Notes from Belgium

While the Champ Car drivers are spread around Europe doing PR appearances, AutoRacing1.com staff is in Brussels taking in the sights and sounds of this historic city before Thursday’s presentation of drivers to the Belgian media. More on that later. Despite the rain, that is supposed to clear out by Friday, we are doing our best to capture the moment.

Brussels is real 'Old Europe' – "open, friendly and welcoming," and people actually look you in the eye and smile. From what we can see, life between the busy boulevards is relaxed, yet focused.

Central to historic Brussels is Grand 'Place (Grote Markt – Market Square), the best preserved medieval townscape in all of Europe. "One of the most beautiful town squares in Europe, if not in the world", is a phrase often heard when visitors in Brussels try to describe the beauty of the central market square. French-speakers refer to it as the 'Grand-Place', whereas in Dutch it is called 'de Grote Markt'.

First established on a marsh in the 11 AD. the market soon evolved to become the city's political, economic and social nerve center. The bombardment by the French on August 13-14, 1695 wrought havoc with its buildings, nearly all of which were subsequently rebuilt. The Place has thus preserved all its old magnificence and its original happy blend of Gothic and Baroque.

Little specialty shops to purchase famous Belgian Lace and Belgian chocolates line the cobblestone alleys that run off from the Grand Place, full of little restaurants. We plan on staying here well into the evening to sample the magic atmosphere and lights that dazzle the buildings.

One thing we can tell you without hesitation, you have not had a real Belgian waffle with Belgian ice cream unless you have one here in Belgium. Marvelous. Simply marvelous. Mark C. reporting from Brussels