410PM Pretty sure I’m the only customer in the Dome and have been for quite a long time. Mystifies me a bit—it’s a lovely place to hang out in

410PM Pretty sure I’m the only customer in the Dome, and have been for quite a long time. Mystifies me a bit—it’s a lovely place to hang out in, and chill, drink, smoke, chat, whatever. If it called itself a Caffe Nero or Starbucks or Costa it would probably be packed all the time. Berenice again I’m Proud—Brussels 2001. Ur. Joe Dassin again; I really need to put more songs on my phone but I’m very selective, and there are very few songs that mean a lot to me at any particular time. 414 and my train leaves 556; surely time for one more? OK 415 I’m going for my 6th. So well done, I’ve avoided Le Coin, AND Brussels Grill (as well as Cine Paris and Fifth), and the shoe shops as well. So finally we are here! Adieu Bruxelles! Adieu mes jeunes filles! Bonjour tristesse! Bonjour darkness my old friend! 

 

350PM I start my fifth—final—Stella in the Dome. Oh but now the maitre d’ is killing me; replaced the empty peanut bowl with little slices of sausage with dabs of mustard! Gorgeous!

350PM I start my fifth—final—Stella in the Dome. Oh but now the maitre d’ is killing me; replaced the empty peanut bowl with little slices of sausage with dabs of mustard! Gorgeous! Oh and now he’s given me chunks of cheddar cheese with pepper on top! You are killing me, monsieur! But it certainly precludes the need for Brussels Grill! I have to force myself not to finish these all in one go even before I’ve started my beer, otherwise he will just bring more and as my mother always tells me, cheese is the most fattening thing you can eat. So no, let me slow down on the cheese and stick to the beer. Mavi Phoenix Longtime again, tempting me back to Vienna in the New Year. Like a Pill again. My ur-song. Kylie Can’t Get You Out of my Head (Brussels, circa 2001 or 1999? Even more of an ur-song, if so).

The Cine ABC and California Peep Show & videokabins next to it both STILL horrible empty shells

The Cine ABC and California Peep Show & videokabins next to it both STILL horrible empty shells; the people campaign to close down these disgusting sleazy places, but what takes their place? Nothing. Complete lack of any life at all, or in Stuttgarter Platz’s case just more bars, more drinking establishments. So much better? More life, more life-force, more passion, in the naughty places. 345PM. My Eurostar departs in 2 hours 11 minutes. And let’s hope I’ll be on it. Pink Like a Pill (Brussels, 2001, proper proper old school). One of my ur-songs.

Arnold Schoenberg (so redolent of Vienna. Viennese eroticism). I tell myself every time but I never learn—no point booking a late Eurostar on my homeward day

Arnold Schoenberg (so redolent of Vienna. Viennese eroticism). I tell myself every time but I never learn—no point booking a late Eurostar on my homeward day. I always do it thinking at least it gives me a last few hours to enjoy the naughty jollies of Brussels, but in reality I NEVER want to do ANYTHING on my homeward day so it is just a complete waste of time, energy and money. Please, NEVER do it again. A lunchtime Eurostar is perfect, so I can at least lie in and stay in my hotel room till 11am checkout time, 1pm-2pm at latest, but no more 556PM homeward trains! Another lesson I have to keep re-learning. Joe Dassin again. 335PM. Getting there. And all my life-force still intact pretty much (i.e. all my sperm). There’s been a few girls passing the Dome while casting their lascivious eyes in at me, trying to tempt me to give up some of my life-force, but no chance madames! No chance, mes jeunes filles! Me too strong! I’m too bloody strong!

323. I wonder if I will be treated to a sexy barmaid here at the Dome or does the lunchtime boss go all the way in these cost-cutting days?

323. I wonder if I will be treated to a sexy barmaid here at the Dome, or does the lunchtime boss go all the way in these cost-cutting days? Would be lovely to see Aisha again as a final treat before I go home. Still a source of many erections/fantasies for me, even when back home in London. Rohff Qui est l’exemple (Brussels c.2003. FIRST Golden Age! Proper old school).

