Europe has a number of famous high speed trains but I would guess one of the less known is the Thalys. The train runs from Amsterdam in the north, through Brussels and on to Paris. Side lines can get you to the French Alps and…Read More

Europe has a number of famous high speed trains but I would guess one of the less known is the Thalys. The train runs from Amsterdam in the north, through Brussels and on to Paris. Side lines can get you to the French Alps and to Cologne but the main route is back and forth between Paris and Amsterdam. I take this train only between Amsterdam Central or Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Antwerp. The journey – all being well – should take around an hour from Antwerp to the airport and just a few minutes longer to Central Station.

I’ve taken the Thalys three times in the last two months and I’ve signed up now for a ‘Thalys Card’ and an online account so that I can book my own tickets. I travel this route for business and I’m not really supposed to do direct bookings but our UK-based travel agent can’t book the Thalys and if I use the agency in Belgium or the Netherlands, I get stung with a lot of additional charges. I made a case to the procurement person in charge of travel and she agreed that it was OK for an exception to be made so that I can now book directly on line.

Two of my journeys have been in so-called ‘Comfort Two’ on semi-flexible tickets and one was in ‘Comfort One’. I believe that cheaper tickets are available if you book a long time in advance but all my tickets have been booked just a few days before travel. The semi-flexible and Comfort One tickets both come with free onboard WiFi although you shouldn’t be surprised if the first time you use it, it takes you half the journey to work out what to do. There are instructions online and in Comfort Two you need a special code which is printed on your ticket. If you don’t qualify for free WiFi, I would suggest to think carefully before paying for it as the service is really rather rubbish.

In Comfort two the carriage is configured four seats across in two pairs similar to a plane but with the exception that some of the passengers will inevitably be going backwards. I’ve never yet managed to get seats together with a colleague although if the train's not too busy, people are quite flexible about moving around to let others sit together. However at peak times such as my last journey at 19.30 out of Antwerp, the train was very full and I sadly had to throw someone who didn’t have a seat reservation out of my seat so I could have a place.

In Comfort One you get a lot more space as well as a free meal and drinks with a hostess service. The legroom is much greater and the seats are configured three across with an individual seat on one side of the aisle and a pair on the other. Comfort One also offers you free newspapers and is altogether more like travelling business class. The one time I took this ticket type, it cost only about a third more than the Comfort Two ticket which seemed like good value even though I didn’t take the free meal, only indulging in a couple of coffees and a friendly chat with the hostess. The seats in Comfort One are larger versions of the red and purple seats you find elsewhere on the train. There are power points for charging your computer or phone and the WiFi didn’t seem to need a code in that class.

Comfort One also offers some extra goodies that weren’t relevant to me such as on-board taxi booking for Paris and Brussels and access to special lounges in Amsterdam, Schiphol and Rotterdam

Comfort Two can be a bit of a squeeze and on my last trip I had to sit from Antwerp to Rotterdam with my suitcase squeezed in front of me because there was nowhere left to put it. After Rotterdam I was able to get space on the luggage rack but the first half of my journey was rather uncomfortable. In this class there’s a trolley service selling food and vouchers for the WiFi for those whose ticket doesn’t include the service. There’s also a bar carriage somewhere in the middle of the train although I’ve not used it.

Prices are very variable depending on how long in advance you book and how much flexibility you need. If you are willing to commit to a particular train, a standard Amsterdam to Antwerp single could cost you 39 Euros whilst the same journey in semi-flex would be 70 Euros in Comfort Two or 74 in Comfort One. For a fully flexible ticket, you’ll pay 93 Euros in Comfort One. There are special fares for young people (under 26), the over 60s, under 12s, kids travelling with adults, people with mobility impairments and their carers and for groups. I’d love to say it’s complicated but compared to the trains in the UK it’s both cheap and much easier to understand. I recommend anyone thinking of taking a train in the UK to just hand over their credit card and give up hope.

My first two Thalys experiences were late. The first train was nearly an hour late which is pretty poor on a train journey that only lasts an hour. We got stuck behind a Fyra (the local not-quite-so-high-speed-train) which had broken down. The service was so bad on the Fyra that they’ve now withdrawn the service completely which is a shame as we’re now restricted to a Thalys only once every two hours.

