Beautiful desolation
7th December – Brussels is beautiful. We have been to the Grande Place, also known as Grot Market which doesn’t suit it at all, with its beautiful C15 buildings, just stunning. They had a laser light display on (and seemingly in) one of the most beautiful buildings, what looks like a cathedral. No trouble finding traditional Belgian food in Brussels, it is awash with frites (chips), mussels, waffles and other traditional Belgian food. The Grand Place and nearby areas has throngs of tourists. It is interesting to watch the difference in the groups, their behaviours, their clothes. It is fairly easy to differentiate between the groups before they open their mouths to speak. I wonder how people categorise me. I had a conversation with a Moroccan man who introduced me to a fruit called a Chinmoyan (spelling unknown). Very nice, somewhat reminiscent of a fresh fig.
There are many homeless people and beggars here, I am surprised. I am asked for money constantly and I struggle to keep walking. I find I can’t pass by women begging who have children with them without giving them something. Sometimes beggars don’t ask, they sit, hopefully, with a cup or bowl out in front of them. Their eyes reflect a loss of hope, a loss of self-respect, desolation. It is so sad and I so wish I could help them all in a meaningful way, which is not really to do with perpetuating their predicament with a coin or two. The nights are getting colder, their situation is likely to get worse.