Hotel Noga in Brussels

In the heart of Brussels on a tiny back street within walking distance of the metro sits the Noga, a small hotel full of charm in the Saint Catherine district in the old Marche aux Poissons (the old fish market.)
The hotel owner, Frederic Faucher, patiently answered all of my internet questions and efficiently prepared for our four-day stay. Because of his love for ships and the sea, Frederic uses this motif to decorate his hotel with items he finds in sale rooms and cheap goods markets. There are also remarkable paintings in the hallways and some eye-catching pieces near the lift leading to the bedrooms above. The marine ambience bar has a rudder wheel, gold dinner bells, and even a stuffed tuna. The brightly lit "mess hall" is all colorful business from the time Frederic lays out his spectacular breakfast buffets of brie, salami, ham, scrambled eggs, sausage, mushrooms, fresh croissants and home baked small breads, orange juice, pates, yogurt, and coffee with hot milk. We always arrived in time to enjoy his fabuleux le petit dejeuner included with our room.
The evening prior to our arrival, Willy & Jacquelline Baugniet sent an e-mail to the hotel welcoming us to Belgium. When we walked in the door, Frederic took one quick look at us and said, in his perfect English, "You must be the Baugniet sisters."
(The Baugniet sisters with our Belgian sister Jacqueline)