Rue des Bouchers

Fourth Stella in the Dome. 316PM. After this and one more I reckon that will be 415PMish and perfect time to get my taxi to Midi

Fourth Stella in the Dome. 316PM. After this, and one more, I reckon that will be 415PMish and perfect time to get my taxi to Midi, and get TWO lovely Panos baguettes for a change (if they’re still open). The thing about the Ibis Gare du Midi coming back into play is it also brings back into play L’Orient Express, and the lovely little chicken (etc) LATE NIGHT restaurant next to it. And a constant all day source of food from the station (and NEWSPAPERS!). Yes, suddenly the thought of staying in the Ibis again has excited me about a quick return to Brussels (which I cannot possibly afford, but never mind). Just to feel the excitement, the eagerness, is a thrill in itself. Anticipation is everything. Anticipation is the fuel that keeps me going. If I really feel like it, I could forego one more Stella here in the Dome and walk to Fifth for a last 3 euro Maes; just to check the place out one last time. Little enthusiasm for it though. Does anybody record their travels, and their imminent homeward journey, as meticulously minute by minute as me? No, and yes why bother? I can almost hear my ex-wife saying. Always a great force for bringing me back down to earth and bursting my little bubbles. Bless her.

Start of an exciting new Photo Series: Gloves I have found in the street. No.1 In the Rue des Fleurs, Bruxelles

Third Stella here in the Dome. 242PM. Pink Last to Know (Berlin circa 2003-4). Brollies are up but blowing inside out; no visible sign of rain but a bitter Arctic wind

Third Stella here in the Dome. 242PM. Pink Last to Know (Berlin circa 2003-4). Brollies are up but blowing inside out; no visible sign of rain, but a bitter Arctic wind (I can imagine). What little rain there is, equally cold (I am sure). My visit to Le Coin on my fourth day has reinvigorated my faith in Brussels the way the previous 3 days’ visits to Fifth had rather killed it;; so why then on my leaving day don’t I return to Le Coin and “do” something? No, I never want to have sexual relations on my home day; it completely knocks me out and leaves me weepy and emotional. Wanda Bussi Baby (Vienna c.2016). Amy MacDonald Run (recent). Mando Diao Sweet Wet Dreams (recent). Nazar/Falco Zwischen Zeit und Raum (Vienna c.2016). Mavi Phoenix Longtime (recent). I don’t want to do anything sexual on my home day, one reason I sub-consciously really recoil from it is because it is your life-force isn’t it. I need all my life-force just to get me through the long, tiring journey home with my heavy bag. Avoid sex, and avoid any heavy food too. Drink at least gives me that high that gives wind beneath my wings for a while.

I never realised Brussels has stolpersteine as well

Zoe Adieu. Rihanna Love on the Brain. Again reward for doing something DIFFERENT? By taking that long walk down to Le Coin yesterday I have revolutionised my future trips to Brussels (perhaps)

Zoe Adieu. Rihanna Love on the Brain. Again, reward for doing something DIFFERENT? By taking that long walk down to Le Coin yesterday I have revolutionised my future trips to Brussels (perhaps). The old Gare du Midi nexus suddenly regains pre-eminence over the Max Nexus. More than anything I look forward to getting back to the good honest butt-naked knickerless strippers of London. Topless only strip clubs are an abomination, and I take them as a personal insult. Joe Dassin Et Si tu n’existais pas. That song I only heard in Empire’s topless only strip club here in Brussels.

In the Café du Dome

So 216PM and reluctantly back in the Café du Dome. I would much rather have stayed in my room

So 216PM and reluctantly back in the Café du Dome. I would much rather have stayed in my room, but to pay for the whole night would have cost 79 euros! So now I try to kill time in the Dome, then perhaps Brussels Grill. Feel no desire for another Cine Paris or Fifth. Brussels has suddenly turned bitterly cold; feels more like snow than rain. Still, it is a pleasure to be sitting here in the Dome, listening to Berenice’s I’m Proud on my earphones, glass of Stella in my hands. Now Alcazar Crying at the Discotheque. Maitre Gims Bella. Memories of this holiday? Discovering Le Coin girls for the first time “came to life” for me and therefore that I really, really look forward to staying once more at my OLD favourite hotel, the Ibis Gare du Midi. That discovery will make it more likely I will return to Brussels sooner than I would otherwise have done. Junior Senior Move Your Feet.

It is only 1152 now. I really have until 1PM to make my mind up—at that point I need to go out and buy those new shoes

It is only 1152 now. I really have until 1PM to make my mind up—at that point I need to go out and buy those new shoes, if I want to, and also get more cash from the ATM if I really want to return to Le Coin before going home. That means 30 euros to stay till 2PM, taxi fare back to Midi, PLUS locker charge to store my bag at Midi while I pop back to Le Coin, perhaps.

