This morning, say goodbye to France and board the Eurostar north to Belgium. Watch the French countryside slip by from the train before arriving in Brussels, a city with grand squares, great food, and a seriously international personality.
Once there, take a private walking tour led by a Zinneke guide, a Brussels local born elsewhere. It's a fitting way to understand the city, since generations of newcomers have helped shape its culture, neighborhoods, food, and identity. The evening is free, so you might go looking for Belgian beer, chocolate, or a plate of moules frites.