Awesome Atomium & A Visit to the Royal Palace

What the heck is the Atomium?  We had read about it and seen it from the top of a tall building.  Our friends from Germany came to visit and we explored some of the sights of Brussels together.

This is the overall Atomium as you approach!

Rather than try to sum it up..here is what the placard inside describes it as.

Charlie going up one of the inside tubes... One of them had cool lights on the way down, but my picture didn't come out.

Phillip & Kelly holding up the top ball...

Charlie holding it up.  His vest is what kids on bikes wear everywhere here..it happens to match his bike helmet we bought this summer!  He rides his bike EVERYWHERE and he is in heaven!

Lila holding it up...

Helen pinching the top.  It really lends itself to some fun photos!!

We also took the opportunity to visit the Royal Palace.  Belgium has a royal family and every summer while the family is on vacation somewhere amazing, they open the palace for visitors.

Here is our crew outside the palace.

The royal family has 4 children, the oldest is a few months younger than Kelly and the youngest just a little older than Charlie...here they are...  

One of the chocolate shops near the main square has their annual photos displayed through the years, it was fun to check out all the pictures!  

Our German friends even brought us a Raclette machine, we promise to make it for all of our visitors...it is like a little individual omlettes that everyone sits around and makes.  We had it one night while they visited, I just forgot to take photos!  

It was fun to have friends to explore our new city with!