Carl Orff – O Fortuna ~ Carmina Burana

The wonderful eroticism of Le Coin yesterday makes me want to come back for an extended stay in Brussels again—basing myself down by the Gare du Midi this time

The wonderful eroticism of Le Coin yesterday makes me want to come back for an extended stay in Brussels again—basing myself down by the Gare du Midi this time. I was unkind for saying it had the atmosphere of a greasy spoon café. It has got lots of vases of flowers, lots of PAINTINGS of vases of flowers on the walls, a wonderful dark brown painting of some river surrounded by ferns and palm trees, and lovely dark brown wood panels, and unusual kind of trestle-type lamps suspended from the ceiling, all of which gives it a rather Bavarian, Munich feel; a real Carmina Burana feel! I’m talking myself into going back again before I leave, aren’t I! I suppose if I just went in for the last hour and just had a few beers, that would not be that expensive!

Another wonderfully varied & eclectic set of films at Cine Paris

I didn’t eat much yesterday—just the 530PM Brussels Grill steak all day?

I didn’t eat much yesterday—just the 530PM Brussels Grill steak all day? Well, if I’m only permitted to stay in my room till 2PM, let me go back upstairs and enjoy its comfort for every minute until then. Time to depart the Hotel Max lounge. When I’ve finished my second beer. When I sat down for my Brussels Grill steak last night I thought I’m going to have this steak then go over the road and take a Domino’s Pizza back to the hotel with me. Well, long before I even finished the steak I was struggling. So I will try to avoid it today—don’t want to be in that state and having to come back to the hotel and start the long journey home like that.

Well I was going to pay for the room for another night just so I could stay in it till I left the hotel at 430PM but it is 79 euros tonight!

Well, I was going to pay for the room for another night, just so I could stay in it till I left the hotel at 430PM but it is 79 euros tonight! Therefore I had to make do with 30 euros to stay till 2PM only. Now I have the problem what the hell am I going to do between 2 and 5? Yes, I suppose I could decamp to the Café du Dome again at 2, and maybe even endure the Cine Paris again, though it will still be the same films as I’ve been seeing since I got here I expect. Really feel no desire to return to Fifth Avenue which says a lot; I DO feel a desire to return to Le Coin but do not want the expense. I would not be able to resist the temptation and I would really rather not take out another 100-200 euros; not knowing if I have a job to go back to or not especially. 1130 on my second beer already. I’ll have to pour myself on to Eurostar at 556. I may make the effort to go look for some new shoes before 2. So do I go to Vienna in the New Year—which with my No Fly rule means staying nights in Brussels and Munich along the way? No. Unthinkable. We will see.

Drug Opera

Pleased on this trip that finally I did a couple of my pilgrimages

Pleased on this trip that finally I did a couple of my pilgrimages—to the site of “the most famous ball in history” that Wellington attended on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, and as mentioned to the site of Baudelaire’s Hotel du Grand Miroir. Pleased to discover on my last day that Le COIN is where I should be going and that the Ibis Gare du Midi is the nexus where I should be basing myself (perhaps).

Place Rouppe where Verlaine attacked Rimbaud a second time & the site of the Hotel where Verlaine shot Rimbaud the first time

I enjoyed my brief stay back in the Café du Dome yesterday—just for 2 Stellas

I enjoyed my brief stay back in the Café du Dome yesterday—just for 2 Stellas, then after my first Cine Paris session (with several more beers, which is when the manager first started to get funny with me) I cut down Rue St Michel, across the Place des Martyrs, along the Rue d’Argent (I LOVE Brussels street names), up Wolvengracht, up Stormstraat and there once again to the Rue de la Montagne, where Baudelaire stayed in his famous Hôtel du Grand Miroir. This time I walked down the whole road but still could not see the plaque. Anyway I must surely have passed the spot where the Miroir once stood {yes, the Maison du Notaires], and that is good enough for me. Then on the spur of the moment I decided I WOULD press on all the way down to Le Coin—so down Zuidstraat I went, through the Place Rouppe—where Verlaine attacked Rimbaud for a second time! They had patched things up after Verlaine had shot Rimbaud the first time, and now Verlaine was accompanying Rimbaud down to Gare du Midi to bid him farewell as he left for Paris, when Verlaine’s jealousy got the better of him again and he attacked Rimbaud again! It was only after this second attack that Verlaine was arrested, convicted and sent to prison. I carried on to Le Coin and had that extraordinary surprise of so many gorgeous big, big curvy women.

