visit the Jewish neighborhood.... by Caroline_VD
visit the Jewish neighborhood. You should know, that after New York, Antwerp has the highest orthodox Jew population outside of Israel in the world. They own the entire diamond business. Antwerp is famous for its diamonds. It's the diamond capital! Seriously...Anyways, do not go to the Pelikaanstraat, where all the diamond tourists go. Every single tourist thinks that the real good diamonds are there, and oh so cheap. But oh so cheap means oh so fake. You better buy your jewelry at home then. If you are looking for real jewelry, I mean an engagement ring or something in that manner, you have to go in the street BEHIND the Pelikaanstraat. You will immediately understand the difference. It won't look that fake anymore, it will look high class. Only a few jewels per store. Because a real jewel is worth a lot of money. You can find the greatest precious stones there, and you will have merchandise for your money. You also have to know that real precious stones are not cheap, but that is the case everywhere in the world. And even if you are not looking for an engagement ring, it is always fun to look at the amazing rings and bracelets and so on. And it's in a very strange neighborhood, as you will not feel in Belgium at all. You will feel like you are in the middle of the middle east, and that for only a couple of streets.My fondest memory of Antwerp is a typical Antwerp dish, that no one knows, it's not in the travel books, not even the non-antwerp people know it. I have friends who have never even tasted it, because they are not from Antwerp, and never heard of the thing. They also have it in Liege, another city in Belgium. It's called a Laqueman (say it the french way), it's a kind of flat waffle with sirup on top of it. It is sooooooooooo yummie!!! But it's not for those who are on a diet, because it is very sweet and full of sugar. The only place where you can get it, is in a place called Desiree de Lille. You go there for tea time, that's when it's fun. You drink a tea or a coffee, or a coke, or whatever you drink in the middle of the day. You can also take it as a take-out, and then it's way cheaper, but then you miss the fun of sitting inside in a cosy place. There is also a terrace inside, where you can sit and enjoy the summer, but that only works if the sun shines, otherwise you will be happy to sit inside after a rainy shopping day! But the rule in Belgium always stays the same, as soon as the sun shines, even if it's cold, go sit OUTSIDE and NOT INSIDE!!! You will miss all the fun of tasting real belgian life.
So, if you want a Lacqueman, it's at Desirée de Lille, in a walking street in the neighborhood between the Huidevettersstraat and the Boerentoren (our only so-called sky-scraped, which doesn't even get higher than our cathedral).
