Embarking on a Solo Trip to Belgium Despite it Being a Graduation Trip【11】
Day 2 in Germany, Belgium【2015/3/1】
After having breakfast and getting ready at the hotel, we checked out and headed to the next hotel.
Even the casual scenery is picturesque.
We took a train to "Cologne Central Station".
The cathedral in front of the station was crowded with tourists.
After a brief stroll, the other three went to Dortmund to watch the "Ruhr Derby". At that time, Japanese players Shinji Kagawa (Dortmund) and Atsuto Uchida (Schalke) were members of the respective teams, so watching the match was one of the purposes of this trip.
As for me, I headed to Brussels, Belgium alone.
I decided to go to Brussels the day before. When I searched for "Cologne sightseeing" on my phone, it said that a day trip was possible, so I decided to go.
Why did I act alone on a graduation trip? - Initially, it was a trip planned for three people. - I joined in suddenly. - Tickets for the Ruhr Derby are about 100,000 yen per match.
If I paid 100,000 yen and sat away from the three, it would be boring, and I think there was a possibility that tickets could not be obtained. The Ruhr Derby is that popular of a match.
On the train from Cologne to Brussels, I was quite nervous. - At that time, there had been a terrorist incident in France, and there were rumors that Brussels, where the EU headquarters is located, might also be targeted... - The contract for the Wifi router was only within Germany and Italy, so I couldn't use the internet in Belgium. - Since I decided the day before, I had almost no information about Belgium.
Anyway, when I arrived at Brussels Central Station, the excitement overcame the anxiety as I saw a different scenery from Germany.
For some reason, I ended up having a meal at "McDonald's" in Belgium.
While eating a hamburger, I was thinking about where to go. There was a tourist attraction in Brussels that I knew of, but I didn't know the location. I asked a foreigner sitting next to me, but he said, "I don't understand English," so I decided to look for it myself.
As I was walking aimlessly, I arrived at a large square where people were gathering. I later found out that this place was a tourist attraction called "Grand Place" (Grote Markt).
Leaving the square and wandering around, suddenly, right in front of me was the "Manneken Pis". It was the only tourist attraction I knew, and well, it was ordinary.
As expected, there were always people crowding around it.
After that, I aimlessly wandered around until the time for the return train.
Since Belgium is known for "waffles", I bought one at the station and ate it on the train.
The taste was ordinary.
I arrived at the hotel earlier, so while waiting, I received a message from the three, "We just arrived at Cologne station. Buying 'Mac' and coming back, are you there?" ......lol
I laughed out loud alone. Why come to Germany and get "Mac"? Without pointing that out, "I've eaten, so I don't need it." I replied.
It was heartwarming to come on a trip with friends who are on the same wavelength.
The view of Cologne Cathedral from the hotel was beautiful.
