Urbanist Snark: Brussels Journal

Please Join me as I recount my experiences visiting Brussels, Belgium. From my snarky, urbanist perspective I found that Brussels was a haven for convenience, efficiency, and style. There was a little something for everyone and the urban landscape and fabric was rich with options. Especially third spaces including: music venues, gastropubs, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bakeries, meat markets, seafood markets, fruit stands, and plazas. There was a metro station in every direction with access to both above ground street cars and light rail, but also below grade subways. Not only that but there was ample biking and walking infrastructure that made getting around the city a breeze. I stayed in Saint Gilles which is a neighborhood South of downtown and rich with culture, architecture, and history. Don’t forget that the Belgian’s invented beer, so there is plenty of it, along with chocolate, everywhere you go. Making Brussels an urbanist paradise on Earth.