Sometimes, suds and soda mix OK with beer

[venta]

So, later I'm off on holiday for the weekend. Well, kind of on holiday. Mabel, my rapper team, are planning a hit-and-run dancing raid on Bruge. Or is it Brugge ? Or Bruges ? Opinions seem to be divided. Hopefully I will know when I get back.

Yesterday, when I told secutatrix I was going to Belgium, her first reaction was "Oh, I'm sorry."

Now, I'd like to protest that that's an extremely unfair thing to say, but since my first reaction to Belgium is always...

The concept it embodies is so revolting that the publication or broadcast of the word is utterly forbidden in all parts of the galaxy except one - where they don’t know what it means.

... I feel like I don't really have a leg to stand on.

Just what is it about Belgium, anyway ? I know a few people who've been to Bruggge, and they've all reported it as lovely. It seems that Brugggge is a perfectly acceptable place to visit, so long as you don't mention its being in Belgium.

Of course, there is the point that the most famous Belgian doesn't exist - Hercule Poirot is the only one most people can name. But on the other hand, if you can't think of any famous Belgians, how many famous Bulgarians can you name off hand ? And no one particularly picks on Bulgaria. (Wikipedia thoughtfully provides lists of both famous Belgians and famous Bulgarians). Why is it Famous Belgians which always comes up in conversation ?

My favourite answer to "name four famous Belgians" has, for some time, been "dEUS", but I was astounded yesterday to discover that Front 242 are also Belgian. I mean... it just doesn't sound very likely, does it ?

Belgian beer and Belgian chocolates seem to be the acceptable faces of the nation. But why, exactly, is it that the entire country seems to be such an inherently humorous concept ?

Comments

My life amongst the Belgians

[uitlander]

Well I have my own views on Belgium, which are all positive, mainly because I spent the best part of a year there on and off doing my DPhil., and have a lot of Belgian friends. I learnt that the Bruxellois word for gossip was 'babelcow'. The beer is fantastic, as are the chocolate, frites and wafels (Gaufres de Li`ge). There are free music festivals most weekends in different towns (there used to be flyers given out at each festival telling you where the next one was - Markt Rok in Leuven was where I first heard the Levellers). To understand the Belgians properly, all you need know is that is where surrealism was born.

Then there's the scenery; 99% of humanity fail to notice that due to it not being near the main motorway. Its stunning, find Lieège and follow the Meuse south. And the best bit of all? Most of you buggers have no idea what you are missing, which leaves more of the good bits for me!