And every year at the beginning of the summer,  there is a music festival gathering mostly famous bands, coming from France or Belgium. This is the opportunity to see the Belgian Buckingham Palace by night and in an unique atmosphere.

Aline Florin.