Moving On… From Paris To Brussels By Rail

Goodbye to Paris

From Paris to Brussels by train? Brussels is only 160 miles (and 80 minutes) from Paris (by rail) - so the Rail Europe option is a no-brainer. The Paris Gare du Nord station is a 10 minute walk from the Kube Hotel and unless you are toting a trunk, there is no need to take a taxi.

More Than a Station

Built 1861-1864 and designed by the French architect Jacques Hittorff in the Beaux-Arts (neoclassical) style, the Paris Gare du Nord station is located in the 10th arrondissement. The building is enormous and there are so many entrances that it is easy to get lost. Look (ask if necessary) for the entrance to the building and getting to the correct platform for the train to Brussels is simple…Entering by any other door will lead to parts unknown!

Arriving early at the station is a really good idea. Take the time to look at the 23 female statues that are part of the 540 ft. façade. Each status represents a particular destination served by the Chemin de Fer Nord rail company (now part of Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Francais). The destinations sculptured include Paris, London, Berlin, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Vienna, Brussels and Frankfurt.

An early arrival also offers time to indulge in the excellent street food that makes all European train stations so deliciously tempting. From lobster tails to spicy sausages and roast chicken – the eats are fabulously yummy. The stations also feature seductive candy and pastry kiosks and a wide selection of soft drinks and beers at multiple bars as well as take-away.

Over 190 million people transit through this station each year, making it the most hectic railway station in Europe and the busiest in the world outside Japan. Departures for Northern France and international destinations (i.e., Belgium, Germany, the Netherland and the UK) start here.

Déjà vu

Upon arrival - the station somehow looks… familiar. Why? The interior and exterior were part of in the Bourne Identify (2002) with Matt Damon and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). It was also part of Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and Mr. Bean’s Holiday (2007). The end of The Raven (2012) takes place at this station and scenes from the Gossip Girl’s episode, Double Identify was filmed here. The station was also featured in the video for the song Home by Blake Shelton and the station is mentioned in The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

Time to Get On-Board

All train departures (time and platform locations) are posted on huge boards dispersed throughout the station. Boarding starts approximately 20 minutes before scheduled departure – so do not tarry. As soon as the platform number is posted – grab your luggage and dash for the train. Keep tickets handy so that the car and seat numbers can be referenced. Sometimes a train conductor is stationed at the first car and can be queried for directions to “your” car; other times there is no one to ask – so – the best advice is to get on the car that offers the first boarding opportunity – and then find the way to your seat. Yes it is a pain to have to push/pull luggage through the aisles and there must be a better way; unfortunately, I never found a solution to this problem.

Arriving in Brussels

Be aware that cell phones may not work in European train stations. Supposedly there are hot spots – but my carrier (Verizon) was not able to link to them. Do not bother asking station personnel to make a call for you (on their business or their personal cell phones) – they will not do it. If you are arriving after 6 PM the stations tourism office are likely to be closed – so do not expect assistance from this source. Since I was traveling exclusively on Rail Europe I finally went into the Eurostar office to ask them to make a call to my hotel for a pick-up.

Arriving late? Hungry? It might be a good idea to pick up sandwiches at the station before heading to the hotel (not all have hotels have late night F&B services); in addition, there is no guaranty that neighborhood restaurants will be open.

Sleeping at Be Manos. Pleasant Surprises

While the website places the hotel “next to” the train station – this is not exactly correct! It is close (perhaps a 10 minute walk) – and it is not easy to find (unless you are familiar with the mixed commercial/residential neighborhood). The best idea is to contact the hotel from the train station and arrange a pick-up or take a taxi (dozens parked outside the terminal).

The 1920s façade offers an understated entrance to this 60-room boutique property (it can easily be missed). Even the first steps into the lobby and the front desk are low-key; however, if you suspend an opinion until you see the dining spaces and rooms (large, great desk space, designer inspired with smoked Plexiglas furniture and 'S' chairs from Danish designer Verner Panton) – you will, ultimately, be a very happy guest. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi (that actually works in rooms as well as public space).

