Brussels , General info:
8/10

Brussels is the capital of the European Union. Some parts of it are not so interesting, but a lot of it is very interesting. It is well worth visiting. It has nice musea, a few thousand restaurants, a lot of nice pubs and brasseries in the French style and it is one of the greenest cities of Europe.

Brussels , Cheap stuff:
8/10

There are a lot of cheap secondhand shops where they sell books (FR, ENG, NL...), cd's and dvd's on the Bouelvard Lemonnier/Lemonnierlaan, between the Bourse/Beurs and the Place Fontainas/Fontainasplein and in the Rue du Midi/Zuidstraat, not far from the Place Fontainas/Fontainasplein. Especially the Pêle Mêle (Bouelvard Lemonnier/Lemonnierlaan 55) is well worth a visit. Thousands of books are waiting for you!

Brussels , Safety:
9/10

In my opinion, Brussels is a very safe city. I have been working iin Brussels over 20 years, and never anything happened to me. But you should look after your stuff in big train stations, like everywhere else.

Minneapolis , General info:
9/10

Minneapolis is the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Hennepin County. The city lies on both banks of the Mississippi River, just north of the river's confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Saint Paul, the state's capital.

Minneapolis/Saint Paul International Airport. The airport is divided into the Lindbergh and Humphrey terminals with most flights arriving at the former.

Minneapolis , Cheap stuff:
10/10

Ragstock, a local chain of used clothing stores. The Vietnamese restaurants are incredibly cheap ($5-$10 per person) and have received consistently exelent reviews since their openings.

Minneapolis , Different stuff:
10/10

The Minneapolis park system has been called the best-designed, best-financed and best-maintained in America. Foresight, donations and effort by community leaders enabled Horace Cleveland to create his finest landscape architecture, preserving geographical landmarks and linking them with boulevards and parkways. The city's Chain of Lakes is connected by bike, running, and walking paths and used for swimming, fishing, picnics, boating, and ice skating. A parkway for cars, a bikeway for riders, and a walkway for pedestrians run parallel paths along the 52 mile (83 km) route of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway.

Minneapolis , Don't miss:
9/10

The City of Lakes Loppet is a cross-country ski event featuring the beautiful trails and lakes of the Twin Cities. Every first weekend of February for celebration of winter in Minnesota.

Minneapolis , Food:
9/10

Minneapolis is renowned for its restaurants, ethnic or American. It could take weeks to sample just a part of what it has to offer. Don't miss Nicollet Avenue South's Eat Street centered on East 27th Street for a variety of ethnic fare. Azia, the Caterpillar Lounge and Anemoni Sushi & Oyster Bar are at 2550 Nicollet, and are an upscale Asian restaurant and lounge. Other highly recommended restaurants are Quang Restaurant and Jasmine Deli for Vietnamese, Yummy and Seafood Palace for Chinese, and the so-called Black Forest Inn (which is not a hotel) for German cuisine. Little Tijuana is a nice stop for alluring punk/goth waitresses and Mexican plates. Safari Restaurant provides an excellent introduction to the unique cuisine of Somalia.

Minneapolis , Hotels:
10/10

There is a good variety of hotels. Most of them are clustered in downtown, or near the University of Minnesota. Avoid straying too far away from town without a car. In downtown, the Doubletree hotel is a great value. There is a good Radisson, Marriott, and many Holiday Inns around the area.

Minneapolis , Safety:
9/10

Crime is relatively low in most parts of Minneapolis that you're likely to visit, but it does exist. Be wary of the Near North, Camden, and Phillips communities, particularly at night. Violent crimes can occur and unfortunately have occurred in all parts of the City. When traveling do not leave any items that can be quickly converted to cash in plain view in cars, unattended at restaurants and other public areas. Thieves are experts at watching people store valuables in the trunk and then when they leave the thief will strike.