Forever young Feel young in the capital

Summer is here and the Bruxellois tries his best to look, just for once, mischievously young again. Short-skirted ladies swaying their hips across the street, gentlemen in colorful football jerseys. Sunglasses and ice creams dominate the streetscape. May I have a moment? Forever young! Every year, during the summer months, it happens: the people of Brussels are mercilessly divided into 2 camps: those who go on holiday and those who stay behind lonely. Well, lonely, they get the company of thousands of Japanese and Americans. But not everyone is so happy about that. Some manage to escape the tourist masses by planning alternative city excursions: having a great time with friends and, for once, misbehaving like only a 'teenager' can. With the Pet Shop Boys' video 'Never being boring' in mind: some 'feel young' tips. PICNICKING IN TER KAMEREN (BOIS DE LA CAMBRE) The lungs of Brussels! And they are easy to reach: with tram 93/94 or the car, you are in no time in the greenery: ponds, ducks, old folks... Spread out your prettiest picnic blanket, crack open a bottle of rosé and tell, those deepest heart secrets! But beware: this intimate get-together is sometimes disturbed by a good dose of Djembe drumming (some more talented than others). And watch out for flying footballs! ROLLERPARADE Those who have seen 'Boogie Nights', we no longer need to convince them: putting on a pair of roller skates can have sexy consequences! And the evening par excellence to look young and attractive remains Friday night. Just like last year, you can weekly glide down the hills of Brussels in a group to be welcomed an hour later with loud applause in the center. Meet every Friday at 8 PM at the Carrefour des Attelages in the Bois de la Cambre. Don't let it flash by. HANGING OUT ON THE STAIRS OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE I never quite understood it, but for some reason, it has something: the steps of the Stock Exchange building. Dirty is the least you can say and nowadays it seems like the mecca of stranded hippies in Brussels. But it remains a sublime vantage point where many a cone of fries from Frietland is picked clean. Settle down on one of the steps and surrender to the rhythm of the city. Eyes open and noses closed... WATERGAMES They are rare, but they exist: days when the thermometer at Muntplein approaches 30°. Are the people of Brussels so happy with such tropical conditions? Not really. Terraces are overcrowded, exhaust fumes choke you, and road rage reaches unprecedented peaks. One solution: step into the nearest toy store and buy a water pistol to let off some steam. Too student-like? No! Your neighbor will be pleased with the fresh jet of water that will bring him cooling. And, who knows, you might even meet someone that way... FRESA Y CHOCOLATE The best ice cream in Brussels? Opinions are divided. Some swear allegiance to the pricey Häagen-Dazs (Louise Place, Grass Market), others champion watery ice creams like 'street vendor van' or venture into the avant-garde 'La Vache qui Regarde Passer les Trains' in the Queen's Gallery (beastly packaging!). Personally, I'm a fan of the 'Glaces Artisanales' at the Sint-Gorikshallen: you'll find as many flavors there as the colors of the frivolous tiled wall. Go for an ice cream on the go and adopt a mischievous lolita look. 'Youth' guaranteed! CYCLING TO TERVUREN A boring day? Gather some friends, get your bike out of the shed and cycle towards Tervuren. Via Montgomery, Tervurenlaan, and the old railway line, you reach the Tervuren Park. Enthusiasts can visit the Central Africa Museum. If you're not so keen on stuffed elephants and colonial pomp, relax in the beautiful museum garden or around the park's ponds. Information about cycling tours in Brussels can be found at the Brussels Tourist Office. Real rebels do it without a plan and just follow their nose. SOLEIL LEVANT Observing teenagers, many more ideas come to mind that fit the picture: behaving noisily on the tram, publicly French kissing at a bad party, 'faire le mur' (secretly escaping home to then overly doll yourself up in toilets elsewhere), an afternoon of MTV or 'Twin Peaks' with chips and coke. And for the romantic souls among us: staying up all night to then admire the sunrise in the morning at Poelaertplein. It's magic... Bois de la Cambre, Tram 93 or 94 Belgium rollers, www.belgiumrollers.be Brussels Tourist Office (T.I.B.), Town Hall, Grand Place, 02/513.89.40