An Antwerp guide by an italian girl- Part II

So, here we are for show you the first reason why I decided to spend a day in Antwerp, and I'm not afraid to say so: Shopping!



Antwerp is full of nice shops and especially of my beloved vintage ones, but let the addresses do the talk:

Belchique

Kloosterstraat 177

Labels Inc.

Aalmoezenierstraat 4

Jutka &Riska

Nationalestraat 87

Sussies

Oude Koornmarkt, corner Zwaluwstraat 69

Bonaventura

Aalmoezenierstraat

Pardaf

Gemeentestraat 8

Think twice

Lange Klarenstraat 21

I also went to Urban Outfitters because I love so much their clothes and here in Europe the stores are rare (only in the northern part) and in England.

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With all this shopping you'll become hungry at a certain point (like I did; many times). The city is full of cute places for lunch or for a snack. Unfortunately I can't suggest you any place for dinner since I didn't dine there. I really appreciate the fact that there were a lot of  clearly indicated vegetarian option on the menus of the restaurant that I checked (it's usually the same in Leuven, but one time I couldn't take a soup because all the option -6/7 soups in total- were made with chicken stock; this won't happen to you in Antwerp for sure!). Anyway, for lunch I went here:

Lombardia

Lombardenvest 78

I basically chose this place because it was colorful and it has the same name of the italian region where I study, so I was curious to discover why (= the name of the street is Lombardenvest and it has really something related to the italian region). I had one of the best pumpkin soup ever, but it went with only a slice of bread (I need more carbs to tackle an afternoon of shopping!).

Earlier I stopped for a coffee and to plan my day here:

Exky

It's a kind of all natural high quality fast-food restaurant chain and it was full of yummy sandwiches and cakes. I got a good coffee (yes! It wasn't dirty water as usual, a carrot chocolate and some dark chocolate that I'm finishing as I type this, yum)

Another place really worth to mention for baked goods is this:

Desiree de Lille

Schrijnwerkersstraat 14-18

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To finishing up this afternoon guide to Antwerp, here are two more reasons to visit it:

It's super girlie

Even walls are worth to notice

Enjoy it!

An Antwerp guide by an italian girl- Part I

Antwerp is damn cool!

Yeah, I've finally found a Belgian city that I really love. Mission accomplished!

So, this "guide" won't be exhaustive nor particularly cultural since yesterday was the first time that I visited the city and I wanted to go there primarily for shopping-releted reasons. Indeed Antwerp is known for being a fashion city (it hosts the Royal Academy of Fine Arts) and for the Antwerp Six, a group of influential avant garde fashion designers.

I just wanted to share with you some nice things to see in Antwerp and cool shops that I found when I was there, more like a guide for an afternoon of shopping rather than a cultural and historical visit of the city. I also wanted to share some nice pictures of funny things!

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The first thing to mention when you arrive in Antwerp by train is the Central Station. I was stunned! It's gorgeous and it's only a little taste of the beauty of the city.

And it also as this beloved place in it (the only one in the whole Belgium- or almost-, unbelievable!)

Afternoon snack: a tall Cappuccino with skim milk

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Things to see

St. James' Church

Rubenshuis

Cathedral of Our Lady

Grote Markt

Boerentoren

(the oldest skyscraper in Europe, ohhh)

Statue of Brabo and the giant's hand

Momu: Fashion Museum

Momu

***

Coming soon.. the second (and funniest) part with all the nice vintage shops, my purchases and cute places to eat (and more random photos).

Quality time

I missed sooo much some time by myself, doing things that I really love to do, that today was almost close to my idea of a perfect day! (not a whole perfect day since I missed the only important thing, though).

I started this Sunday in the best way you can (late) start a Sunday: a brunch, of course! Lot of yummy food and staring at people in the street.

Then I walked randomly around Leuven to photograph random things. So happy it wasn't raining!

Obviously bikes because they are everywhere!

And they are also parked in the most creative ways

Then I went to the Jardin Botanique. I know, not such a great idea in the middle of January , but it actually was more alive than what I expected.

And I also found this:

Run, run, run

I ran 7.5 km in 45 minutes. YES! It was also raining= bonus point.

I came back home completely soaked, eh eh but I love sooo much running in the rain.

The plan for the night was dinner+ going out, but I'm too tired for going out and for cooking a decent dinner (= not directly coming out from the freezer). So I had frozen tomato soup (that I actually really love, the frozen version, I mean), hummus, whole wheat bread, and surprise surprise: Brussels sprouts. I've saved you the pictures of this creative and never seen dinner =)

I'm looking forward to going home and to have a REAL oven to bake with!

Oh it's such a perfect day,
I'm glad I spent it with (you) me.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

A Leuven guide by an italian girl

I know, probably it's not the first city that you want to visit in Belgium (anyway, are you sure that you want to visit Belgium?), but Leuven is nice and really university-friendly (the university was founded  in 1425, uhlala) and it's also were I live now (at least, for another week!), so here there are some random places and nice things to do if you ever will be here.

Things to do

From above:

The Town Hall and Grote Markt

Le Jardin Botanique (or Kruidtuin in Dutch, so harmonious)

Ladeuzeplein, the University Library and the giant beetle

The Church of Saint Michael

St. Peter's Church

Even wander around the city is nice

Things to eat (for lunch)

The food maker

(grab n go snacks without preservatives)

Coup de soup

(well, soups, great multi-grain bread)

Nosh

(bagels and other yummy stuff)

Things to buy

Tante Jojo

Hexagoon

(Ravenstraat, 81)

Living lounge

You can see the strangest bikes here. I love that!

Greenway

I ate here today at lunch.

I had a giant Biobroodje Toscane (eggplant, zucchini, ricotta pesto) along with some salad

They also have a wide selection of drinks and teas

I really loved this place and I think I'll come back there soon. The only problem is that they only dutch menu  (totally double dutch).

Greenway

Parijsstraat 12

3000 Leuven

Belgium

NYE and the days after

I ate fluffy indian bread at the most amazing vegetarian indian restaurant ever.

I drank from flaring glasses

I don't remember the name of this dish, but it was delicious

I also ate channa masala with white rice, it was kind of spicy  (actually it was really spicy). Some people stared at us while I was taking pictures, I guess I look crazy sometimes. Anyway the place was amazing although my coat smells like indian cuisine since then.

Saravanaa Bhavan

170, Rue Du Faubourg Saint Denis,

75010, Paris,

France

The day after we went at my favorite restaurant ever and I had a yummy cheesecake

My boyfriend had a nutella-coconut frozen yogurt

Bastille

Paradis du fruit

12 Place de la Bastille

75011, Paris,

France

We spent the Sunday au Marais eating Bagels and shopping at vintage stores

Pitzman menus

A lighthouse salt dispenser

Pitzman

8, rue Pavée

75004 Paris

France

I loved to buy special presents

From the pictures it looks like we haven't done nothing except eating. It's only partly true, it was sooo cold outside that it was almost impossible to properly visit the city. Anyway, I really enjoyed the weekend, especially since from now on i'll have to stay at home to study like hell. Maybe sometimes I'll write a guide of my fav places and restaurant in Paris.

December, 30

I'm going to Paris for the NYE. By train, this time.

The trip will last all night long. I think I won't sleep at all, I only hope for a wi-fi connection and a nice breakfast.