As an alternative to flying, the Thalys is very nice and if you can get a Comfort One ticket at a good price – i.e. on a Semi-Flex fare where it’s barely more than Comfort Two – it’s well worth considering it as an alternative. A no-flex fare from Amsterdam to Paris booked well in advance could be as low as 35 Euros and once you’ve added in all the time to go to the airport, hang around getting security checked and standing in lines and then gone through the hassle of collecting your luggage and travelling into the city at the other end, the journey time of three hours and 20 minutes competes well with taking the plane.
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Some say that Brussels is not the most exciting city in the world, in fact many would say it was downright boring. I say....NON! NON! NON!. While it may not quite compare with say, Paris, New York or Rio, It has a lot going for…Read More

Some say that Brussels is not the most exciting city in the world, in fact many would say it was downright boring. I say....NON! NON! NON!. While it may not quite compare with say, Paris, New York or Rio, It has a lot going for it.
To try and cover all of the sights and attractions of Brussels in one review is impossible. Therefore, I have concentrated on my favourite places in this diverse European capital.

The first written evidence of the existence of Brussels is from the year 977, when the German emperor Otto 2nd gave Low-Lorraine to Carl of France, who built a fortress there. In the middle of the 11th century the first city walls were built. The city thrived although it was controlled by Burgundy, then the Hapsburgian Empire.
In 1695 Brussels was attacked by the French king Louis XIV. The result was disastrous: more than 4000 houses and the Grand Place were completely destroyed.
The last foreign emperor to rule over Brussels and the present Belgian kingdom was the Dutch emperor William I. He was forced out of Belgium in 1830, when a successful struggle for independence began in Brussels.

In 1831 the first Belgian king, Leopold I, ascended the throne and Brussels became the capital of the new kingdom. There then followed a long period of rebuilding, new and grand buildings were erected, the city walls were demolished, and the city expanded in size and importance.

After WWII Belgium was divided in two semi-independent regions, Flanders and the Walloon Province. Brussels became a district with its own government (with limited powers).
Brussels also became the capital of the European Union and the NATO headquarters are nearby. These institutions have given Brussels an enormous economic boost.


On arrival in Brussels, head for the tourist office where narrow, cobbled streets open suddenly into the breathtaking Grand-Place. With it's ornate guildhouses, impressive Town Hall and buzzing atmosphere, it would be difficult to find a more beautiful square in the whole of Europe.
Bars, restaurants and museums are clustered together in the compact city centre, enclosed within the inner ring road, which follows the path of the fourteenth-century city walls.
This is the main tourist attraction of Brussels. It is visited by thousands daily, whether to wander around admiring the impressive buildings, or to sit at one of the many cafe-bar terraces enjoying the excellent beer.
The facades of gothic buildings are dominated by the Hotel de Ville, built in the fifteenth century. Its 96m spire is topped with a gilded copper statue of St-Michael. Opposite the Town Hall, and almost as grand, is the Maison du Roi, commissioned in 1515 and faithfully rebuilt in the 1890s. It now houses the city museum. A series of lavish Guildhouses complete the rectangle of the Grand Place.

Heysel Exhibition Park
In the 1930's Belgium wanted to organize a world exhibition to show its prosperity after the disasters of World War I and also to celebrate the centenary of its independence, and so the Heysel park was born.
Next to the football stadium (completely rebuilt after the disaster at the Liverpool v Juventus game), is Kinepolis, a major movie complex with 28 cinemas and a giant IMAX screen. Another main attraction is the Mini-Europe park, which contains miniature models (scale 1:25) of major monuments from all the member states of the European Union.

Brupark
Situated at the Heysel. Here you will find a reconstructed Belgian village complete with cafes and restaurants. You can also have a tropical beach experience at the indoor Oceade swimming complex.

The Atomium
This monument from 1958 is the Eiffel Tower of Brussels. The Atomium is a representation of an 'atom'. It symbolizes an elementary iron crystal with its 9 atoms magnified 150 billion times. The monument is coated with aluminum, weighs 2,400 tons and is 102m high. Each sphere has a diameter of 18 meters. An elevator takes visitors to the upper sphere where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Heysel area and (weather permitting) the city of Brussels. There is also quite a good buffet-restaurant in the upper sphere. In the other spheres, exhibitions are organized and they can be visited by a series of escalators.


