Belgium is known for Art Nouveau and this year there is a festival with openings of otherwise private places. Today we visited two Victor Horta sights. A house he built for someone else – Hotel van Eetvelde – and his own home and studio – Musee Horta Museum. The “Hotel” was built for the wealthy son of a chemist and industrialist. Victor said of his client, “Armand Solvay complains to anyone who will listen of the extraordinary cost of his house. Basically, its a luxury he can afford at my expense.” We were only allowed photos inside the van Eetvelde.

The outside of the Horta Museum.

Our routine has become a light breakfast at home, some site-seeing and then largish lunch. More site-seeing in the afternoon and home by 8 with a light snack. So, after two house tours we were ready for lunch. Carolyn is always interested in mussels so we went to a Rick Steves suggested place called Mer du Nord/Nordzee. On Saturday afternoon it was hopping. One orders, pays and leaves a name. Then find a table and wait for a waiter to yell out your name and find you. We got 2 orders of mussels, some calamari and wine. No fries here !!! However, at the table next to us some men had fries that looked great. We asked about them and they gave us one to taste. Then took me to the little hole in the wall nearby. Perfect! (See the men with little boy behind Carolyn.)

Heading home led us back through La Grand Place with evening lighting. There was a cafe where people were having flights of beer. Carolyn wished that Bernadette was still with us to share it. I never drink beer.

Just a little past that cafe a voice called out “Aunt Carolyn”. It was the husband of Carolyn’s niece (via her sister). He travels for work and knew that she was making this trip but did not think he would overlap with her. We were just wandering and making our way to the metro station. Of all the streets we could have taken it was amazing that we walked where Scott was having his dinner.

We parted ways and then came across the Spanish square with Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. And, the Hungarian composer, Bella Bartok!!