Brussels, Belgium: Europe's Political Nerve Center

Published: April 4, 2012, 3 p.m.

b"Brussels is the capital of a united Europe \\u2014 only Washington DC has more lobbyists. While tourists munch tasty treats in the historic town center, on the outskirts of this bilingual city are the bustling modern headquarters of the European Parliament. Inside this glassy Tower of Babel, hundreds of politicians are hard at work shaping Europe's future. For centuries, Europe's cultural and political differences often led to war. Today's challenge is to respect these differences while building a democratic, prosperous and peaceful Europe. Brussels offers travelers the chance to watch this fascinating story unfold. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series \\u2014 including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more \\u2014 visit www.ricksteves.com."