In my opinion, Belgium is the country with the best beer in the world. Therefore, a stay in Brussels cannot be complete without a visit (or three), to one of the many typical cafes and pubs that you will find there. Try the local beers of Brussels - Gueuze or fruit beer or a wonderful Trappist beer, made in one of the Abbeys of Belgium. Be careful when drinking a Trappist beer, these beers tend to be very strong (between 8 and 11.5 ABV).
The Gueuze Museum (in the Anderlecht district), is situated in the still operational Cantillon brewery and is famous for its authentic Lambic beers. Before you enter this brewery and museum, forget all you know about the taste of beer, and then try a Cantillon Gueuze or Kriek (cherry beer). You're in for a surprise !!!
The Brewery Museum is on the Grand Place and is open every day.

Mannekin Pis
The world famous peeing boy can be seen every day and night at the corner of Eikstraat/Stoofstraat near the Grand Place. The Mannekin changes costumes regularly and on special occasions he 'pises' beer instead of water!

The Belgian comic Strip Centre
This tribute to the famous Belgian art form is housed in a beautiful Art Nouveau setting. Here you can discover the history of Belgium's comic strip heroes (especially Tintin). This is a beautiful museum - the building was designed b
y the most famo
us Belgian Art Nouveau architect, Victor Horta. It illustrates this art form perfectly, with sets of enlarged drawings, three-dimensional recreations, etc. The museum also has a very good shop.

The City museum
The museum is devoted to all aspects of the city's history. On the ground level is a collection of art objects showing the decorative arts of Brussels : wall tapestries, paintings and goldsmith's work.
On the second floor there is a collection of documents and miniature scale models which outline the development and growth of the city. The third floor shows the cultural, economic and social development of Brussels with historic documents, paintings, engravings and manuscripts. Also on this floor is the wardrobe of Mannekin Pis. He possesses a collection of more than 600 costumes!

Shopping
Brussels' classic souvenier is chocolate and Neuhaus in the Grand Place is probably the most famous chocolate shop. Belgian biscuits are also very tasty with the local speciality, speculoos - a gingerbread biscuit with a crunch, well worth hunting down. Beer is best b
ought at Bière Artisanale, which stocks over 400 types of beer and glasses to match.
Designer clothes are clustered around the smart Avenue Louise and Avenue de la Toison d'Or.
Children's and big kids' tastes are catered for at Brussels' many comic book shops.
Brussels lace is a good buy but beware, most of the lace on sale in the souvenier shops around Grand-Place is made in the far-east.

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Bruges isn't a city of big hitting sights, but that's not to say there aren't things to do there. meandering the quaint streets and soaking up the atmosphere is the order of the day, but you should probably have a look at doing the following…Read More

Bruges isn't a city of big hitting sights, but that's not to say there aren't things to do there. meandering the quaint streets and soaking up the atmosphere is the order of the day, but you should probably have a look at doing the following five things, to get the most out of your visit:

1. Eat some Belgian chocolate

Without a doubt one of the things you should definitely do is sample the world famous food stuff. Whether you window shop the many lovely shops that line the main streets or you head into a cafe to relax and enjoy a steaming mug of hot chocolate, it is not to be missed. It is a great gift idea as well if you are visiting before the festive season. Lots of the shops sell discounted boxes of chocolate if you buy a certain amount - they have pre selected sets of maybe five or ten boxes that are indeed a good bargain. A more expensive way of doing it is to select some from the individual selections, they tend to cost around three Euros for 100 grams, but the displays are so amazing that you'll have to have a fair bit of will power to resist. The pralines are to die for.

2. Cross a bridge.

Seems a strange thing to do, but Bruges actually means 'bridges' in Flemish and it is easy to see why. The city is filled with canals that and so by default lots of bridges. They are more often than not little stone affairs that are really rather pretty and quaint. Crossing them often gives you the best views of the cobbled streets for taking photographs. It is easy to get lost wandering around, but there are lots of maps around to help you back on track.

3. Enjoy the Markt

This is the city's main square and it is from this that everything else spreads out. There are some fabulous buildings here. Firstly the Belfort (belfry) is a tower that dominates the scene. Interestingly the tower leans slightly so it is fun to watch out for that and if you are feeling energetic, you can climb to the top via the 366 steps.
Before Christmas, the square plays host to the charming Christmas markets which make the whole thing look, if possible, even more beautiful. Alternatively, in the summer months, the restaurants around the square fill the space with tables and chairs, so you can enjoy a typical Belgian meal in the sunshine.

