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Mons…
I never heard about it.
Never knew a place called Mons.
Few months before I started blogging, there's a guy from my home country planned to go to Mons. He applied for a job and was really sure that he’ll be coming (eventually, he’s not—after months of waiting).
He had spent a year living in Scandinavia but when he e-mailed Prince Charming and asked silly questions, I found it kinda surprising. He asked whether the people in Mons being racist, how’s the criminality rate in Mons (because somehow he found out that Mons is a poor little town), and any chance that he will get our traditional food and spices around.
His e-mail really made me laugh!
I am also insecure.
But was it me being reckless or too excited that finally will be living in Europe.. So I didn’t really care about any single things.
I didn’t care where it is.
How it looks like.
The weather.
Or anything.
I did browse about Mons, but only gathered few informations.
I just don’t like surprises and was afraid to set my hopes high.
So was thinking.. just fly away, enjoy the ride and suck it up!
Anyway,
Where is Mons exactly and how is it look like?
Well.. for sure the first and easiest thing to do is to ask Google and find it in Wikipedia, because I’m not gonna bored everyone and make a very long post.
Mons, is a quite little town in the capital of Hainaut region in southern Belgium bordering France. The Grand Place of Mons is one of the most beautiful in Belgium.
One of my favorite sights in a beautiful weekend would be some old men going around town selling roses.
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| A beautiful evening at the Grand Place |
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| The Collegiate Church of Sainte-Waudru and the Belfry |
Mons means 'mountain' and the people of Mons called Montois.
But so far I haven’t seen any mountains around.
The only thing I saw just a small hill outskirt Mons.
It is also called Bergen in Flemish/ Dutch.
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| Mons train station, 2010 |
Coming to Mons, we’ll see it is not as hectic as many big cities.
The train station located across the Place Léopold-- where it is also served as the bus station.
There used to be an information kiosk but changed into bike service.
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| Place Léopold |
The central core of the town is not large.
The centre of Mons, which located inside a ring and surrounded by boulevards has around 2 km of diameter. Very walkable. One place to another is easily reached by foot.
The streets of the old town are narrow, with old houses jumbled together.
I am thrilled by the warmth of Mons. The people are charming (even they only speak French and lots of elderly). Most of them are always greet and smile to everyone and everytime.
They will stop walking if see someone taking pictures. They even offer help to take our photos.
Mons is not a boring small town.
A small town it is (because Belgium in fact is a small country compared to my home country), with many interesting events all year round.
Although days going on very short with shops mostly closed around 6 pm, the only thing we can do is to find a local bar and have the famous Belgian beer.
And if there any chance of boredom, I would say traveling is so easy from Mons to neighbouring cities or countries. Simply check out SNCB with interesting permanent offers, Thalys, Eurolines or fly from Brussels or Charleroi.
