Let's Go Europe 2011: The Student Travel Guide
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Gare Centrale. Just off of Place de la Justice Prices vary. Open W-Sa 11am-6pm, Su 11am-3pm.
ESSENTIALS
Practicalities
• TOURIST OFFICE: Central Office sells the Brussels Card, which includes free public transport, a city map, and free museum access for 24hr., 48hr., or 72hr. (€24/€34/€40.)( Bourse, East corner of Grand Place 02 513 89 40 www.brusselsinternational.be Open daily summer 9am-6pm; winter 10am-2pm.) There is also a second, less central office location (2-4 rue Royale 02 513 89 40 Open daily 10am-6pm.)
• CONSULATES: Information available at the Tourist Office. USA (27 Bld. du Régent 02 508 21 11); UK (9/31 Av. des Nerviens 02 287 62 48).
• CURRENCY EXCHANGE: CBC Automatic Change. (7 Grand Place 02 547 12 11 Open 24hr.) Moneytrans also offers currency exchange (6 rue Marché-aux-Herbes 02 227 18 20).
• LAUNDROMATS: Washing 65. (65 rue du Midi Open daily 7am-9pm.) Wash Club. (68 rue du Marché au Charbon 8kg €4. Open daily 7am-10pm.)
• INTERNET: Free Wi-Fi in McDonald’s and Quick on rue de Neuve. CyberCafés. (66 rue du Midi and 86 Bld. Emile Jacqmain €1.50 per 30min. Open daily 9am-10pm.)
• POST OFFICE: Central Office. (1 Bld. Anspach 022 012345 Open M-F 8:30am-6pm, Sa 10am-4pm.)
• POSTAL CODE: 1000
• POLICE: 101
• PHARMACIES: Pharmacie Fripiers is closest to the Grand Place. (24b rue des Fripiers 02 218 04 91 Open M-Sa 9am-7pm.) Stanby Pharmacies can be reached at all hours by phone only. (0800 20 600 Open 24hr.)
• HOSPITAL: 100
Getting There
By Air
The Brussels airport (090 07 00 00 www.brusselsairport.be) is 14km from the city center. Shuttles run between the airport and Midi Train Station. (www.voyages-lelan.be One-way €13, round-trip €22. Every 30min. 4am-11:45pm.)
By Train
Brussels has three main train stations: Gare du Midi, Gare Centrale, and Gare du Nord (02 555 25 55 www.scnb.be). All international trains stop at Gare du Midi, and most stop at Gare Centrale and Gare du Nord as well. Gare Centrale is the stop which will bring you closest to the center and most accommodations. Brussels can be reached from Antwerp ( €6. 45min.); Bruges ( €12. 45 min.); Liège ( €19. 1hr.); Amsterdam, the Netherlands ( €43. 3hr.); Paris, France. ( €55-€86. 1hr.) Eurostar (www.eurostar.com) runs to London, UK. ( €60-€240. 2hr.)
Getting Around
By Foot
Getting around Brussels is cheap and simple because you can do (almost) the whole city by foot and won’t need to step onto the Metro unless you head to the Atomium or further on the outskirts.
By Bike
Remember, cars rule the roads in Brussels and bikes are only advisable for the truly brave. If you want to bike around the city there are villo (bike rental) points situated at key locations in Brussels; the first half an hour is free and then you pay incrementally for each half an hour afterward (www.villo.be). Signposts are strategically placed in the center to direct you to sights, museums and points of interest in Brussels.
By Metro
The Metro system rings the city, with a tram running vertically through the middle and a further two Metro lines running east to west. The bus system also connects the various quarters of the city such as Ixelles and the European Area. All public transport in Brussels is run by the Société des Transports Inercommunaux Bruxellois (STIB). (070 23 2000 www.stib.be €0.30 per min. M-Th 5:30am-12:30am, F-Sa 5:30am-3am, Su 5:30am-12:30am.) Hence, all tickets are valid for the Metro, the tram and the bus. A Ten-Voyage ticket (€12.30) is probably the best deal.
By Taxi
If you want to take a taxi after the Metro stops running, you can call Taxi Bleus (02 268 00 00) or Taxis Oranges (02 349 43 43.) Taxi prices are calculated by the fixed price per kilometer (€1.35-€2.70) and a fixed base charge (€2.40-4.40 at night).
essentials
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Time Differences
Belgium is 1hr. ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and observes Daylight Saving Time. This means that it’s 6hr. ahead of New York City, 9hr. ahead of Los Angeles, and 1hr. ahead of the British Isles. In Northern Hemisphere summer they are 8hr. behind Sydney and 10hr. behind New Zealand, while in Northern Hemisphere winter it’s 10hr. behind Sydney and 12hr. behind New Zealand. Don’t get confused and call your parents when it’s actually 4am their time! Note that Belgium changes to Daylight Savings Time on different dates from some other countries, so sometimes the difference will be one hour different from what is stated here.
