Tag Archives: Belgium

Staycation @ The JAM Hotel

Hi Brussels!

Staycation @ The JAM Hotel

This summer, I spent a weekend in the trendiest hotel in Brussels with a friend. I heard so much about the famous terrace. And I was very curious about the interior design, rooms, comfort etc … A former art school transformed into a hotel …

So during the summer in Brussels deserted, I tested this hotspot by myself! 

  

The Room

We let our bags in the lovely simple room with two beds. One is quite unusual and serves (I guess) as an extra bed in a sort of storage (photo montage above). Clever fun design. 

Special mention for the beautiful wall shelf (left picture). The light wood contrasts with the raw concrete and small retro fan. 

The weather is very hot. Yes, (sometimes) it happens in Brussels! The small minimalist bathroom reminds me of some of my Pinterest pins

The Terrace

What a pleasure to discover the terrace with a little corner of greenery and the outdoor pool! We will swim the next morning after the breakfast with the swimming pool and terrace just for us.

Wow, bathing (in the shelter of the glances) in the center of Brussels with a direct view on offices! Being at the heart of urban activity without taking part! This boutique hotel has a really cool concept, architecture, decoration and location.

At The Beginning Of The Evening

The Bar

The staff at the bar is very nice. Slowly, there are more and more people and no more sits on the terrace. No problem as the huge sofa inside is extremely comfortable! With a direct view on the concrete cylinders library! Great! 

Very cool atmosphere and music, we could stay hours and hours. But we have to go dinner Place du Châtelain, because the hotel restaurant is closed. So we have no time to change clothes, we’re already super late (lol)!

Good Night!

Back to the hotel late, it’s the perfect timing for a quick photoshoot of the reception (picture above) and lobby inspired by the Russian Constructivism (picture below). 

The Breakfast

After A Short Night Of Sleep

We chatted until early morning! Then the wake-up was pretty difficult (considering I am not a morning person)! Very good breakfast followed by a long swim in the pool only for us! I laughed a lot when my friend yelled while getting in the water. She is not used to cold water!

Then we go to BOZAR, my Brussels favorite museum (go there!) for the “Yves Klein Theater of the Void” exhibition about the creative process of the artist! Awesome! Photo below : postcards of the exhibition. This museum has always an interesting program.

The interest of being in a hotel close to everything!

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations  

JAM Hotel

Related articles : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to the JAM HOTEL for this lovely stay and to Joséphine and karine! As always, these are my opinions.

The Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel

On My Way To The Airport

I have to be at Brussels airport at 4:30 am (great!). I won’t sacrifice hours of a precious sleep and start my journey exhausted! That’s why I decided to test the airport hotel option, to benefit from a real night’s sleep.

I leave the center of Brussels (picture 1 of the photo montage below) for the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel, located opposite the entrance gates of the Departures of the airport. Five minutes walk to the check-in counter of my flight! 

The Club Room

On the fifth floor,

Club rooms provide access to the Club Lounge. I am nicely surprised when I enter my renovated 20-25 m² room thought in a very practical way, to meet the needs of both business and leisure travelers.

Very efficient double glazing (no sound from the outside), several electrical outlets scattered throughout the room, free wifi and Evian mini bottles.

I woke up at 4 a.m. I feel rested, despite the fact that I have slept few hours. The bedding is impeccable and the new bathroom is very clean. And I really liked the Galler chocolates with the draw of Geluck’s comics hero, Le Chat (photo below). It’s really Belgian sense of humour.

The Club Lounge

To Combine Usefulness With Pleasure

The Club Lounge is a space for work and relaxation, with drinks and snacks. Two computers and a printer are also available, as well as several national and international daily and magazines.

The Breakfast Corner

4:30 a.m.

I am a little bit late. As the breakfast restaurant opens at 5 a.m., I stop to pick up a fresh croissant on a buffet converted into a breakfast corner in the entrance of the hotel.

The hotel staff is very smiling and professional. While I wrap the croissant in a paper towel to eat it later, the receptionist brings me a full breakfast in a bag especially prepared for me. But I can’t take it away for it would be thrown by the customs.

I leave the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel delighted with the experience. What a pleasure to come zen and rested (without the stress of the taxi) at the check-in! When my fellow travellers look like The Walking Dead’s zombies! LOL! Sorry guys ; )

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations   

Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel

Related posts : HOTEL REVIEWS & HOW TO PREPARE YOUR TRAVEL

Many thanks to the team of the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel for this lovely invitation. As always these are my opinions.

Exhibitions: Brussels-Sintra-Lisbon

Brussels-Belgium-Exhibition-Denis-Meyers-Remember-Souvenir-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KBrussels, Belgium

Brussels-Belgium-Exhibition-Denis-Meyers-Remember-Souvenir-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

“Remember Memory” by Dennis Meyers

This spring and summer, I really enjoyed two exhibitions and a contemporary art fair between the cities of Brussels, Sintra and Lisbon.

