Belgium!!!

[yakalskovich]

That's the worst curse in the universe, according to Douglas Adams.

So far, I had only ever heard of three good things ever to come out of Belgium:

• the Musée du Bande Dessinée in Brussels, and the whole tradition of Belgian comic strips
  
  
• Belgian chocolates, especially Leonidas
  
  
• Marguerite Yourcenar
  

Last night, daniidebrabant called my attention to the

Comments

[supiluliumas]

The only people who genuinely dislike Texas are those who've actually been there. =)

[yakalskovich]

There was this one Texan my sister and I had to endure in Glendalough in Ireland, trying to smarm up to three Australian girls be telling them how great he thing the US and Texas was, that was enough.

That was the one day in her life my sister ever tried spending blonde, and there was enough weirdness about as it was on account of that. The Texan just made it completely bizarre.

[chains_of_irony]

My gran came out of Belguim! So me, sorta. ^_^ *grins, not sure if she counts as a good thing or a bad thing to come out of that country*

Oh, and lurken, they're these nice biscuits Gran has at New Year's and the name amuses me.

[yakalskovich]

One grandmother from Belgium => a quarter of you from Belgium.

So, four and a quarter good things from Belgium.

About the cookies, I don't know from my own experience, so I'm saying nothing yet. Bring some to the London Millicon, and I might re-think.

*evil grin*

[_inbetween_]

Oh yes, the comics. Can't afford the chocs though.

Name four good things from Germany? *innocent*

[yakalskovich]

Urgs, erm, I dunno. I live ther, so thing don't come out of there, for me.

If I go with a place, something to eat, a writer and an actor, I'd say:

• the island of Mainau
  
• Obazda cheese
  
• Patrick Süskind
  
• Ben Becker
  

Now, do the same for Austria! With links, please.

[_inbetween_]

Stinky cheese?!
Nothing good about Austria!

[_inbetween_]

Actually, as I am not impressed with your German choices at all, I did find four better Austrian ones ;P

[innerbrat]

Diamonds! Diamonds are pretty and sparkly and come from Beligum.

[yakalskovich]

*looks innocent*

I thought they were from South Africa and only get traded in Antwerp? Does Belgium really deserve to have diamonds count for it?

There has never been a more non-sparkly, non-shiny place than Belgium, especially Brussels.

[innerbrat]

Brussels, maybe, but Antwerp is a lovely city. And it has diamonds that are made into spangly things. You might as well say that as cocoa isn't grown in Belgium, it can't have chocolate count for it.

[yakalskovich]

Hmmm.

You might be right if there are jewellers in Antwerp that turn raw pale rocks into shiny earrings etc. Are there?

[wiebke]

Yes, Belgian chocolate is incredible, as is just about any cake labeled "Belgian Chocolate ___________."

I've only visited there once, on a day trip to Brugge and I have to say that was one of the prettiest, cleanest cities I've ever seen in my LIFE. Good memories came out of there!

[yakalskovich]

Amusing how people suddenly have good things to say about Belgium...

Yes, I don't doubt it, really. It's just that I have always been spectacularly unimpressed. Sorry; personal impression.