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On April 17th 1958, under a grey sky, Expo 58 opens its doors to visitors for a period of six months. By staging this prestigious exhibition, Belgium wants to show its know-how in such varied fields as atomic energy, metallurgy, urbanism and transport. The Atomium, spectacular symbol of the atomic age is the sole survivor of the 1958 World Fair. It represents an Iron crystal molecule magnified 185 billion times. At a height of 102 meters or 330 feet, the structure consists of nine spheres, each measuring 18 meters or 59 feet in diameter which altogether weighs 2400 tons. Conceived by engineer André Waterkeyn, the iron molecule took 18 months to design and as many months to built. Celebrating it’s 50th anniversary this year many events are taking place until October to commemorate it.

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Atomium from a distance

A bit closer

From just under the Atomium

Different perspectives of the structure

Inside the Atomium everything is memorabilia dedicated to the Expo ‘58

The design and lights of the staircase somewhat made me remember the spaceship in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.

More of the Brussels World’s Fair era

Atomium Elevator

Inside another sphere of the Atomium

And up again we go

TV room

More stairs with a Stanley Kubrick feel to them

Atomium Bar

View of some of the spheres around

Back downstairs for the lift to the top. In 1958 this was the fastest in the World which still feels pretty quick 50 years later.

View of the city of Brussels from the top of the Atomium

Mini-Europe, Brupark and the Heysel stadium view from Atomium

The palais du Heysel from a distance

Closer up

Tags: Atomium, brussels, bruxelles, Expo 58

The Quick & Flupke mural is located at 195 Rue Haute, 1000 Brussels. Quick et Flupke is another comic strip created by famous writer Hergé about two young boy and their adventures in the streets of Brussels. The two kids always seem to inadvertently wreak havoc and perpetually get into trouble with the neighborhood and especially one police officer, Agent 15. Twelve albums were written in a twenty year period between 1949 and 1969.

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The Quick et Flupke mural located in the Marolles part of Brussels

Tags: brussels, bruxelles, comic strip murals, Quick & Flupke, Quick et Flupke

Like most well kept secrets A l’Imaige Nostre-Dame is not easy to find and one would need to be really lucky to simply stumble into it. Located at the end of a long and narrow alleyway it is one of the oldest cafés of Brussels. Having a unique and authentic feeling to it, this pub has had the chance to retain its original decor and boats a very friendly atmosphere with its share of regulars, merrymaking students and the occasional tourist.

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Look for the A l’Imaige Nostre-Dame estaminet entrance sign

Take the alleway all the way down until you seen light again

You’ll reach the entrance of the A l’Imaige Nostre-Dame pub

View from the main room as you enter where the bar section is

The room in the back with some students having a drink

University students often come to this café and the bartender has been made their honorary Godfather with all the official gear.

View from the bar

More students arriving for some refresments

Sitting at the bar having a look at that colorful student cap

Tags: A l'Imaige Nostre-Dame, bars, brussels, bruxelles, cafe

Remarkably well preserved the 186 acres strong Parc de Woluwe is a bowl of fresh air just 10 minutes outside of the city center. The Woluwe Park was Built between 1895 and 1899 by a Frenchman named Laîné under the orders of King Leopold II who had envisioned an English style park made out of the marshlands bordering the avenue de Tervuren. To this day it has stayed a very popular spot during the summer time in part due to its varied and diverse landscape, bird species and flora that counts around 200 different kinds of trees alone. The park is also used for skiing and ice skating during the winter when it snows.

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Photos of the Park of Woluwe

Tags: brussels, bruxelles, parc woluwe, Parks, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre

Another Cool event nearby the main concert stage was the Piknik Elektronik at Place Du Musée (just next to the Mont des Arts) which featured from noon until 22:00 a set of DJ’s playing electronic music. All this was setup around 800 square meters of green grass lawn recreating a park/festival rave atmosphere.

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Photos Piknik Elektronik Mai 11

Tags: brussels, bruxelles, fete de l'iris, Piknik Elektronik, rave