4. Shop

It's not the shopping capital of Europe by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a very picturesque place to browse the shops. You can get a lot of things that you wouldn't find on your typical high street such as locally made produce ranging from food to clothes. It's not too much of a stretch either because it is all located in one area. There is of course plenty of opportunity to grab all manner of souvenir!

5. Grab a beer

After chocolate, beer is probably Belgium's favourite export and you couldn't find better surroundings to enjoy one of the many hundreds of different types of beer that are on offer. There are so many cute little pubs that the choice is endless - so fill your boots!!

So, whatever you like to do, you will doubtless find somewhere to do it in Bruges and somewhere great to do it no less!Close

Bruges is a lovely city and one that you should definitely make the effort to visit if you are anywhere near. It is very quaint and despite its popularity, it has maintained its traditional air and has plenty to please every visitor.Getting there from nearby…Read More

Bruges is a lovely city and one that you should definitely make the effort to visit if you are anywhere near. It is very quaint and despite its popularity, it has maintained its traditional air and has plenty to please every visitor.

Getting there from nearby Brussels is easy. Trains run from the capital's main stations very regularly. We went from the Central Gare de Midi and the tickets cost 14 Euros per person for a return journey. It isn't cheap, but it is almost an hour away on the train, so not too bad. The trains leave every thirty-five minutes or so. There are only a few stops between the cities, but the trains are none the less very busy and you may find yourself stood up for part of the journey if you aren't one for elbowing your way through the crowds.

Once you get to Bruges, you'll find that the main station is on the edge of the city and you can get buses from right outside into the city centre. If you don't mind walking, I'd recommend doing so because it is a very pretty walk through the lovely clean and quaint streets. It's easy to get there (just follow the crowds and hope they are going in the right direction!). The walk takes about 20 minutes at a fairly casual pace.

Bruges is the Flemish word for bridges and it could be a more appropriate name since the city's winding canals are crossed with lots of lovely little stone bridges. There are so many photo opportunities it is unbelievable!

The main square in Bruges is so picturesque that you definitely shouldn't miss it out. Surrounded by fabulously ornate baroque buildings it has an air of mythical mystery about it.

For those travelling with children, you'll probably want to pay a visit to the Chocostory exhibition and museum. Belgium is obviously the home of delicious chocolate and this museum pays homage to that - even offering visitors freshly made samples.

So, whatever you enjoy, you should definitely make a trip to Bruges one of your priorities when in the area - great stuff.Close

It is difficult to leave Ghent without mentioning Sint-Niklaaskerk and Sint-Baafskathedral (St. Nicholas Church and St. Bavo's Cathedral respectively). Both are very old with histories that are well worth reading.The two churches are within sight of each other, about 3 blocks apart. Sint-Niklaaskerk…Read More

It is difficult to leave Ghent without mentioning Sint-Niklaaskerk and Sint-Baafskathedral (St. Nicholas Church and St. Bavo's Cathedral respectively). Both are very old with histories that are well worth reading.

The two churches are within sight of each other, about 3 blocks apart. Sint-Niklaaskerk was built first, beginning in the 13th century and was the church of the trade unions (or "guilds"). The side altars of the church were built by each of the guilds and the church was a powerful meeting place (non-political, of course).

When I first entered the church I was struck by the amount of light present because from the outside I expected the opposite. The church is very bright even though it is Gothic. Other than tourists, there were people there praying or meditating in the quiet peacefulness, of this immense house of worship. As I found in Bruges, all the visitors to this church were wonderfully quiet and respectful, moving slowly throughout the church. There were no accidental flashes or slightly raised voices. Even the tour guides were able to speak in subdued tones.

Perhaps some of the serenity was reverence, and part was pure awe, but I have never experienced the feeling of absolute peace that I have experienced in Belgium, and I wasn't the only one. I had inadvertently stepped in front of a person taking a picture and later we happened to be leaving the church at the same time. I had heard the man talking to his wife inside and knew they were American, so I apologized for ruining his picture. We chatted about the church for a few minutes, and then he said, "You know, even though we're Jewish. I felt that I should put on a yarmulke." Later, I talked to a tour guide who said that the tourists in Belgium are mostly very reserved and respectful in all of the churches.

The interior of Sint-Niklaaskerk does inspire a certain amount of awe. The Scheldt-Gothic interior and vaulted ceilings are most impressive, as is the high altar with its Baroque theme of The Last Judgement which has survived the past forty years of renovation. Guaranteed a Do Not Miss attraction in Ghent.

