How to visit four countries in one weekend (and enjoy it)
Hi, I don't know if you remember me. I am the gentleman who has been walking uphill and eating Flemish carbonnades in Brussels for five years. Not long ago I highlighted here some of the great secret virtues, hidden , of the small city that saw how the Berlaymont building in 1967 to become the seat of the European Parliament.
Besides mussels and a mostly foreign population, one of the most spectacular details of the Belgian town is its impressive communication with cities and bordering countries.
Thus, if one proposes it, he has time and plans it well in advance, a weekend can turn into an express exploration to different countries where to dine, go to the movies or go shopping. Let's see that sketch.
First stop: Aachen
FRIDAY
We got up a little early, but without stress. We are talking about one of those early risers that actually serve only to take advantage of the day and not to check bags. We will get up early to take advantage of the first of our transfers, the one that will take us to the first country of the weekend (the second if you don't live in Belgium, of course) : ** Germany **. From the station Bruxelles-Midi , we take the first Thalys passing direction Aachen, known to us as Aachen. _(From €19 in advance; journey time: 60 minutes) _
Frühstück with Charlemagne
Just sixty minutes separate Brussels, Belgium, from Aachen, Germany. There, to the west of Germany, rests the former king of the Franks and emperor of the West, "the father of Europe", Charlemagne.
His remains are found in the Persephone's sarcophagus , inside the Aachen Cathedral, a beautiful and contained monument in the middle of a city full of charm. Between view and view, just 180 meters from the remains of Charlemagne, one can enjoy an exquisite breakfast in the Café Middelberg.
A good breakfast to start the route in Aachen
And that's it, We have no more time to lose. We say goodbye to the emperor, the eggs, the sausages and that delicious schnitzel and we go to the station to catch the next train heading to the city of love. _(From €35 in advance; trip duration 130’) _
**Fish & Chips in Paris **
Although it sounds incongruous considering that tomorrow we are going to spend the day in London, wacky is always fun.
Traveling to the city of nouvelle cuisine to feed on the same thing as the doublet hooligans after one more day of your team in the Premier League may sound bizarre, but, beware, in the very cuqui Mersea Faubourg Montmartre you can eat the best fries in town , in addition to some spectacular fish balls.
traveler's rest
If things get out of hand, you can also go through L'Olympia or the Zenith room , both ideal places to see a good concert in good conditions.
And if we don't always have the district of Pigalle , where the Grand Guignol theater was born and home to the Moulin Rouge, where you can enjoy a delicious dinner with a show from before.
After that first crazy day, you will have to rest for a while and not sting with the Parisian night, but if you have energy you can go see how it is to drink in the trendy club designed by David Lynch, Silence . Of course, when they open the doors for the general public.
SATURDAY
**Cinema, cake and comics in London **
_The magic of the Eurostar and that ticket you bought in advance will allow you have breakfast in Paris and lunch in London . In a couple of hours you will go from the Parisian central station to the London one. Important Reminder: Bring an adapter to charge the phone. (From €39 in advance. Trip duration 130’) _
London is like New York, but with a slightly more academic accent. So take a light and comfortable shoes, that there are many things to see.
The Disney Store Oxford Street is a must see, as well as hamleys , where to buy a good reminder in the form of a Paddington bear. The size already depends on each one, but he thinks that there is still a lot to do.
A cinematic walk through London
To eat and not lose too much time while enjoying an excellent hamburger, their thing is to pull Five Guys or Shake Shack . It is clear to me that I prefer the first, but since it is beginning to be seen more and more in Europe, I would opt for the Shake Shack in Covent Garden.
Why? Because it is a stone's throw from two mandatory stops: fopp Y Forbidden Planet . In the first you will leave your life in records and movies. In the second, in comics, figurines and some t-shirts.
Don't forget to recharge your batteries cream coffee with Portuguese pastries before visiting one of the city's exquisite second-hand bookstores, such as **Henry Pordes Books.**
Afternoon falls and it will be time to find shelter in a good movie theater. And there are two very different but fully satisfactory offers. Decide for him Prince Charles Cinema or go see something else premiere at picture house . If we choose the premiere, always a good piece of Red Velvet from her coffee or have a bite to eat in the upstairs restaurant.
If, on the other hand, we are more of taking advantage and seeing some unexpected 70mm copy at the Prince Charles Cinema, we can have dinner at the Tao Tao Ju next door and go straight in for the popcorn . And from the movies to bed to continue dreaming.
SUNDAY
**A spectacular Sunday in Rotterdam **
Well, friends, Sunday arrives, the last day to discover a new country. In this case we will retrace our steps to reoccupy a seat on the Eurostar. It is advisable, as always in these cases, to have bought an early ticket to finish making the most of the weekend. getting up early like this we can be at noon in Rotterdam via Brussels.
The Dutch port city is located 55 minutes from Brussels via Thalys , and it is a beautiful city, quiet and without the hustle and bustle of other cities in the country with a somewhat more “festive” tourism. _(Train from €19 in advance. Trip duration 120’. Flixbus from €9 same duration) _
At noon you can arrive on time and the Langoest reserve ready to eat overlooking the harbor . It is a wonderful restaurant specializing in fish with the imposing Erasmus Bridge as a landscape. The "surprise" menu is fun and ranges between 35 and 50 euros depending on the number of dishes included: 3, 4 or 5.
Eat overlooking the harbor in Rotterdam
After lunch, a walk through the port to the shops in the center to look for records at a good price, where a couple stand out above the rest: Demonfuzz Y By Plaatboef , both with a lot of material for sale and second hand (good Neil Young vinyls in great edits I've taken from there) and also a lot of cinema in DVD and bluray format in the second store.
And if your thing is more specific and closer to jazz or rhythm & blues, you should also go through ** Vinylspot Records .**
For the return to mother Belgium you have two options. The economy is called FlixBus and it is an invention. A green bus that travels around Europe at very competitive prices. By about nine euros you can return from Rotterdam in just under two hours , the best to recover energy while resting.
If you opt for the train, the trip is reduced by half, and in just sixty minutes you will be back in the center of Brussels , the key point of our camp.
Since you are going to come back with empty pockets after such a crazy weekend, I recommend you the best kebab in town: papaya snack . An incredible team of workers, friendly and who manage the flavors like no one else. For six euros you eat and drink like a king and put an end to an unrepeatable weekend.
Point and end in Rotterdam