We recently flew to Prague from Chicago. And on the way there, had a one night layover in London, for just a few hours.  Coming home, we had the choice of a one night, twelve hour layover in Paris or 6 hours in Brussels.  We chose Paris, because Belguim  has SO MUCH to see and do, I want to go back there and spend  a  whole week! It would have driven me crazy to be in such a beautiful country with a few hours on my hands.

We have had friends and readers say how much they love Belguim. The people are very friendly and welcoming and there really is no language barrier.  It is  easy to converse in English, the 4th unofficial language.

The stunning architecture decorating the quaint cobblestone squares is breathtaking.  Incredible cuisine  can be found in the vast array of restaurants where each meal seems better than the last. Energetic and carefree, the overall mood in Belgium is infectious, summoning in all of us to live as Belgians and enjoy life to the fullest.

A must-see, must-do is the ATOMIUM. The Atomium  is a monument built for Expo ’58, the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. Designed by André Waterkeyn, it is 102-metres (335 ft) tall, with nine steel spheres connected so that the whole forms the shape of a unit cell of an  iron srytal magnified 165 billion times. It is probably the most popular tourist attraction and symbol of Europe’s capital.  Five of its nine spheres are open to the public. The upper sphere is said to offer spectacular views of Brussels, and when the skies are very clear, the view reaches to Antwerp. (FYI, the International Gay Lesbian Travel Association IGLTA is hosting their conference in Antwerp June 23-27).

Brussels is fast getting rid of its dull and grey image and gaining itself a reputation as one of Europe’s must-do cool short break destinations, with her human size, trendy bars and restaurants, fabulous food, great nightlife, fantastic shopping, numerous museums and other attractions such as the many interesting exhibitions and festivals of all kinds that are organized there throughout the  year.

Brussels is also becoming well known as a mecca of style, attracting more and more of the big names who-who’s  in  international fashion to its growing shopping districts.

Belgium has been offering full civil marriage rights to gay couples since 2003. An estimated 5,000 ceremonies have been held since. In order to contract marriage in Belgium, one of the parties must reside in the country.

GAY PRIDE  just occured in Belguim (usually  mid-May)  and in  October  comes the Pink Screens Film festival . There are lots of resturants and  gay clubs in Brussels , plus the nearby Wallonia, but beyond those cities, Belguim has so much beauty to see.