Grand Place

After my Brussels Grill steak I waddled back to the hotel and it was now just after 6 and I thought I would force myself back to Cine Paris

After my Brussels Grill steak, I waddled back to the hotel and it was now just after 6, and I thought I would force myself back to Cine Paris. The same good film as earlier My Daughter in Law is a Whore (followed by Jessie, PA which I kept missing); upstairs film looked rubbish. I forced myself to have one more can of Jupiler but struggled to finish it, so knew it was time to call it a day. The cinema manager was becoming very surly with me by now as well, refusing to give me change when I bought my beer. Obviously, I couldn’t understand what his objection was as he steadfastly refuses to speak the Queen’s English so I just let it go. And now it is 11am I have to check out, and, alas, go home. My Eurostar home is not till 556! I will probably take up the 30 euros offer of a late check out till 2—the upper limit without paying for a whole extra night. I don’t want to go back to Coin now—I don’t like to go too crazy and get too drunk before my homeward journey, so I try to stay within my limits. I only have 50 euros left as well!

“Le Cygne”(the Swan). Grand Place. It was in this building, a restaurant, that Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote the “Communist Party Manifesto” in 1847

Well the world’s been turned on its head—Le Coin was better than Fifth Avenue

Well, the world’s been turned on its head—Le Coin was better than Fifth Avenue. Four gorgeous voluptuous girls—I would have liked all four of them but by now I was too drunk and I only had 70 euros left—the exact cut 20 to house, and 50 to girl. One more beer and that was it, too late. Suddenly I think in future I will stay in the IBIS again, rather than the Max!

Rue de la Montagne where Baudelaire lived in Brussels

Well it’s finally 538 when I get back to Brussels Grill (Rogier). Gutted that Brussels Grill Brouckère was closed!

Well, it’s finally 538 when I get back to Brussels Grill (Rogier). Gutted that Brussels Grill Brouckère was closed! Tuesday? What the hell? I was so looking forward to the Brouckère one.

One more thing I notice on this trip is the incredible amount of bicycles on the roads; very noticeable—Brussels’ traffic-calming measures really working

One more thing I notice on this trip is the incredible amount of bicycles on the roads; very noticeable—Brussels’ traffic-calming measures really working. AND that reminds me, the Rogier traffic junction MADNESS has really been cured. There is now complete separation of East-West and North-South crossing traffic, when before it all fought it out in a mad battle every second, 4, 5, 6 directions of traffic all fighting to get through the same central crossing point. They have cured the madness, finally!

I honestly think I will always go to the Brouckère Brussels Grill if I can; it is so much quieter and more peaceful in that one

I honestly think I will always go to the Brouckère Brussels Grill if I can; it is so much quieter and more peaceful in that one. And they gave me a MIXED salad rather just a pile of boring lettuce. I guess that’s random. Another thing I’ve learned on this trip is always buy a beer as soon as I arrive in Cine Paris—to FORCE myself to stay for at least a while. Only then do the films have any chance of working their effect on me. You have to sink into a porn cinema; I find its immediate impact is always repellent otherwise.

Four beers in the hotel and two Stellas here in the Dome then off to Cine Paris I think

Four beers in the hotel, and two Stellas here in the Dome, then off to Cine Paris I think. Then after that perhaps a return to Rue de la Montagne; and maybe, maybe, the LONG walk down to Le Coin. Just to do something different, random, shake things up again. I can’t just go and sit boredly in the afternoon Fifth Avenue again.

Nice to be back in my Dome window seat; even a little splattering of rain out there to reward me as if to tell me “Yes NOW you are back in the right process”

Nice to be back in my Dome window seat; even a little splattering of rain out there to reward me, as if to tell me “Yes, NOW you are back in the right process”. One’s erotic fetish is a process—a checklist of activities that lead one closer and closer inexorably to orgasm; and I’ve disrupted that for a long time now by drinking in the Max lounge just staring out the window; I made this mistake in the Dorint Vienna as well. I should always drink IN MY ROOM, with porn on my computer and music on the TV (having first established there are no sexy barmaids in the hotel bar, of course). To keep myself permanently on that priapic edge. Permanently on the verge of orgasm. So then when you do go out you feel as high as a kite and it makes everything you do feel so much more exciting.

I thought I’ve got to try something different to shake myself out of this torpor—so I took my fourth can of Jupiler back to my room and drank it while enjoying some porn on my computer

I thought I’ve got to try something different, to shake myself out of this torpor—so I took my fourth can of Jupiler back to my room and drank it while enjoying some porn on my computer. ALSO with the music channel on my TV. EVERYTHING suddenly felt more exciting. Porn on its own is boring; drink on its own is boring; by combining the two I felt so much more turned on; AND even the boring music channels sounded better. Everything suddenly started feeling better. I suddenly started to remember something of the old excitement I used to feel when staying in my Vienna or Berlin hotel rooms. Rock Star—Post Malone—the first good song of the trip. Now I enjoy my first Stella back in the Café du Dome and am rewarded by one of the pretty barmaids I remember from long, long ago. Not wonderfully voluptuous Aisha, sadly, but one of the pretty, slim, dark-haired Moroccans. So I’ve learned something today, or reminded myself of something stupidly forgotten—watching porn is no good on its own; drinking is no good on its own; I have to do both together, and if there is music playing as well even better. Why strip pubs are so addictive, of course.

