Brussels: Architecture and waffles, but no sprouts
By KATHY HEALEY

Mmmmmm, chocolate.

Sprouts might spring  to mind when you think of  food in Brussels, but I'll pass. Give me the chocolate. The succulent delights you find in Belgium can't be rivaled in any other country.

Of course, man -- and maybe even woman -- cannot live by chocolate alone. There also are waffles.

Your average American might think waffles are something you make from a mix. But Belgian waffles seem to be made from a cloud.

The Belgian  waffle has 20 dimples, four across and five down, and is oblong.

The batter is similar to a crepe batter. When the shop puts the batter into the waffle iron it puffs up like a cloud. That makes the waffle soft, slightly chewy, and delicious.

It's not just the food that's delicious in Belgium. The country is full of tasty architecture.

As you can tell, I learned a lot about the food on my recent trip to Belgium, the sometimes forgotten corner of Europe sandwiched between France and the Netherlands.

But my education didn't stop at the dinner table.

Among the other things I learned: It was a Belgian cartoonist who designed The Smurfs.

My trip to Belgium was fabulous. I had no problems in flying to Brussels from Philadelphia.

I found the country a cross between France, Greece and Italy. The beautiful buildings and breathtaking monuments were on every corner.

There are so many fabulous cities: Brussels, Antwerp, Brugge, also known as Bruges by French speakers in bilingual Belgium.. Every city and town was immaculate. The shops carrying Belgian lace were stunning.

And traveling between Belgian cities was a sheer delight. Every train was on time and comfortable.