Shopping in rue Darwin

What were you up to today? In the sales frenziness, I found a harbor of peace in rue Darwin, just behind Place Brugmann. This little street has been growing quite fast lately! There are plenty of nice shops - mainly home decor and fashion - to keep you busy over the weekend (because yes this is one of the few spot where places are opened over Sundays).

To begin with, I went to see my three year old niece's swimming class in Darwin Aqua Club a rather special little swimming pool in an Art Nouveau building (rue Darwin 15). If you have kids, that is a great place! 

Then, my friend and I decided to look for this Bonnie & Jane shop I have read of in Elle Belgique. And yes, I can confirm, whatever you have been reading, this is a unique place! It is run by two creative ladies who are not just selling you objects, they are proposing an idea, a lifestyle and a special atmosphere. You see, it is like entering into your best friend apartment, the kind of place you want to spend time in. You are surrounded by all sort of magical and delicate stuff, from old lamps, flea market-style furniture, retro clothes, selected pieces of jewelery and much, much more. I bought a lovely pair of socks and a unique pillow I already adore!

Bonnie & Jane shop. All photos via the Bonnie & Jane FB page

Next to it, there are three shops run by Lucia Esteves (Lucia Estevez, Mist and Moon), who presents an adorable selection of homewear and ready to wear woman fashion, with a great selection of labels (including Scandinavians).

We then walked up the road and visited a marvelous (and kind of exotic) boutique run by Anne Marie Witmeur which displays rugs, suzanis and special objects from all over the globe.

Next door there are the two Kelly shops, who are always surprising you with fashionable, yet uncommon accessories and clothes (mind you this season they have head band to die for ).

Kelly Boutique. All photos via Google

Bonnie et Jane

Rue Darwin, 34  

1050 Brussels

Lucia Estevez

Rue Franz Merjay,131 (at the corner with rue Darwin)

1050 Brussels

Must 

rue Darwin, 37

1050 Brussels

Moon 

rue Darwin, 38

1050 Brussels

Kelly Boutique
rue Darwin, 60

1050 Brussels

Anne Marie Witmeur

rue Darwin,52

1050 Brussels

New Year's Hangover

Happy New Year Brussels expats! I hope you had a great party yesterday. I am completely hungover and cannot quite get out of bed. I am not sure how I got back home this morning, but I guess this means I had a great party yesterday. 

The last thing I remember is that I had to walk all the way down from Chatelain, it was raining for a change, I was trying to speak Spanish but I was under the impression that nobody could really understand me (I wonder why), it took me ages to find the keyhole but finally I heroically managed to reach my bed. What a glorious moment.

Honestly I do not remember having that much alcohol.Though I certainly did not have sufficient calorie intake. Guess what, I arrived at the party, throw myself at the buffet and after 15 minutes my lower lip started swallowing like a balloon. Perfect moment to discover I am allergic - to what I do not quite know yet. What I know now is how I would look with Botox: ridiculous. So I concluded 2011 freaking out, ready to rush to the ER. But you see I had two doctors around me (well I suppose it would be more correct to say one doctor as the other wasn't taking me seriously at all) and they said I could actually drink - so that is what I diligently did. 

From the random memories I have, I recall refusing a wedding proposal from a German-born, Trinidad-resident woman who tried to sell me her (fake) brother who "didn't like pussy" but had 50 fat cows back in Calcutta. 50 cows only? I was outraged. I was told that this was the very best I could get as I am a short woman. I am sure Ganesh will punish them. 

I also remember an deep conversation on Indian underwear and tantric sex (the auntie of my friend highly recommended it - she was supposed to remain in India 4 weeks and left after 5 months after meeting this talented Indian boyfriend Mr. Tantric-Techniques-Expert). 

Well if you were wondering there is no particularly big Indian community in Belgium, but this was a Bollywood party. And I was dressed as a Rajasthan girl with an oversize, smelly, white sheep fur and Botox style lips.  India, incredible India.

Is there any Indian remedy against New Year's hangover?

Photo by Bruxpat: holy Indian cow, Rajasthan, 2010