Highlights Reel from Eric and Naomi’s European Adventure, July 2024
Earlier this month, Naomi and I spent a little over a week vacationing in three European cities: Brussels, Belgium; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Reykjavík, Iceland. It was the first time to each city for both of us. Here are the highlights from each city!
Brussels, Belgium
Although this was the first city we visited, it was the last to be added to our travel itinerary. We started our planning with Amsterdam, and quickly realized that Brussels was a convenient add-on being just two hours away by train, and found a solid redemption with my accumulated United miles to get us there from DC to start our trip.
Conveniently, we were in Brussels over the first Sunday of the month when many museums in the city are free, and we visited three of them.
From left to right and top to bottom:
In front of Brussels City Hall, one of the buildings surrounding Grand Place, the central square
Inside the Brussels City Museum, the statue that used to top the building
Belgium is the origin of the Smurfs franchise and there are more than a few public art references to it around town
When traveling, one must try some of the local delicacies, frites (French fries, basically) were available on every street corner
Brussels hosts many of the European Union institutions, including the European Parliament in this building
The EU had elections earlier this summer (fun side fact: more votes will be cast around the world in 2024 than in any previous year in world history, with not just the EU elections but also national elections in populous countries such as India, Mexico, and the United States)
We also visited the Musical Instruments Museum. One element that images literally can’t capture is that audio guides are provided, and visitors can listen to recordings of many of the instruments.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
From left to right and top to bottom:
I like to visit the main concert hall whenever I visit other cities; this is the Royal Concertgebouw, widely recognized in the classical music world as one of the finest concert halls on the planet. Didn’t have a chance to go inside or hear a concert — next time!
We visited just two museums in Amsterdam, the first being the Moco contemporary art museum, which we both enjoyed.
A thought from the Moco Museum founders.
We also made time for the quintessential Amsterdam tourist activity, a canal tour.
Of the many sights on the 75 minute tour, this is Amsterdam Central Station (where we had arrived on our train from Brussels)
We also visited the Anne Frank House. The original house is partially obscured by the tree on the left; the right side are modern buildings built to accommodate the museum functions. No pictures are allowed inside, and the experience is quite moving.
Reykjavík, Iceland
On the way home, we stopped for two days in Reykjavík. We took a very enjoyable puffin tour and then visited four museums: the National Museum of Iceland to learn all about Iceland’s history, and then three art museums.
From left to right and top to bottom:
Ready for the puffin tour! The full-body suits were much appreciated during the open-air speed boat ride to the island where the puffin colony is.
View of Reykjavík as we return from the puffin tour. The spire on the left is Hallgrímskirkja, a Lutheran church that is the tallest building in Iceland, and on the right is Harpa, the main concert hall.
Another view of Reykjavík from a bit along the coast.
We had a few minutes to stop inside Harpa while in town (didn’t hear a concert — again, next time!)
Another view of Reykjavík from one of the public squares near the museums.
