Brussels, Belgium

 We had a 24hr spot that needed filling.  The lovely capital of Belgium, Brussels, was a fun pick. We had very specific lodging needs:  Close to train station.  Close to tour bus stop.  Luggage drop.  Easy right?  What I found was sort of a hotel/hostel hybrid.  A detail I failed to mention to my hotel snob husband.  We arrived and I checked in with a slew of several young, bubbly, 20-somethings behind the desk.  I turned around to see Robert and the kids huddled in the lobby with wide eyes.  We were there with everyone in Europe between the ages of 18 and 25 but it was great.  It really was. Not many hotels(that we usually stay in, at least) let you play sock soccer in the hallways and have super modern bunkbeds. 

 Touring...

 Brussels has this fun little stop.  This giant atom sits outside Mini Europe, a quick walk through each of the European Union countries in miniature scale.

 Can you find them?

 We now totally get the hype.  Belgium waffles are divine!

 A piece of the Berlin wall.

 Manneken Pis.  My children were quite amused.

 This gorgeous square is home to Brussels' famous Flower Carpet.