Brussels, Belgium

Brussels is the "capital" of the EU - all government buildings are located here and all major decisions about the fate of its members are made here. So boy was I surprised when I found that the city was a giant urinal. I mean, it was a urinal filled with really nice old buildings and good places to eat, but I'm dead serious and not exaggerating when I say that every single building and underpass reeked of human urine. Perhaps it's part of the city's psyche when the most revered statue is of a little boy pissing (Manneken Pis), and it is 'functional' as it is a fountain.

I was very impressed by the Grand Market, and the Atomium, this giant shiny structure resembling the iron crystal lattice built in the optimistic space age days of the 1950s. Not so impressed by all of the poverty in what is supposed to be the jewel of the EU. Then again, has anyone been to Washington DC lately? :)