THE ATOMIUM SYMBOL OF BRUSSELS EUROPEAN CAPITAL

What the Eiffel tower is for Paris, the Atomium stands for Brussels. Both were "left overs" from World's Fairs, the Atomium stems from 1958 just a year before I was exported to Brussels by my parents.  Unfortunately they didn't have the idea to visit this exhibition as my father already lived in Brussels in 58.. Maybe he went there alone. Anyway later  I have visited the Atomium I don't know how many times, each time we had guests from abroad first with my parents, then with me and Rick the first thing they wanted to see was the Grand'Place and then the Atomium. 

The Atomium is a giant 165 billion times enlarged model representing an elementary iron crystal cell and it can be considered as a mixture between sculpture and architecture.

view from far

coming closer

The entrance

in the ball on the top is a restaurant where you have a wonderful view over Brussel

The emergency exit

Inside the tubes

The exit

 

You can read more about the ATOMIUM here on my travel Blog

 

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TRAVEL PHOTOS SOUVENIRS 

THROUGH MY LENS 

TRAVEL TUESDAY  

BRUSSELS ATOMIUM

The Atomium was supposed to be a temporary monument but its success made it the symbol of European capital and a popular tourist attraction. It was constructed as the main pavilion of the world’s fair Expo 58 in 1958, which was hosted in Brussels. The Atomium is a giant 165 billion times enlarged model representing an elementary iron crystal cell and it can be considered as a mixture between sculpture and architecture.

The structure itself consists of nine stainless steel clad spheres connected by 20 tubes. According to the records from 1958, the object weighs as much as 2,400 tons. In total it is 102 meters high. The structure is preserved almost in original condition, and was renovated in 2006 in order to create a beautiful light show with 2,970 LEDS sparkling during the night.

Being locked in like all of us (I suppose) I had to dig in my archive pictures ! Not that you think I went out ! Anyway all tourist attractions, or exhibitions etc are cancelled or closed.



The Atomium









The balls and tubes which houses a restaurant in the top ball and escalators in the tubes, while in the middle tube is a lift.





The view from the last ball and the restaurant.



steps and escalator





Looking up in the middle tube where the lift goes up and down.



It is very beautiful at night 


You can read more about the Atomium here COUNTRIES & CITIES 

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FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE - FIVE ON FRIDAY

1. The week started with an exhibition of Dinosaurs ! My grandson is staying with his little friend and so we went all together to see these enormous animals ! Today we still have some of them but they shrank to little lizards or crocodiles etc.



Toby was in admiration in front of the dinosaurs and was not afraid at all, despite the fact that they were roaring very loud and made a lot of different sounds. He had got a plan with the explanation of each dinosaur and thoroughly put a stamp on each one he had seen. (I think he was the only kid who did that) He really was very interested. I too was impressed, when I saw the size of the trees and the size of the monster !



After having seen all species they watched a film showing the beginning and the end of the dinosaur period.

2. Of course that made us thirsty and we went to the Atomium Brussels' symbol and the boys admired the huge balls. In the last ball of the top is a restaurant.



After a drink we rested a bit before the boys wanted and ice cream.



which they got and ate it on "be. welcome" !



Then they watched two "dinos" who performed for a publicity.





And of course my friend made a picture of us with the Atomium in the background !

3. The next day there was nothing special to do for me, because Toby went with his friend, to the Belgian seafront where they wanted to visit a huge playground. I sorted out my photos and cleaned the house a bit, as my dear cleaning lady is on holidays !

4. It was scrabble day again and for once I was second ! Usually I am always at the end !



During our coffee break, we chatted of course !

5. It was Toby's last morning in Waterloo. When I wanted to pick him up at 10 am, they were all sleeping they had been so tired from the day at the sea. Finally we left at two. The highway was nearly free only trucks and a lot ! But we arrived without any problem. Toby slept most of the time he was sad and tired. Now I will stay in Amsterdam until Sunday and I hope the weather will be kind with me ! 

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

Fast Blog

BRUSSELS ATOMIUM BY NIGHT

When we came back from the Belgian coast (post below) it was dark and while chatting, of course I didn't pay attention and didn't listen to Mrs. GPS either. With the result that I took the wrong exit and suddenly we saw the Atomium, the  balls illuminated ! It was at the other end of Brussels, not where we had to go, but it was such a nice surprise ! I had never seen the Atomium by night !



During the day it looks like this. In the balls are a bar, a restaurant and exhibitions.



From far I saw it shining


and of course stopped, got out of the car to take these pictures



There were many people probably for the restaurant, because it is located in the upper ball and you have a beautiful view over Brussels.

FRIDAY's FAVE FIVE - Guests

more participants at Susanne at Living to tell the Story.


1. With Claudie's visit I had a very busy week !



Just before their arrival our "new" garden was ready ! The bushes had become so high that we had to cut it often otherwise you couldn't get through to the entrance. Being both lazy we decided to cut off everything and put some flowers.

2. After a nice weekend, the weather changed and as it rained I decided to take them to one of our big shopping malls in Brussels.



Where both found everything they wanted. Melissa mostly needed clothes as all young girls do.

3. After a thunderstorm it lightened up and we finally could go to the Atomium which is about 20 km away from Waterloo.



While I waited in the little café they both went up to have a wonderful view over whole Brussels.
Then I showed them also the King's castle and we did a little sightseeing tour while driving back home.

4. The next day we went to the Waterloo city center to a second hand book shop, where Melissa found books for her studies and also some novels and Claudie one she needed too. These books are in very good shape and very cheap and you can buy everything even specialized books. They spent nearly 1 1/2 h in this shop, I have to say I didn't realize either. After that we had a drink and I showed them the two shopping galleries of Waterloo, which are very posh and the prices too !





5. The last day arrived and I drove them to the station. It had been such a nice week with them.
I drove back with a little melancolic feeling but was brought down to earth quickly, because when I came back the painter was waiting to paint two awful looking radiators !

MY WORLD - Sightseeing in Brussels

I had the visit of my Canadian Blogfriend from Canada Kay together with her husband and I had the pleasure to show them a little of my world in Brussels.



I took them to the Atomium which is the only building left from the world exposition in 1958 and has become a big tourist attraction. I have to say it is very special and impressive it is 102 metres (33( ft) high, with its nine interconnected spheres, The Atomium was closed for nearly two years between 2004 and 2006 for renovation and reopened in 2007. This was when the aluminium sheets were replaced with steel ones. The interiors were also redone.



Looking up



and what you see in the lift, when looking up. The lift speed is 5m (16 ft)/sec





Nice views all over Brussels



The proof that we had been there together



Near the Atomium is the King's castle. King Albert II and his wife Paola prefered to stay in the litle palace where they lived before he became King after the death of his brother Baudouin. Today the castle is inhabited by the crown prince Philip and his family and the ancient King's widow Fabiola.



Beautiful blooming trees in the royal park



Nearby is also the Chinese Pavillion ( Oriental Art Museum)




Because of parking difficulties my picture is not very clear


so I googled this one

To finish our tour some Art Deco, the "Old England" store, designed by Paul Saintenoy in 1898. Today, it accommodates the famous Musical Instruments Museum and a cafe-restaurant on the top floor with a beautiful panoramic view of Brussels.