Bilingual Brussels (Part 1 of 5)

Today, Morocco remains a major sender of migrants with annual flows estimated at 140,400 individuals (OECD.stat). It has been continuously so since the  1960s. At that time, emigration from Morocco was mainly directed towards France, Belgium and the Netherlands. 

CARIM Migration Profile: Morocco, 2009

Since the '80s, Moroccan immigration to Belgium has dipped in favor of closer countries like Spain and Italy, but the two countries still share a bond that's promoted "regularization" of Moroccan immigrants in "Europe's battlefield" as well as a reciprocally high rate of Belgian tourism in Morocco (see charts here).

As fascinating as these facts are, they were minor considerations as I planned my first European trip to see my good friend, Gaelle (see "Learning a Foreign Language"), and begin my European education in an effort to begin expanding my perspective and "preparing" for my studies at Al-Akhawayn in the fall.

What an initial experience it was!  I landed in Charloroi not knowing much about the country other than a couple big battles (Waterloo and The Battle of the Bulge) were fought there, their people were either from the Flemish-speaking Flanders clan or the French-speaking Walloon clan, and they could stomach beer and chocolate much better than talking to each other.  Also, it's been a while since they've had an official government.  Most of this was skimmed from a guidebook during the flight.

Over the the next couple days, I learned a lot more.  Between sampling Belgian beers and becoming familiar how to brew them to experiencing the "comic culture" of the capitol city's streets, my trip was packed with small shocks to my Moroccan-influenced senses.

The two biggest slaps to my face happened the first day when I got off the plane and realized that I resembled the majority of people I saw for the first time in a couple months.  Shorty after, my eyes popped out of my head when I noticed all of the holy buildings that had been erected to praise God by a name other then "Allah."  Being that this was only my second trip to Europe, the country's age and "old-world" taxed my concept of time, but this was quickly surpassed by the food and drink that were nothing short of a gastronomically-luxurious assault on my taste buds and nostrils.

The Downtown Food Court hosts a bevy of Fine Dining and had to be Regulated Last Year after Shop Owners Fought each other over Tourists who passed through the Alley

I met up with my "tour guide," Gaelle, at the airport and we spent the afternoon in the bilingual city of Brussels, which is not only the country's capitol but also the home of NATO and the European Union.  Over the next six hours, we talked about Brussels' history (varied) and current political situation (entangled) while we toured past its cultural and historic landmarks by foot and auto.

Building Fronts Downtown

The landmarks included the Cantillon Brewery and Museum, exorbitant cathedrals, tons of examples of the "cartoon city's" art, The Saint Humbert Gallery, Grand Place, Peeing Boy, Stock Exchange, World War I Monument, Royal Palace and The Hall of Justice.

 One of the 800-year old Cathedrals Downtown

Saint Humbert's Gallery was one of seven galleries built in Belgium between 1820 and 1880. Three of these have survived: the St. Hubert gallery, the Bortier gallery and the Northern Passage. These galleries had a double function: the ground-level was almost always occupied by shops, whereas the upper section (first and second floors) were reserved for apartments

 L'Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) at Grand Place

Statues on the Town Hall, most of which are life size

(from right to left) L’Etoile, Le Cygne and L'Arbre d'Or, Grand Place

Maison du Roi at Grand Place

 Since 1618 or 1619, the Peeing Boy has been making tourists giggle...

Shorter than expected, he can adorn over 700 costumes to fit any season or festivity

 The Unknown Soldier of World War I

 The Royal Palace

 The Palace of Justice, Under Renovation

The Western View from the Palace of Justice

After sunset, we ended the day by driving to the Moroccan part of town in the northeast part of the city, passing leafless knob willows and the European Union on the way.  Filling the cracks of time between my arrival, landmarks and our evening departure to Gent, Belgian beer, dining and comic book-covered walls left enough to continue the story another day.