A walk around Brussels...part II

The benefits of staying with friends in Brussels was that they gave us an excellent insight into the city and it's history. On a walk around the city we were introduced to King Leopold II of Belgium who is responsible for the country's uncomfortable colonial past. 

 

Leopold was also known as the ‘Builder King’ due the many monuments and buildings he commissioned within the city in an effort to create his own 'little Paris' but sadly funded through the pillaging of the resources of the Congo Free(?) State. 

The statue stands outside the Royal Palace of Brussels, as do Denis, Anne and Pauline.

We headed over to Nearby Rue Montagne de la Cour where the former Old England department store,built in an Art Nouveau style, now houses the Musical Instruments Museum (MIM).

We then headed over to the Mont des Arts area, a bit of a vanity project for King Leopold that meant tearing down the old Saint-Roch Quarter of the city.

In front of the garden of the Mont des Arts. 

Looking back.

Denis and Anne then took us through streets full of antique shops,plus laid on a carnival procession for us to Place du Jeu de Balle a square located in the heart of the Marolles district of the city where it holds its famous flea market.

We both managed to find something to buy as they had everything!

Afterwards they laid on a carnival procession just for us as we headed home.

We stopped in at 'A la Mort Subite' (top pic.) for a wee refreshment on the way.