After wandering around Bruges for three days, and before I had to book a second seat on the flight home (thanks to the chocolate), I decided to move on.It was time to head back to where I started: Amsterdam.Yes, it had been three weeks since I first landed in the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, but I decided to make Amsterdam the last stop.For the last few weeks the Rock Fever column has been following me through the Netherlands and Belgium (I thought I saw that shadow in Bruges) for this year’s summer holiday. Why is Amsterdam going to be the last stop? Well I like to save the best for last and the truth is ... I had to wait for my travel buddy. So with travel buddy in tow, I boarded the train from Bruges almost to Amsterdam.Almost to Amsterdam? Sorry I’m just going to have to keep you waiting because we couldn’t resist the chance to stop in Brussels along the way.I love how small Belgium and the Netherlands are! Train rides are a flash in the eye and it’s easy to make a quick change to afternoon plans and quickly arrive in Brussels. It took us only about an hour-and-a-half to arrive at Brussels’ Gare du Nord from Bruges where a quick visit to a locker storage unit saved our backs from our bags and the convenient metro to the city’s centre meant we had an entire afternoon to explore.We decided to spend only an afternoon in Brussels because I had been to the city before and, though I had been told otherwise, I personally think Brussels is an afternoon stop in anyone’s travel plans. Yes, the capital of Belgium is trying to pull in designers, the young and hip, but I struggle with the lack of personality that is so rich in both Bruges and Antwerp (two previous stops you can visit on www.robynswanderings.com).What was more jarring, perhaps, were the greetings in French after two weeks of Flemish!Belgium is a funny little state that divides itself along a line that bisects Brussels and essentially leaves Flemish speakers up North in Flanders and French speakers or Walloons in the South or Wallonia. Brussels, I guess, had to choose, and went with French.We had to decide what to do with an afternoon in Brussels and what could be better than mussels? (Besides, my tummy was grumbling.)So to start my top five things to do in Brussels (for an afternoon) are ... Number one: Eat mussels or moules frites as the locals refer to this dish! Even better? These shellfish come with a side of fries and a white sauce with parsley! You can find them at every restaurant in the city so sit down and savour them in Rue de Flandre, an area with plenty of restaurants and which attracts a happy-hour crowd.After we filled up on mussels in Brussels, it was time to walk to number two, the Grote Markt or Grand-Place (depending if you’re Dutch or French). It’s the main square in Brussels and it is busy with tourists travelling Norwegian families playing music and others selling flowers. With the Gothic backdrop of the Hotel de Ville (town hall) and the gilded facades of the guildhouses, most tourists never know this space was actually marshland. In the 12th century it was drained and by the middle of the 13th century it was covered in markets. In another transformation and during the religious wars of the 16th century it also became a place of public executions! With all that history, the Grand Place echoes with a need to be seen.From the overwhelming and historic it was time to add a little humour to our lives with a walk to number three and a statue of a little boy peeing ... water don’t worry! Surrounded by an iron fence, the Manneken Pis attracts crowds of tourists all the time even though when you arrive, the size of the tiny statue might make you wonder why you bothered. The Belgians, however, love this little guy and often dress him for the seasons; a Santa outfit for the Christmas holiday for example. When he is in an outfit, here’s a fun fact, he actually pees beer! Why is he there? No-one knows for sure, but the most likely explanation was that Jerome Duquesnoy cast the original bronze statue to capture the city’s irreverent spirit.The Manneken Pis visit only takes a minute, which left us time to enjoy number four on our Brussels visit and that is the chocolate shops. Yes, I know Bruges was packed with these sweet treats, but did they make their pralines by hand? Ok, then you know you have to visit the shop, Neuhaus, which sits on the Grand Place. Sure it might set you back on your exercise routine, as well as, your pocketbook, but how can you resist their handmade Caprices (pralines with nougat, fresh cream and soft-centred chocolate). If you have time, there is even a chocolate museum sitting in the same Grand Place that can give you a bit of a history lesson.My final suggestion for your visit to Brussels is the bus tour. What?! Yes, I said a bus tour. How can I call myself a travel writer? Well, because the one thing I do find interesting about Brussels is the fact that it was the founding place of the European Union and is the currently the administrative centre. It also has some beautiful buildings, but they are spread out, could take some time to wander through and most do not let you in for a tour. So if you only have an afternoon (well, you might even run out of time like us) you will want to jump onto a bus tour. With a history lesson of this interesting town and a decent view, it’s a nice way to wrap up Brussels.Once we threw the wrappers away on our last chocolates it was time to return to the Gare du Nord, find our train to Amsterdam and take two hours to arrive at the beginning of the trip.Next week? Next week I promise to deliver on Amsterdam. I mean all good things are worth waiting for, right? Until next week au revoir.