The living space is separated from the bath/toilet area by industrial glass doors – offering a terrific feeling of space and style. The color palate for the hotel is black/white/grey/beige with color blocks of orange and lime green. The natural black stone floors, metallic curtains and huge black and white photographs of attractive men and women on the doors to the rooms – makes this boutique property memorable.

The modern/minimalist sophisticated and comfortable dining/drinking spaces are perfect for enjoying a glass of wine and dinner, as well as the generous breakfast that is included in the room rate.

It is important to note that the hotel is located in a business district and weekends are very quiet. There is a self-service laundry a few blocks away (a necessity for executives on the move) and a few neighborhood /family style restaurants are useful (not gourmet – think eating; not dining).

What’s Going On

Shopping

Most (not all – so check) shops are open 10am—6pm or 7pm Monday—Saturday and closed on Sunday. Brussels is the capital city and the headquarters of the European Community and NATO, thusly the retailers on the Avenue Louise focus on Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Versace, Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton. The couture options for men and women are dazzling and seductive. Make sure that your pockets are stuffed with credit cards and lots of Euros.

Luxury

Delvaux (founded in 1829). The oldest family-owned, upmarket leather luxury goods in the world. The official purveyor to the Belgian royal court

Dinh Van Jewelers. Elegant, contemporary and entirely delicious; jewelry that becomes part of the family heritage

Howards Jewelry. Italian inspired jewels and accessories from Mattioli, Marco Bicego, Centoventuno, Casato and Moraglione

Carlode Pascale, Founder, Mmmmh!

Cooking Class

Mmmmh! Open 7 days a week, this center for the culinary arts, cooking equipment and raw materials for the chef (and the wannabe chef), requires a few hours of time. Mmmmh! was founded by Carlo de Pascale who started his career in law and public affairs. When he realized that his passion was not lurking in the library but alive and well in the kitchen he abandoned the law and never looked back. Today Pascale is a noted entrepreneur, columnist and television journalist who is recognized for his strong beliefs in locally sourced ingredients and a supporter of the Slow Food movement. He also co-authored the cookbook, Yes You Can. With over 50 recipes, it provides guidance and assistance to those who are also having love affairs – not in the boardroom - but rather in the kitchen.

His cooking classes attract corporate executives who use the techniques of the chef and the atmosphere of the kitchen for team building. The classes are also filled with lovers who want to share their passion for creating food and eating, millennials who are willing to expand their senses beyond Big Macs and 7 year old children who want to find their way beyond the cereal box.

The chefs teaching the classes are multi-lingual so cooking experiences can be coordinated to meet the languages preferences of the students. The variety of subjects covered in the classes is almost endless and include vegan and organic as well as a multiplicity of European and Asian cuisines. Because Brussels is an international city, so students come from all parts of the world and from a variety of industries.

Nightlife

Jazz Station. What happens to an old train station that is no longer used for trains? In Brussels the space has been morphed into a jazz club with space devoted to concerts, exhibitions, parties and band rehearsals (that are frequently open to the public). The retrofit was the brainchild of the former mayor of Sent-Joust-ten-Node, Jean Demines. He lobbied the European commission, the municipality of Sent-Jose-ten-Node and the Brussels-Capital Region to fund the project. The space opened in 2005 and Saturdays (starting at 6 PM), scores of jazz groupies (and their families) file in, sit on metal chairs, buy a beer and the bar, and listed to Belgian musicians.

What’s the Motive?

Although most visitors to Brussels are filling up hotel rooms and restaurants because of meetings because of meetings and related activities (MICE accounts for 52.5% of night stays). Brussels is the number one city in Europe and the number of two in the world among congress cities (according to the Union of International Associations). There are scads of museums, dozens of galleries, lots of restaurants and is gay friendly.

For additional information, click here:
http://www.visitbrussels.be/