Relaxation with a Moment of Exploration

It was not a completely relaxing day on Monday, 25 July. We did have to take the high-speed train back from Paris to Brussels, with an 8:25am departure time from Gare du Nord in Paris, requiring 2 Metro subway trains plus an RER commuter rail as our final Paris transit trips. Once we got back home to the apartment, Brian had to go to work and the girls and I started the unpacking and laundry routine. We did manage to kick back in the apartment for a while, all of us enjoying the slower pace, then of course had to go to the market for some food.

It wasn't until about 4:00pm that afternoon that I rallied the girls for a short exploratory journey through Brussels. We had read in one of the guidebooks from Pop Pop Bob and Grandma Joyce that there used to be a river running through Brussels called the Senne. I noticed on the Metro map that St. Catherine's Church was a nearby so we exited the Metro at that stop. The church, built in 1854, has seen better days and the front of it was covered with scaffolding indicating it was getting some much needed attention. This view is of the side.

The neighborhood surrounding the church was older and more commercial than the one where we live. It was great to see a different type of place in the city. I since learned that there is an organic farmer's market in the church square. We managed to find the one-block street called Place Ste. Gery that the book had mentioned. We also discovered that this building used to be a market itself and was converted in 1999 to an information center and a cafe. I neglected to mention that the reason we were exploring to find the river is that the city bricked over almost all if it in centuries past so only a small bit remains visible. Thus our quest to find the hidden River Senne.

The book said to look for arches across from the Place. Although I spotted an arched doorway shown on the left, Lucy was deterred by the 'do not enter' looking sign. I urged them in, and we found the courtyard shown on the right. Still not completely apparent that one has found a river.

But yes indeed, we had found this hidden secret. You can see the fish swimming in it and a few lily pads. It is well guarded from swimming, although you'd have no way to get out so that would be an unwise choice. The pictures here show the extent of it. I took the left picture facing to the left; you can see the same 'window' frame in the distant shot above where the girls are standing. The right photo is to the right from the same spot. Then the river just disappears. It was cool and it did feel like a successful exploration because there are no signs that say, "This way to the hidden River Senne."