TRAVEL BLOG
Saturday, November 17, 2007
What do the Belgians really think of the British?
To promote the new Brussels - London Eurostar service some advertisements have gone up all around Brussels which have caused a stir - the dream of every advertising agency.
The one that has most tongues wagging is one of a football thug relieving himself in a cup of tea.
London now just around the corner
Other advertisements include an Alfred Hitchcock and a John Cleese impersonator. While the football thug might not be in the best taste, the ads show how universal these British characters are. There is no parralel ad campaign in London for Brussels. After all that old saying Name a Famous Belgian still rings true.
I thought this ad though sums it up positively for Britain. Apart from the USA, how many other countries could have their last three leaders so easily impersonated and recognised?
Eurostar - British Prime Ministers
The one that has most tongues wagging is one of a football thug relieving himself in a cup of tea.
London now just around the corner
Other advertisements include an Alfred Hitchcock and a John Cleese impersonator. While the football thug might not be in the best taste, the ads show how universal these British characters are. There is no parralel ad campaign in London for Brussels. After all that old saying Name a Famous Belgian still rings true.
I thought this ad though sums it up positively for Britain. Apart from the USA, how many other countries could have their last three leaders so easily impersonated and recognised?
Eurostar - British Prime Ministers
Labels: advertisement, belgians, belgium, british, brussels, eurostar, london
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Monday, November 05, 2007
Bruxelles - Brussel - Brussels
Brussels is a real surprise packet of a city if you don't know anything about it other than being the so called capital of Europe. It's a cosmopolitan city with a mix of old and new Europe. Belgians don't seem to be a boastful lot, perhaps this is why Brussels isn't as visited as it should be.
Language
Belgium is split into three linguistic divides. Flanders, the northern half of the country is Flemish (Dutch) speaking, Wallonia in the Southern half speak French, and there is a German speaking pocket in the east of the Country. Brussels is in the Brussels-Capital Region, which is in the Dutch speaking Flanders region, but officially Brussels is bilingual, French and Dutch. This is why all the street signs in Brussels are in both languages.
Language
Belgium is split into three linguistic divides. Flanders, the northern half of the country is Flemish (Dutch) speaking, Wallonia in the Southern half speak French, and there is a German speaking pocket in the east of the Country. Brussels is in the Brussels-Capital Region, which is in the Dutch speaking Flanders region, but officially Brussels is bilingual, French and Dutch. This is why all the street signs in Brussels are in both languages.
Labels: belgians, belgium, brussels
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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