Chez Natasha

I really like Brussels. Although I usually go down there for business, I try and stay longer just to walk around downtown. Brussels is only two and half hours away by train from Amsterdam and it’s enough of a change to feel like a mini-vacation. I speak French, but after years in the Netherlands, I also speak Dutch. Shopping in Brussels is what I call Belgian roulette. If I walk into a shop and look around slowly, people switch to Dutch. Then I answer back in French, but they hear my Québ&#233cois accent, not being able to place it. Then they switch back to Dutch. Then they hear my Dutch, which is very ‘Amsterdam’, with a slight English accent. Then I try and switch back to French, then I give up. For cool places to go, I recommend checking out Time Out.

(Photo: Rue des Bouchers/Beenhouwersstraat, a touristy restaurant street)