Finding Your Way in Brussels and Other Myths

We have enjoyed our stay in Brussels, but have noticed that finding our way around its maze of streets can be a bit confusing.  Today, July 22, we were determined to visit Grand Place, the cultural and tourist center of the city. Little did we know that we would get a lesson in humility.
If this had been in the USA, we could have easily programmed our smart phone and followed its directions.  Unfortunately, we need wi-fi to use most of our phone's functions.  Therefore, after. A quick breakfast in the hotel cafè, I brought up Google Maps on the wi-fi in our room and wrote down each direction. Displayed on the screen.  It gave us a total distance of about 2 km, about 1.5 miles,  an. Easy walk for us.  We headed for Grand Place immediately after dropping our laundry off at a local shop.
One of the things you need to learn about Brussels is that is not laid out on a grid. Every few blocks streets comè in from 6-8 directions into roundabouts, none on compass directions.  Another feature that endears us is that many streets are not named.  Of. Those that are, most use both the French and. Dutch names.  We followed the directions from Google carefully,  but after a. Kilometer or so, reached a point where we could go no further.
The map we were given by the hotel was incomplete and very hard use and being unable to speak either of Belgium's languages did not help when it came to directions.
Wè did find a few things we weren't looking for including. Brussels' main synagogue and the Jewish museum, which we visited.  Like so many countries, the Jews of Belgium came close to total extinction during the Nazi holocaust of 1940-45. This is not something from the ancient past.  It still goes on today.  Last year, 2014, three Jews at the museum were gunned down by terrorists.  At the present time, the entrance to the museum is guarded by two, fully armed soldiers.
After a complicated series of wrong turns, backtracks, attempts to ask directions and a miniscule speck of good luck, we came across the area outside the. Grand Place where our Waterloo tour had started yesterday. 
Our mission today was clear.  Seek out consume Belgian fries, waffles and beer.  We purchasèd a large cone of the fries.  Nothing special, perhaps because we didn't follow the local custom of dousing them with mayonnaise.  Nearby, we found a stand vending waffles and churros (an interesting combination?)  The waffle we shared was light and tasty.  We then dropped into one of the many beer sales shops, stores that sell hundreds of varieties of local and imported beers for takeout.  I chose one bottle of. Blonde and one of Porter.
About the Grand Place, it is absolutely gorgeous,  reminding us of the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, but with different architecture.  Google this!
Footsore and dragging (John woke up at 3:00 and couldn't get back to sleep) we decided to take the tram (streetcar) back. To our hotel (if only we could locate the tram line.) We only had to ask 3 people this time.  It was a short ride and dropped us off right in front of our hotel.  We picked up our laundry and took a break while the beer cools in the fridge.
Here is an oddity.  When. We asked for ice at our Paris hotel, we were given a small bowl of it.  In. Brussels, we got strange looks from the staff who replied that it was not available.
8.5 miles walked today, not bad for a 2 mile walk, eh?