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This is the Meyboom Fest, an annual 9th of August celebration exclusive to the cities of Leuven and Brussels, as it connects them to a unique folklore of valour, honour, and betrayal. And it is all thanks to this green beech—I mean, this beech tree. beech tree In the case of Leuven, it is said that the tree is planted to celebrate a wedding between a Leuven nobleman and a girl from Brussels. Another variation increases the theatrics, with a fight incited by Leuven troublemakers, which was subdued by crossbowmen from Brussels. Then, to honour the efforts of the crossbowmen, King Henry awarded them the title of a guild and the privilege to plant a beech tree in Brussels in celebration. Additionally, this tree in Brussels must be planted before 5 p.m. in order to keep the honour; otherwise, Leuven becomes the master of the tree. And a valid fear for Brussels as well, since Leuven boasts of a heist in 1939, where they actually succeeded in stealing the tree from Brussels. But the cities co...

What to say about Copenhagen first, but the fact that I walked away thinking, wow, this is a high-trust society. Because some of my earliest memories from walking around its streets were small shops and kiosks with no shopkeeper in sight! 1. Trust shops    In fact, the only thing one had to do was pick the items and pay as suggested. With a first impression this strong, I was curious how the food scene looks like.  2. Sourdough and other meals I explored multiple places and let me just say, I have a newfound addiction to sourdough bread. Even more, food in general here tastes rather delicious. It is either the best of the best ingredients that reach Danish markets, or maybe there is innately a lot of butter in everything. Either way, I am happy. 3. Colorful buildings And these colourful foods match the colourful buildings around the city, especially considering that Denmark remains under dark grey clouds during long winter months. The culture inherently revives liveliness...

 An interesting detail that followed me around Copenhagen was this iron-built fascination with mythical creatures and sea beasts. I found motifs and characters spread all around the city, an artefact of the 19th-century architectural movement called Historicism, so we see age-old folklore come alive in these designs. Especially in the case of the griffin, which is a half-lion and half-eagle blended into the same body. A griffin is supposed to guard its nest of gold eggs, which is why it is seen as a symbol of vigilance and valour. As a particular favourite of manufacturers in the late 20th century, today we find it on guardrails around the city of Copenhagen, dutifully protecting every entryway. Which is not to say that the city is old-fashioned. Many buildings around Copenhagen boast captivating façades and ornate designs, spanning the whole spectrum from Renaissance to Baroque to eco-friendly contemporary architecture.

intimiating shopkeeper against fire After casually saving Bruxelles this morning, I knew I was off to a good start in this flea market in Marolles. This pocket of Brussels is essentially a historic place for social gatherings and, more famously, for its antique furniture and second-hand items which you will not find in an urban store around the city. The fact that this place attracts a good chunk of tourists every day it is held makes it safe to say that the choices to choose from are many. Often, we end up having nice conversations with the shopkeepers, who hand out excellent deals depending on your bargaining skills and rapport, so I tend to go home empty-handed. Well, not today. I was able to get a couple of things that caught my eye. After all, a trip around this maze of interesting artworks and pieces is super tantalizing for impulse purchases. A fun thing about the Marolles neighbourhood in Brussels is that it immediately reflects the reality of a survival economy. While the main...

Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and walking around these age-old cobblestone streets and gabled rooftops with their captivating staircase design, you very quickly realize why that is the case.  1. Birds Let me first begin with the most abundant inhabitants of the city: our ducks, moorhens, and coots. The river channels that heavily criss-cross the city were built by effectively rerouting the River Reie in the 13th century, and this was so that seafaring tradesmen arriving on large ships could directly disembark onto smaller boats and transfer their luggage into the indoor markets. Today, these same waterways are occupied by birds and boats, preserving the medieval look of the city. In fact, it was only this year that the most iconic birds of the city, the swans, were removed from the waterways to protect them from an avian flu outbreak. So it's safe to say that the city favours certain types of citizens over others, and I think we all support that decision. Meanwhile, the n...

 I had always wanted to cycle along Belgium's shoreline, which boasts an 80 km cycle path. Intrigued, I landed in Oostend, a city popular in its own right, with historical ties to maritime trade and art festivals, which lives up to its name in gold as the city is quite artistic. From grand, sprawled-out public spaces to customised motorbikes that repeatedly catch your attention, Oostend feels like a patchwork of modern and ancient stamps, as if somebody juxtaposed iconic images from two centuries all in the same place. The long promenade is busy but spacious. There are often seagulls and pigeons that dive into view and, if you're not careful, they will be off with your fries and drinks. Near the shore, we find a seafarers' monument, an homage to all the fishermen who have lost their lives to the sea.  This stands right in view of an artwork that can best be described as strange, bright rocks, and they stand out quite spectacularly against the city background. Since I arrive...