MONEY
Tipping
In Belgium, service charges are included in the bill at restaurants. Waiters do not depend on tips for their livelihood, so there is no need to feel guilty about not leaving a tip. Still, leaving 5-10% extra will certainly be appreciated. Higher than that is just showing off. Tips in bars are very unusual. Cab drivers are normally tipped about 10%.
Taxes
The quoted price of goods in Belgium includes value added tax (TVA). This tax on goods is generally levied at 21% in Belgium, although some goods are subject to lower rates.
SAFETY AND HEALTH
In any type of crisis, the most important thing to do is stay calm. Your country’s embassy abroad is usually your best resource in an emergency; registering with that embassy upon arrival in the country is a good idea.
Drugs and Alcohol
Though Belgium has fairly liberal attitudes regarding alcohol, with legal drinking ages of 16 and booze widely available, public drunkenness is frowned upon and is a sure way to mark yourself as a tourist.
When it comes to drugs other than alcohol, as is so often the case, things get a little more interesting. Hard drugs are completely illegal in Belgium, and possession or consumption of substances like heroin and cocaine will be harshly punished if caught. Belgium’s attitude toward even soft drugs is traditional and conservative. Marijuana is both illegal and not tolerated. Coffeeshops in Belgium are just that; the strongest substance you’ll be able to buy is a simple café noir.
Pre-Departure Health
Matching a prescription to a foreign equivalent is not always easy, safe, or possible, so if you take prescription drugs, carry up-to-date prescriptions or a statement from your doctor stating the medications’ trade names, manufacturers, chemical names, and dosages. Be sure to keep all medication with you in your carry-on luggage.
Immunizations and Precautions
Travelers over two years old should make sure that the following vaccines are up to date: MMR (for measles, mumps, and rubella); DTaP or Td (for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis); IPV (for polio); Hib (for Haemophilus influenzae B); and HepB (for Hepatitis B). For recommendations on immunizations and prophylaxis, check with a doctor and consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US or the equivalent in your home country. (+1-800-CDC-INFO/232-4636 www.cdc.gov/travel)
belgium 101
facts and figures
• POPULATION OF BRUSSELS: 144,784
• POPULATION OF THE CAPITAL REGION: 1,089,790
• AREA: 62.2. sq. mi.
• EU BUREAUCRATS: 24,099
• FOREIGN JOURNALISTS: 800
• GUILDHALLS ON THE GRAND PLACE: 16
• GUILDHALLS WITH ANIMAL NAMES: 4
• AGE OF BRUSSELS’ “OLDEST CITIZEN” (MANNEKEN PIS): 391
CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE
Two Nations, Indivisible...
The Kingdom of Belgium is made up of two fiercely independent regions: French-speaking Wallonia (Wallonie, en français) to the south, and Flanders (Vlaanderen) to the north, which speaks Flemish, a form of Dutch. Brussels is located in the heart of Flanders, but is part of the “French Community”—one of the three official institutions that govern cultural affairs for the speakers of the country’s languages. This capital city snub has caused Flemish blood to boil more than a few times. As recently as 2006, television stations were filled with images of Flemish revolution—albeit a fake revolt designed to spur discus
sion of the language issue. Independence parties routinely receive voter support.
Lost in Translation
Apologies to the Flemish: francais is the language of the day here. While there are two official languages, about 90% of people speak French. When giving or receiving directions, it helps to be picky about which language to use. On signs, all streets are listed as one long name made up of two languages, beginning with French and words such as “rue,” and ending with the Dutch “straat.” When looking for a street, Brussels residents will use only their preferred tongue. Of course, since Brussels is an international city filled with diplomats from across Europe, many people speak English as well.
FOOD AND DRINK
Street Cart/Calorie Chart?
What would the American diner be like without the influence of Belgium? A visit to Brussels reveals that Americana may not be so, well, American after all. Throughout Belgium, vendors with small carts sell frites—despite their American name, the Belgians invented the French fry first. Unlike the hometown drive-thru, these fries are always crispy and piping hot, because Belgians cook them twice, including right before they are served.
Chocolat, Chocolat, Chocolat
There are no Oompa-Loompas, but Brussels is likely home to more than a few slightly mad chocolatiers. It certainly has a number of chocolate factories and quaint sweet shops. In his Brussels kitchen in 1912, Jean Neuhaus invented the praline, the quintessential Belgian chocolate, when he filled chocolate shells with cream and nut pastes.
Beer!
Need we say more? It’s the de facto national drink of Belgium—8700 different varieties are produced in the country. Nowhere will you find more brews than in the bars and cafes of the cosmopolitan Belgian capital. Ordering wine at a Brussels brasserie is basically like ordering beer in Napa Valley. Brussels bars serve beer in all colors (a Flemish red, anyone?) and flavors (do raspberry and peach beer sound appealing?). Brussels even has beer museums, like the Brussels Gueuze Museum, that double as operating breweries and feature remnants of beer making from the middle ages.
FESTIVALS AND FOLKLORE
Is there anyone who doesn’t love a good parade? The people of Brussels have certainly loved them for quite a while—since 1549, at least. That’s the year when Emperor Charles V and his entourage entered the city in a spectacle not matched since—even though the citizens try every year, in a festival known as Ommegang.
