(dry reference to the anticipated apocalypse: check)
Hope you all had a pleasant holiday break, and are welcoming this new year with eagerness, positive energy and good vibes!
Good for you. We are all sick, and picture behind the window is as grey as it can get. Personally, I can't wait for a beam of sunshine coming down to warm up our city a bit, so we can enjoy being out again, and my list of places to visit and photograph got extremely long.
One of the reason of it, is definitely my also growing collection of books about Brussels. Since I was pleased to receive (and buy myself) another two, I think it's time for a small review. And with that, I'll start with the very first book I got from a friend for my birthday last year. And it's called "Secret Brussels". Just perfect, isn't it? :)
For the practical details, as it was a present I should not check the prices for the book myself, but I am sure you can figure it out with simple search online, same goes for as to where to buy this book. Several places as a form of recommendation from me, include Sterling Books and Filigranes, I also saw few similar books in the wonderful store by the Brussels Museum of Fine Arts (though this particular one was not there).
The book has a short, to-the-point subtitle "Local Guides by Local People", and is indeed written by inhabitants of the city. It comes in a handy pocket guide form, easy to carry around with you.
Chapters are made of different districts of the city, and in my edition that includes West of Boulevards, East of Boulevards, Ixelles, Etterbeek and the European District, Saint-Gilles and Forest, Anderlecht (yay), Molenbeek, Koekelberg and Laeken, Uccle, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre and Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Watermael-Boisfort and Auderghem. Each chapter begins with the list of all items in that district and their localisation shown on the plan.
You won't find many of the most famous places of Brussels, and even the few that are there, are shown from different than usual perspective (the alchemistry of the Grand Place, masonic Brussels Park). You will find tons of unusual monuments, unknown museums and hidden architectural gems.
Each curiosity has one page of description, with a full page picture on the side, practical information (like localisation, or opening hours where applicable), and sometimes - sights to see nearby with their little description too.
I don't think I can say anything more, without actually going into details of the content, which I don't want to do. This book deserves to be bought by anyone interested. It is not a guide for someone who's first time in Brussels (unless you're a total hipster going always against the wave, but I'd feel sorry if you missed to see Atomium).
What it is, is a perfect guide for someone who already knows Brussels, seen the main things. Maybe you're coming to the city yet another time, you've seen all the "important" stuff and you look for a fresh idea. Maybe you've been living here for a while and need inspiration for another walk in the city. Maybe you've been here your whole life, but you never noticed this weird museum by the corner, or beautiful sgraffiti on the house in your street. (Yes, after reading all the books, and getting into the topic, I know words like sgraffiti, art-nouveau and "new insights are crafted from both mundane and transcendant textures". Ah no, last one is from http://www.artybollocks.com :)).
What can I say in the end? Open your wallet, get the book, hit the streets of Brussels and make yourself feel like Indiana Jones - you're exploring!
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