Early in the summer, I discovered the monumental exhibition, “Remember Souvenir” by Denis Meyers in the Solvay building, an old office building abandoned in Brussels (above: a selfie with the artist). A declension of infinitive verbs covering walls in a maze of rooms, corridors and cellars of 25000 m².

In the two short videos (below), Denis Meyers summarized the crazy adventure of his monumental exhibition:

 

 

Brussels-Belgium-Exhibition-Denis-Meyers-Remember-Souvenir-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KBrussels-Belgium-Exhibition-Denis-Meyers-Remember-Souvenir-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Brussels-Belgium-Exhibition-Denis-Meyers-Remember-Souvenir-8-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

 

Brussels-Belgium-Exhibition-Denis-Meyers-Remember-Souvenir-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Brussels-Belgium-Exhibition-Denis-Meyers-Remember-Souvenir-6-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Brussels-Belgium-Exhibition-Denis-Meyers-Remember-Souvenir-7-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Sintra, Portugal

Portugal-Sintra-Point-of-View-Exhibition-Parque-do-Palacio-da-Pena-Antonio-Bokel-Cura-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

“Point of View”

Portugal-Sintra-Point-of-View-Exhibition-Parque-do-Palacio-da-Pena-Antonio-Bokel-Cura-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

During My Week-end in Cascais,

I took the opportunity to visit the exhibition of contemporary art, Point of View” (do not miss it, until May 2017). The works of ten international artists are scattered in the beautiful Parque do Palácio da Pena in Sintra (listed World Heritage by UNESCO).

Another monumental exhibition that makes you do exercise, because the park is huge! You go up and down non stop. And plan some time, to avoid running from one point to another as I did! In photos above:  the “Cura / Cure” installation by Antonio Bokel.


Photos below: 1, the untitled art work in acacia wood by Bosco Sodi. 2 & 3, I really like this “painting” of Nils-Udo, “Clareira / Clearing” (composed of grass and granite), supposed to remind the Eden Garden. 4 Nespoon, The Big Picture. Looking up, you can see the magnificent Palácio da Pena.

Portugal-Sintra-Point-of-View-Exhibition-Parque-do-Palacio-da-Pena-Bosco-Sodi-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Sintra-Point-of-View-Exhibition-Parque-do-Palacio-da-Pena-Nils-Udo-Clareira-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Sintra-Point-of-View-Exhibition-Parque-do-Palacio-da-Pena-Nils-Udo-Clareira-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Sintra-Point-of-View-Exhibition-Nespoon-The-Big-Picture-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Sintra-Parque-do-Palacio-da-Pena-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Lisbon, Portugal

Portugal-Lisbon-ARCOlisboa-1rst-International-Contemporary-Art-Fair-2A-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

ARCOlisboa

Portugal-Lisbon-ARCOlisboa-1rst-International-Contemporary-Art-Fair-Galeria-Luisa-Strina-Nicolas-Paris-Sala-de-aula-para-o-erro-quadrado-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Lisbon-ARCOlisboa-1rst-International-Contemporary-Art-Fair-Vera-Cortes-Art-Agency-Nuno-da-Luz-Bullroorers-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Now Lisbon Has Its Contemporary Art Fair

The fair is not huge, so I could take the time to see everything … on ten centimeter heels (4 inches! LOL, no comment!). You’ve never seen me in an art fair or museum:  I take for hours to see everything! Especially when I am excited by what I discovered.

So here are my favorites of this first edition of ARCOLisboa which included 45 Portuguese and international galleries. Photos above: 1. The fair was held in the Cordoaria Nacional (heritage monument opposite the Tagus). 2, Fantastic square bike: Nicolas Paris, Sala para o erro auta (quadrado), 2015, Galeria Luisa Strina. 3. The skate boards: Nuno da Luz, Bullroarers, 2015, Vera Cortês Art Agency.

Photos below : 1, Rita McBride, Previous Owner, 2008, Galeria Pedro Oliveira. 2, Domingos Rego, untitled, 2016, Galeria João Esteves de Oliveira. 3. The exhibition spaces. 4, Philippe Decrauzat : Flag (WV), 2015 (right) et Untitled, 2014 (left), Parra & Romero. 

Portugal-Lisbon-ARCOlisboa-1rst-International-Contemporary-Art-Fair-Galeria-Pedro-Oliveira-Rita-McBride-Previous-Owner-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Lisbon-ARCOlisboa-1rst-International-Contemporary-Art-Fair-Joao-Esteves-de-Oliveira-Galeria-Arte-Moderna-e Contemporanea-Domingos-Rego-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Lisbon-ARCOlisboa-1rst-International-Contemporary-Art-Fair-1A-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Lisbon-ARCOlisboa-1rst-International-Contemporary-Art-Fair-Parra-e-Romero-Philippe-Decrauzat-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos & vidéos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations  

Denis Meyers, Point of View, ARCOlisboa

Related posts : HOTEL REVIEWS & DESTINATIONS

A big thank you to Patricia, my guide of the “Point of View” exhibition that I recommend you!