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Surprising Scuba Diving Hotspot: Brussels, Belgium

We always thought that Belgium was only famous for its tasty chocolate, but it's also home to the world's deepest swimming pool--and you're welcome to go SCUBA diving there.

The 105-foot-deep Nemo 33 has a tropical feel with the water kept at 33 degrees Celsius (91 F). You can learn to SCUBA there or just enjoy your own dive while your non-diving friends sit in the restaurant and watch you descend into the human aquarium.

A safety warning: We recommend diving in Nemo 33 first, before consuming the required ton of Belgian chocolate. Eating the sweets first could lead to serious sinking problems.

Related Stories:
· Nemo 33 [Official Site]
· The World's Deepest Swimming Pool [UK Times]
· How to Do a Belgian Chocolate Deal [Jaunted]

[Photo: medialoog]

Tags: London / Brussels / Airlines / → All Tags

Flying the Flemish Skies

Since 1992, VLM has quietly gone about its business, flying to a limited set of destinations in Western Europe. VLM's route network is limited, but it includes destinations surprising enough to make the airline downright interesting. The airline's route map includes the Isle of Man, Jersey, and Luxembourg. These may not be the hippest destinations around, but they sure are quirky.

VLM's big hub is not in Flanders, but rather at London City, the airport closest to London's city center. We love the fact that VLM, whose name translates as Flemish Airlines, has a London hub. Fears over the loss of cultural identity clearly aren't the first topic of concern in the VLM boardroom.

VLM's business is currently booming. The airline's success clearly has something to do with the expansion of VLM flights between Amsterdam and London City to six per weekday.

[Image via birdlike/Flickr]

Tags: Brussels / Belgium / Design / → All Tags

Splitting the Atomium

Brussels may be most famous for being home to the beautiful Grand Place and the cute-yet-tiny Manikin Pis, but locals hold a special place in their hearts for the Atomium. A 334-foot structure first built for the 1958 World's Fair and shaped like a crystal molecule at 165 billion times magnification, the Atomium has just undergone a $28.3 million reconstruction.

The elevator--which was the world's fastest when the Atomium was built--now has a glass ceiling, just like Top of the Rock. Otherwise, the restoration stayed true to the original, which was futuristic enough, instead of going to Reichstag route and adding onto it.

In the American tradition, there's also a restaurant on top. Just what you'd expect from a structure described (on the Atomium web site) as "the most astonishing in the world".

[Image via zig/Flickr]  

Related Stories:
·   Mighty Atomium [Wallpaper*]

Tags: Eurotrash / Travel Writing / Belgium / Brussels / → All Tags

Stop Getting the Party Started

Why, New York Times, oh why did you mention that Brussels is leading the way of the European party scene? It ruined a perfectly serviceable article about the bite-size Belgian burg.

Brussels is a fun little town. It's unpretentious, has fantastic food--both of the starred-Michelin and gooey-waffled variety--and allows the visitor come to appreciate the city's charms, rather than be all up in their grill about it.

But party capital? No no no no. This needs to stop right now. Describing a city in Europe as a "party capital" can be directly translated to mean "Here, there are discos playing the most annoying hits from five years ago. You will be forced to drink rum and coke and dance with strange-looking men in tight pants." Don't be fooled.

Go have dinner at La Quincaillerie instead.

[Image via Daniel S/Flickr]

Related Stories:
·   Going to: Brussels [NY Times]
·   Tower Comes to Tiny Towns [Jaunted]