The Atomium and Mini Europe

This is the Atomium.

It was built for the 1958 World's Fair held in Brusslels. It is a replica of an iron crystal molecule magnified 165 billion times. If I were feeling cynical, I would say it is a lame excuse for a tourist attraction. But since I have a deep fondness for world's fair history (I wrote my undergrad thesis on the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago and am a big fan of The Devil in the White City), I am going to let you know that visiting the Atomium is actually pretty cool.

Once you get inside, you get to take stairs and escalators up to the spheres to see different exhibits about the World's Fair. You get some pretty amazing views of Brussels from up there. My favorite fact about the '58 Fair: they hired hundreds of women to serve as "ground hostesses" ... they wanted them to be a combination of "air hostesses" and beauty queens, but with brains and good foreign language skills. That's pretty much a direct quote from the audioguide. Here are a few more photos of the Atomium:

Now you want to know what's lame? Two things ... the Pavilion of Temporary Happiness and Mini Europe. The Pavilion of Temporary Happiness is the building set up specifically to highlight the 50th anniversary celebration of the '58 World's Fair. Look how lovely it is.

Apparently, it is constructed from real materials used at the '58 Fair. Oooooh ... ugly. I would have gone in but it was an extra 5 euros I didn't feel like spending.

Now Mini Europe is another attraction located next to the Atomium. Mini Europe is basically what it sounds like ... the most iconic buildings of Europe re-created in miniature and set in a min-golf-like setting. Seriously, it would have been more interesting if you could have been putt-putting through the exhibit.

I see London, I see France, and I see a water park in the background!

Mini Europe is really meant to be a propaganda ... sorry educational ... tool about the European Union. They only have recreations of buildings from the 27 Member States and they nicely juxtapose the ancient buildings of Europe with exhibits that show Europe's economic prowess.

Look, mom! It is an authentic Spanish bullfighting arena ... complete with little mechanical bulls that charge at the bullfighters!

Look, dad! In France, they have airplanes! And in Luxembourg, they move commercial goods by truck!