GREAT BRITAIN
london
ORIENTATION
ACCOMMODATIONS
SIGHTS
FOOD
NIGHTLIFE
ARTS AND CULTURE
SHOPPING
ESSENTIALS
oxford
ORIENTATION
ACCOMMODATIONS
SIGHTS
FOOD
NIGHTLIFE
ARTS AND CULTURE
ESSENTIALS
cambridge
ORIENTATION
ACCOMMODATIONS
SIGHTS
FOOD
NIGHTLIFE
ARTS AND CULTURE
SHOPPING
ESSENTIALS
edinburgh
ORIENTATION
ACCOMMODATIONS
SIGHTS
FOOD
NIGHTLIFE
ARTS AND CULTURE
SHOPPING
ESSENTIALS
liverpool
ORIENTATION
ACCOMMODATIONS
SIGHTS
FOOD
NIGHTLIFE
ARTS AND CULTURE
ESSENTIALS
glasgow
ORIENTATION
ACCOMMODATIONS
SIGHTS
FOOD
NIGHTLIFE
ARTS AND CULTURE
ESSENTIALS
belfast
ORIENTATION
ACCOMMODATIONS
SIGHTS
FOOD
NIGHTLIFE
ESSENTIALS
essentials
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
MONEY
SAFETY AND HEALTH
great britain 101
PEOPLE AND CUSTOMS
FOOD AND DRINK
HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS
There once was a country made up of great islands
with peat bogs and moors, great rivers and highlands,
Its people built castles and churches with spires
and started a powerful global empire.
Meanwhile, the hills, filled with white sheep and crofters,
inspired great artists, bold monarchs, and authors.
Today, on a belly of bangers and mash,
the British continue their long, storied past
with Wimbledon, cricket, golf tourneys, and football,
festivals, dubstep, and cold pints on pub crawls.
It’s time to discover and leave what you know—
boot up in your wellies, grab your pack, and let’s go!
greatest hits
• MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR. Spend a day in the life of John, Paul, George and Ringo by visiting their hometown of Liverpool. Get a ticket to ride through The Beatles Story ( THE BEATLES STORY), an entire museum devoted to the legendary band.
• CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO. Or at least hear others with more gumption do so at the Speakers’ Corner in London’s Hyde Park (SPEAKERS’ CORNER).
• GET ICED, BRO! London’s hottest drinking spot is inside a block of ice. Throw on some designer thermal wear and head to Absolut Icebar ( ABSOLUT ICEBAR).
• GO ASK ALICE. Visit Christ Church College (CHRIST CHURCH) in Oxford to see where Lewis Carroll first met the real Alice, before she headed off to Wonderland.
• GOOD WILL PUNTING. Need a study break from Cambridge University? Rent a punt from Scudamore’s ( SCUDAMORE’S ) and cruise down the River Cam.
For details on Great Britain map, click here
student life
With Oxford, Cambridge and LSE, Great Britain is home to some of the world’s most prestigious universities, attracting local Brits and students from abroad. Nonetheless, Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is also Great Britain’s capital for student life. The University of Edinburgh is home to over 24,000 students who live, study, and drink just south of the Royal Mile. The forward-thinking city also has some of Britain’s most talented artists, so it’s no wonder Edinburgh hosts the world’s largest arts festival. Every August, mobs of students from around the globe arrive for The Fringe, where you too can hear great music, watch great theater and make some new best friends. Why settle for a pub?
london
020
Most people have a well-defined idea of “London”: staid tradition, afternoon tea, stuffy Englishmen with cultured accents, heavy ales, and winding lanes—all of it decorated in styles that were popular back when high foreheads were also fashionable. People with this notion of London can easily complete their vacation in 3min. But in London, there’s always an underground scene to be found, and a modern pulse beats behind every beautiful old surface. Now, finish your plnt and Let’s Go.
ORIENTATION
Bayswater
Formerly a watering hole for livestock, Bayswater was built up from a small hamlet in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In the late 19th century, the neighborhood took on a wealthier set of inhabitants before increased immigration to London spiced up its character and cuisine a bit. It’s nestled close to Notting Hill but has much cheaper housing. Get off the Tube at the Bayswater stop for the west of the neighborhood, and at Paddington or Lancaster Gate for the east. Bayswater is east of Notting Hill and west of Marylebone.
Bloomsbury
Once famous for the manor houses, hospitals, universities, and museums that made the area a cultural landmark, Bloomsbury is now a haven for student travelers seeking cheap accommodations in a central location. Providing easy access to the British Museum and the rest of London, Bloomsbury is a perfect location from which to see the city. The borough features a wide range of ethnic r
estaurants, providing a welcome respite from British specialties like the inimitable “bubble and squeak” (fried leftovers). Especially pleasant are the many beautiful gardens and parks sprinkled throughout the neighborhood. Where once you might have seen Virginia Woolf and John Maynard Keynes, members of the bohemian Bloomsbury Group, you may now see Ricky Gervais. To reach Bloomsbury, west of Clerkenwell, take the Tube to Tottenham Court Rd. or Russell Square.