Brussels, Belgium

History and culture can be on vivid display in a city's street signs. History: The "ancient" names are on display. Culture: Belgium's two largest cultural-linguistic communities are given equal time: French (rue) is first because Brussels in predominantly French-speaking; Flemish (or Dutch) follows (straat). This is the street of worms. [2015]

Brussels, Belgium

During the first 15 years of the Surveillance Era (post-1999), "big brother" felt obligated to let you know if you were being watched (post-1984, the book, not the year). Now, we all assume we are being both watched and recorded every time we step out of our private space and into public view. Amazingly, we don't seem to care! [2015]

Antwerp, Belgium

In Belgium, waffles dusted with powdered sugar are served as street food everywhere. In the U.S., they are bought frozen, popped into the toaster at home, and eaten with syrup. It used to be that every American home had a waffle iron, and waffles were eaten for breakfast or for dinner (as chicken-and-waffles). Today, that is not the case. [2015]

Antwerp, Belgium

Known as the Pagodepoort, Antwerp's ceremonial gateway to Chinatown is one of only a select few in Europe. Probably the best known is in London. Today, Antwerp's Chinatown has become more of an Asiatown, with eateries and businesses representing at least half a dozen Asian countries. [2015]

Antwerp, Belgium

Such a naughty boy. So naughty, in fact, he's got a beer named after him (see the inset?). One theory is that he began life in Brussels by peeing into a fountain. Then, into his teen years, he moved to Antwerp where he got into the party scene. "Naughty boy': That is what deugniet means. [2015]

Antwerp, Belgium

How do you honor your city's famous sons and daughters? Erect statues that fossilize them for all time. Here is the Antwerp-born David Teniers, 16th century artist extraordinaire. He looks far too prosperous to be an artist, but he was painting when the wealth of the world flowed into Flemish and Dutch ports. [2015]

Brussels, Belgium

Bonom is the Belgian equivalent of Banksy in the U.K. Both are mysterious muralists who usually work under cover of night. Some consider their murals to be art; others consider them vandalism. Let's hope this isn't a self-portrait. [2015]

Antwerp, Belgium

The penguins have chosen to emerge from the refrigerator behind them, probably because they like to be the center of attention. Perhaps, they will be immortalized by this artist or one of his companions. If it could happen to the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, it could happen to them. (She now lives in the Louvre.) [2015]

Brussels, Belgium

For those traveling to Belgium, the Sunday market near Gare du Midi (the busiest rail station in Brussels) should not be missed. If you visit, be prepared to see how Belgians with deep roots in the Low Countries have taken to the services provided by recent immigrants from North Africa. [2015]

Antwerp, Belgium

Real Human Characters: He is dressed as a fisherman for the annual Semini Festival, a propitious day on which to be married. But, why is he wearing a medal? [2015]

Brussels, Belgium

Most European cities have completely lost their gates (and defensive walls). In Brussels, there is only one left: Porte de Hal, seen here from what would have been outside the walled city. It was built to withstand attack, which meant it was solid enough to later serve as a prison. In fact, that is what saved it. Every city needs prison space. [2015]

Brussels, Belgium

She had her children after 'the war.' Her offspring, however, decided to have only one child or perhaps none. There were many like her, and Belgium's fertility rate dipped below replacement level in 1973. But, the economy continued to grow, and immigrants arrived to take the jobs created. Think of those immigrants as the children her offspring never had. [2015]

Brussels, Belgium

HIV+? People of all genders and races need to think about it, and that advice is given in Belgium's two languages: French and Dutch. Without the mural, Belgians would not have a reminder that we all still live under the cloud of AIDS. [2015]

Brussels, Belgium

Brussels is blessed with scores of murals honoring the comic-book characters for which Belgium is famous. The French word for wall is le mur, so a wall painting like this is called a mural. But here, we're talking about window paintings. So, we're obligated to coin a new word: fenetrals, from the French word for window, la fenêtre. [2015]

Brussels, Belgium

Brussels may be the capital of Belgium; it may be the capital of Europe; but, most importantly, it may be the capital of comic books. Only in Brussels have so many characters escaped their bindings and hung themselves on walls around the city. Sometimes the intent is to provide comic relief; other times, it's to change attitudes and opinions. [2015]

Antwerp, Belgium

"People all over Flanders look up to me. I am Lange Wapper, the Flemish giant. Perhaps you know my cousins, Finn McCool, the Irish giant; Benandonner, the Scottish giant; and Cormoran, the Cornish giant. Alas, Cormoran is no more. He was killed by a boy named Jack centuries ago. Hey you guys, either one of you named Jack?" [2015]

Brussels, Belgium

Ha! Ha! Azrael thinks we're in Bulgaria, but we never left Belgium. The problem is we don't know where Gargamel is. So, just to err on the cautious side, we have gone into hiding by going white. No smurfy blue brows here. We'll never be recognized! [2015]

Brussels, Belgium

In Belgium, same-sex cohabitation has been legal since 2000, same-sex marriage since 2003, and same-sex-couple adoption since 2006. How do the Belgians normalize the perception of same-sex relationships? By making them part of their cultural landscapes. And, for Belgians, that means using cartoons. [2015]

Brussels, Belgium

Thousands of homeless people are to be found in Brussels, but most take advantage of homeless accommodation services. Finding someone who is "homeless without shelter" is far less common than it is in the United States. [2015]

Brussels, Belgium

The Bourse in Brussels is at the heart of Belgium's commercial economy.  However, at the turn of the century, the Brussels stock exchange merged with the Paris, Amsterdam, and Lisbon stock exchanges to form Euronext. Onward marches globalization! [2015]