The cozy and intimate atmosphere in the market located in the multicultural city makes me realize that indeed, Christmas is about being together with your loved ones, and enjoying the lighter things in life.
THE Drug Opera, a restaurant in the heart of Brussels, is lit up by Christmas lanterns and lights. | PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHELLE GUILLANG FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE
Daily Tribune's Malacañang reporter Michelle Guillang (middle) with colleagues Leth Narciso of DZRH (left) and Rea Mamogay of DZXL at the center of the Grand Palace.
THE Drug Opera is named as such because it used to be a drug store located near the La Monnaie Opera House.
Variety of waffles with delectable toppings sold at one of the chalets in the Christmas Market in Brussels.
Christmas Market stalls selling hot chocolate drinks, candies, gummy bears, nuts, and other desserts.
Life-size mechanical teddy bears.
As a tourist, I was told one can't end a trip to Belgium without visiting its charming Christmas markets.
On TikTok, where contents change based on the user's location, I found exciting videos of Brussels' famous Christmas market.
Looking like scenes from a movie, the market was surrounded by medieval buildings, decorated by fairy lights and Christmas lanterns. What a stunning view!
My Christian self is also wondering how Belgians, who are known to be non-religious, celebrate Christmas — a sacred Christian festival to remember the birth of the savior Jesus Christ.
But on the fourth and last day of President Bongbong Marcos' trip to Belgium, it finally dawned on me: The schedule kept us from going on side trips.
Now I have to figure out how to go to the Christmas market by myself.
I'd be turning 26 in Brussels, and I had a few more days to explore the winter destination.
In Brussels, French and Dutch are the official languages and English is not commonly spoken.
Fearful I might get lost in a foreign city, I stayed in an area familiar to me, not a kilometer away from the hotel I was staying at.
Foreign food does not excite me, so I opted for a restaurant that serves fried chicken and fries.
Decent birthday meal, I told myself. Being in Belgium is still a great way to celebrate my birthday anyway.
I was about to call it a day when I heard two women talking in a familiar language. I saw two Filipinos.
Finally, I was able to fully understand how to take public transportation in Brussels and get to the tourist spots.
The Filipinos I met did not just tell me the directions, one of them even accompanied me to the bus stop en route to the Christmas market.
I took the bus at the Porte de Namur station, and after five stops — we arrived at De Brouckere station, a two-minute walk from the Christmas market.
After a short walk, I felt the festive spirit through the rows of wooden stalls selling various kinds of food, drinks, and things — like cotton candy, candies, wine, and souvenirs.
As I walked towards the market, welcoming me was the scent of fresh waffles made more mouthwatering by toppings.
Whether you like waffles, plain or drizzled with maple syrup, cinnamon sugar, bananas, chocolate, and whipped cream — you can savor this Belgian breakfast food.
In the historic city known for its fine chocolates, I saw people lining up at a stall selling creamy hot chocolate drinks.
Temperature in this medieval city drops as low as — 6°C, so a cup of hot drink was helpful.
I was lucky enough to see the glorious Place de la Monnaie transformed into an après-ski village, popular among young couples here.
I saw two artificial ice rinks, where one can enjoy a skate session before satisfying sweet tooth with a wide range of treats being offered in the chalets.
A brisk walk from the Christmas market, I found the Grand Palace — located at the heart of the city center — where architectural details left me in awe.
At night, in this remarkable Baroque square, its astounding light-and-sound show.
Above one stall I found an artfully decorated big Christmas tree, whose leaves were covered with snow, life-size statues of reindeer, sleighs, and children donning Christmas outfits.
Noticeably, though, it did not have the artistic depiction of the Nativity scene portraying the birth of Jesus in a manger beside Mother Mary and Joseph.
But the cozy and intimate atmosphere in the market make me realize that indeed, Christmas is about being together with your loved ones, and enjoying the lighter things in life.
Brussels may not be the perfect destination for an adventurous European tour, but it is a perfect city to pause and relax.
