The Market (Noordmarkt, the morning of Monday, February 17th)

This market is only open on Monday mornings from 9 to noon, and it was massive. I found it somewhat exhausting after a few hours, but I'm glad I went. The smells, the sounds (music constantly in the air), the sights... well, some portion of the sights are documented here:

Food is measured in kilos, and the euro is extremely close in value to the American dollar, so you can do the math to figure out how reasonable these prices are.

His sign reads: "An american who listens." I'm not sure exactly what he does, but he was busy writing (transcribing? into English? but if they can read the sign, don't they already know English?), so I didn't ask. All I know is the man talking to him was speaking very urgently... kind of odd, and maybe something worth researching further.

Lots of statues. Everywhere. The market contained a bunch, just nestled in the middle of everything, Brussels even more so.

Bizarre hand-sewn birds. I didn't buy any; a photo is cheaper.

This man is cutting up crystallized mint and honey. You can buy mixed bags, or sample from the silver tray (blurry, bottom-left corner). Yum!

(From another market, actually)At one terminus of the market lay this. It's a toilet, and while the torso and upper legs are hidden from view, you can totally see men urinating all over the place (and by 'place,' I mean Amsterdam). There's another kind of toilet that's even more exposed, that basically looks like an inverse jelly mold, made of grey plastic, that accommodates four at a time. With that, one simply walks up to it (completely out in the open air), undoes one's fly, and does one's business. There isn't anything as convenient for women, sadly.

Not pictured: that second kind of toilet, the playground equipment the market surrounded (the stands were set up on school grounds, and spilled onto other side streets), the myriad clothing-by-weight stands, books, crazy furniture, just plain junk... it was great.

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