I wouldn't normally write a review for such a nondescript train station, but the chain of events centered around an intrepid Miami couple's experience with Brussels' major train station are too absurd not to chronicle.
It was September 22, 2013, and a heavy canopy of clouds lay over the damp city of Brussels, a day much akin to any other early fall day across the Region de Bruxelles-Capitale......except, oh wait, no it was not. This was most certainly NOT an ordinary day. This was the ONE DAY every year when the city of Brussels closes its central downtown district to all automobile traffic.
Needless to say, we did not know this, and were in for quite a shock as we approached Brussels in a rental car, with the intent of returning it at Gare du Midi and then catching our train to Paris, where we would fly back to the United States the next day.
The Brussels police had blocked every single entrance into the city. We stopped at one, and begged and pleaded with the officer in charge. Not only would he not let us through, he proceeded to chastise us for not knowing enough French, even though my lovely significant other was trying her best. In short, this guy was a complete jerk, and would give the absolute worst rural Texas or Florida cops a run for their money in terms of "bad cop" behavior.
Utterly panicking, I had the idea to get back in the car and try another road. We came upon another blockade. This time, we actually met a very understanding policeman who ushered us into a portable trailer and wrote out a pass for us....because apparently, they were ALLOWED to give out exemptions in such dire situations. The prior jerk-o cop was adamant that there was nothing that could be done, and that we should have known.
We sped through the empty Brussels streets and found the Gare du Midi. Unfortunately, when we arrived, I hadn't the slightest idea where to actually return the car, because surprise, surprise, there was no signage. I jumped out of the car and ran into a couple coffee shops, desperately hoping someone would be able to even point me in the right general direction. Eventually, we were pointed around the corner to a small entrance to a tight parking garage. No one was around to ask if we were following proper car return procedure....the garage was empty but for rows of cars, and silent. Now, I tend to not need much assistance with such things, but I have to say, in this particular case, a little help would have been nice, because we had no clue what we were doing. We left the car and took the keys, hoping to find a drop box somewhere. We found one, and ran up to the platform to catch our train. Given all we had to endure to get there, it was truly a miracle that we made it up there in time.
I can laugh about it now, oh yes. But at the time, it made for the most stressful travel experience I've ever had. The moral of this story is, if you are dealing with this train station, please allow plenty of time.....especially if you are returning a rental car on a weekend in late September. read more