When it came time to choose the destination for a quick but satisfying vacation, I couldn’t help but feel drawn to Brussels, capital of Belgium and the European Union, after reading Lonely Planet’s description (which, it turns out, is bang on): “historic yet hip, bureaucratic yet bizarre, self-confident yet unshowy and multicultural to its roots.” Sold!
Day 1
I start with two top attractions. With the help of my smartphone’s GPS, I find the Atomium, the gigantic tube-and-sphere structure built for Expo ’58. It boasts a 360-degree view, so I snap a panorama and upload it to Facebook as my cover photo. I don’t hesitate to use data: ROAM LIKE HOME™, for Rogers customers with a Share Everything™ plan, lets me use my phone like I do at home for $10 a day* when roaming in any one of more than 35 countries across Europe. You’re only charged up to a maximum of 10 days per monthly bill. That means my usual data limit, unlimited calling and texting… without sky-high fees. (To enroll, just text “travel” to 222.)
The Mini-Europe park is next door. Imagine iconic buildings, monuments and scenes of Europe shrunken into over 300 super-detailed models, from London’s Big Ben to a bullfighting ring in Seville. Feeling like a giant, I stroll around, posting pics of my faves to Instagram, then head to the Atomium Restaurant for Belgian cuisine and local beer – and the unbeatable view.
Day 2
After breakfast, I check the website of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, whose collection ranges from the 15th to 21st centuries, for visitors’ info. (With ROAM LIKE HOME, you don’t have to hunt for Wi-Fi or wait till you get back to the hotel to connect.) I spend all morning gazing at masterpieces – sensory overload! – then visit Place Royale, a large square surrounded by neo-classical architecture. I also get to the Royal Palace and Brussels Park, which, conveniently, has food vendors – lunchtime!
Next up: Magritte Museum, for surrealist creations by Belgian artist René Magritte. I also wander the Musical Instruments Museum – incredibly, home to some 8,000 specimens. For dinner, I look up restaurants and, based on TripAdvisor reviews, choose Les Petits Oignons, a family-run place specializing in French and Mediterranean dishes. Using my phone and my terrible French, I call to reserve a table. The food’s fantastic – I post my own glowing review while savouring waffles with Callebaut chocolate.
Day 3
Enough art and history; I’m devoting today to gastronomy! Using my phone, I book a chocolate workshop plus a half-day tour featuring mussels, frites, waffles and beer. I email photos to friends – my BFF’s a serious chocoholic. To spread the joy, I buy plenty of samples to share.
Happily stuffed, I search for last-minute entertainment using my phone, and decide to buy an opera ticket. I wish I had more time in Brussels – I’m already missing this city of contrasts – but I’ll settle for three perfect days.
Going abroad? Stay connected with ROAM LIKE HOME. It now covers both the U.S. and more than 35 countries across Europe. For details, visit rogers.com/roamlikehome.
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*Taxes extra. The fee is a Pay-Per-Use rate and subject to change without notice. Fee is charged per line (in addition to your Share Everything plan monthly fee) and applies for 24 hours from first use while in an eligible country. Roaming charges apply when outside the eligible country. Data: Usage exceeding your plan allotment charged in increments rounded up to the next MB or GB (as applicable based on your plan). Texts: Includes texts sent to a local wireless number while in an eligible country or to a Canadian wireless number. Sent/received premium texts, sent international texts to countries other than the eligible countries charged at applicable rates. Calls: While in an eligible country, includes unlimited calls to local numbers or Canadian numbers. International long distance rates apply to calls made to other countries while in an eligible country. See rogers.com/terms for full terms and conditions and list of eligible countries.