The usual two rubbish music channels on my hotel TV—Cstar (French) and MTV VIVA (Austrian). Not one single memorable song to take home with me

The usual two rubbish music channels on my hotel TV—Cstar (French) and MTV VIVA (Austrian). Not one single memorable song to take home with me. Yes, a very low key trip to Brussels—fourth in a row. I may even walk back up to Rue d’Aerschot to check out the window girls again. Or down to Le Coin. 1131 Third beer. When I think of — or the black duty manageress I always get strong erections, without fail; thought of them does turn me on every time. Not seen the black one for a long, long time. Feel like going to one of those hostess bars tonight—just to see some different floozies; not to do anything with them; far too expensive; maybe try Bellagio in Rue des Cendres (formerly Relay 7, formerly numerous other names), pretty much on the site of the hospital Baudelaire was taken to after his life-ending collapse, or that one just down from Cine Paris, Club l’Intime. Just to do something different on my last night. That is if I can wake up in time of course.

It has been four months since I was last in Brussels and in that time alone I have lost Gascogne, the little chip shop next to my hotel, the wonderful mural over the Cine Paris stairs and Jean Rollin films from my hotel TV

It has been four months since I was last in Brussels and in that time alone I have lost Gascogne, the little chip shop next to my hotel, the wonderful mural over the Cine Paris stairs, and Jean Rollin films from my hotel TV. 1058 My first beer of the day. After my long, lazy session in Fifth, I brought my Domino’s Pizza back then passed out to sleep, and did not wake till 1AM. A new big voluptuous young girl in Fifth Avenue and I thought yes! This is it! The is the new girl to spark this trip to life! Bella—from Goiania inevitably. Why is it that out of all the Brazilian strippers and floozies I have met in my life probably 50% of them come from Goiania? A relatively small city in Brazil yet they supply a disproportionately high number of girls who work in these naughty places. “Because we are the most beautiful women in Brazil!” one Goiania girl told me. That may well be true but cannot be the whole story I think. It was Bella’s first day in Fifth Avenue apparently, or second; after four months working in some ——— retail shop. Maybe I would have been her first customer! But after about 2 minutes of sitting with me with the drink I bought for her & her two friends, she got up and abandoned me; as I did not want to go to the room immediately, even though I was quite clearly interested in her, which I demonstrated to her. A more experienced girl might have stayed and kept trying for a while longer as I am sure I would have gone with her in the end. Anyway, a beautiful girl, a good addition, but the way she got up and left me made me think she would not be the most warm and generous person in the bedroom which would discourage me completely in future. Not a stellar line up in Fifth right now, but as always I need to go there in the evening time to see if any big hitters turn up later; I limit my chances if I leave by 5PM every day.

Hôtel du « Grand Miroir » where Baudelaire stayed in Brussels

So I got to Rue de la Montagne yesterday but now I think I made a mistake—I didn’t find the exact address that was site of the Grand Miroir

So I got to Rue de la Montagne yesterday but now I think I made a mistake—I didn’t find the exact address that was site of the Grand Miroir; I saw 31-27 and thought No.28 must have been here, and opposite is No.50; but now I think it must be further down. There is a plaque on the wall apparently; I didn’t see that. So let me try again today. Maybe start in Café du Dome for old times’ sake; maybe even down to Le Coin but that is a LONG walk. Definitely back to Cine Paris today and maybe even look for some shoes. A bright blue-skied Monday morning—I think I’ve seen the last of the rain unfortunately.

Site of “the most famous ball in history” where once stood the Duchess of Richmond’s mansion

After my lovely Brussels Grill steak in Fifth Avenue at 322PM. Sleepy. Ready for bed. Two girls visible only

After my lovely Brussels Grill steak, in Fifth Avenue at 322PM. Sleepy. Ready for bed. Two girls visible only. Maybe eight men. The demand is there; the supply is low. Let me drink enough and quickly enough that I feel the urgent need for a Domino’s Pizza before bed, to go with the steak I just had. These are my real desires on holiday these days. Any really really sexy floozies I am lucky to see will just get in the way of my eating.