A Final Surprise.

Arising early, we packed our bags, left the apartment keys on the table and made our way to the train station. 

This time we chose to leave on the one road we hadn't walked along, thinking it would be a clever short cut to the station. As we lugged our bags around the corner, we suddenly found ourselves in the political district. As it turned out, the building next to our apartment had been the Flemmish Parliament. 

Amazed by our discovery, we carried on, heading towards what we thought was the centre. Along the main road we ran into camera crews galore. Gathered on one side of the pavement, they were focusing intently through a heavy set of gates, with gold arrow tips. As we drew closer, we saw why. Parliament House lay before us. 

(As we found out later on, David Cameron was visiting, hence the media.)

We crossed the road, and made our way through a beautiful, autumnal park. 

Through the pale green leaves, an imposing building emerged. A stark white contrast against the leaves, it was quite a surprise. We passed through the gates at the other side of the park, and found ourselves on a busy, cobbled road. And in front, of what turned out to be, the Belgian Royal Palace. 

What I love about Belgium, is just how relaxed and understated it is. So much beauty lies in the country, so much architecture and so much history. But they don't close it all in, stop anyone seeing it and charge excessive amounts for parts that you are allowed to see. Even the country's own Royal Palace, is only blocked off from the main road, with taxis and buses flying past, by a low wall and a few palm trees. 

Around the Royal Palace, beautiful, though distressed buildings, were open and free to walk in and out of. The only building that was closed, the morning we walked past, was a museum directly next door to the palace. It was a museum dedicated to Belgium and their history with the Congo. If you know of the history, it is a controversial and quite awful one, and we were quite shocked to see the history so proudly displayed. 

Overlooking the city is a statue of Godfrey of Bouillon, who was a leader of the First Crusade. The imposing statue faces away from the Royal Square and watches over the ongoings of this beautiful place.

After what was more of a detour than a shortcut, we made it to the station and set off for Ghent.