Next, the second church and one of the most important cathedrals in Europe - Sint-Baafskathedral.


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I have written "glowing" Journals about both Bruges and Ghent. It is not because I can't make up my mind about which city I prefer. I prefer Ghent and I have been searching for comparisons between Bruges and Ghent for a few weeks…Read More

I have written "glowing" Journals about both Bruges and Ghent. It is not because I can't make up my mind about which city I prefer. I prefer Ghent and I have been searching for comparisons between Bruges and Ghent for a few weeks now. I was looking for quotes from other sources that felt the same way about the two cities as I do. I love Ghent, but I really, really like Bruges too, and I have been searching out the comparisons of others that put into words those few statements that have been escaping me. It is not that I am looking to justify my opinions, just to help explain them. I don't know what I have found, but I need to stop looking and get on to the next part of my life. I have spent entirely too much time searching for the words that keep evading me.

Bruges is just plain beautiful and is usually described that way. The city has a loveliness that is almost too perfect. Many visitors, both tourists and professional travel writers have called Bruges charming and I have used that term myself numerous times. Bruges is charming! The city is lovely, beautiful, tasteful, enchanting, captivating, and beguiling, at least it is to me, and to many others, and I can find many other superlative terms as well. It's just that... I don't know... there's just something... and I need help putting my finger on it. It is almost like seeing something so perfect that one tries to find something wrong with it. I mean, can anything be that perfect?

Playwright and writer Andrew Bennett said of Bruges, "The difference between Bruges and other cities is that in the latter you look about for the picturesque, while in Bruges, assailed on every side by the picturesque, you look curiously for the unpicturesque, and don't find it easily." That was written in 1896. In 1820, William Wordsworth wrote of Bruges, "... a deeper peace than in deserts found."

About a week ago I decided to stop searching for faults with Bruges, and look instead, for the strengths and assets of Ghent. Almost immediately I came across an almost perfect comment from another experienced traveler. The comment reads: Many people visiting Belgium bypass Gent in favor of Brugge and while I wouldn't recommend skipping either of these cities, I'd have to say that I'd give Gent a slight edge... Gent seemed more like a living, breathing city where the city actually seemed to still be alive after the sun goes down and the buses have long departed.*

Another comment that describes my feelings for Ghent comes from one of the major guide books that is one of my favorites: "Ghent remains a quintessentially Flemish city with a tourist industry - rather than the other way round - and if you find the tourists and tweeness of Bruges to be a tad overpowering, this is the place to decamp, just twenty minutes away by train."**

Those comments (and others) resonated with me and in rereading my previous journals I have written about the beauty of both cities (and they are both truly beautiful), but what separated them was the vitality and life I found in Ghent. Being such a university city, there is a liveliness to go along with the loveliness of Ghent. Because of the number of young folks mingling with population, the entire population seems to me to be more animated and energetic. At least, that is my impression. I live in a university city and spent time in many others, and I have observed the same phenomenon here and in the others as well. Youth in a community seems to lead to youthfulness throughout the community. I think that explains much of the difference between the two cities.

Please note that all comments are my own opinions and should do nothing to take away anything from Bruges, one of the truly magnificent and romantic cities of the world. It is my hope that Ghent will someday be included with Bruges as jewels of Belgium and of our wonderful planet.


* by dabs from her writing "A love affair begins...." on the Virtual Tourist website
** Rough Guide Directions - Bruges and Ghent written by Phil Lee, page 108


Note: Most of the photographs are identified on the lower part of the image, but it is necessary to view them in "Full" mode.Close

This Journal is dedicated to a man I never met, but wish I had. A man with whom I swapped emails only a couple of times, but wish I had swapped more. A man whose writings I truly enjoyed, but who will write…Read More

This Journal is dedicated to a man I never met, but wish I had. A man with whom I swapped emails only a couple of times, but wish I had swapped more. A man whose writings I truly enjoyed, but who will write no more. I only just learned of his untimely passing over a year ago. His name is Luc Van Elst and he wrote under the name "luchonda" on this site and on Virtual Tourist as well, and I urge readers to look to his writings to learn about Ghent - the real Ghent, and about Luc's world.

Luc wrote with a love for and a passion for his country, and about the city that was his home. He loved Ghent, raised his family there, and enjoyed all of the things that make that city a place to truly enjoy. In one of his writings (which I couldn't find again), Luc compared Bruges and Ghent, and the differences in volume of the two cities. He made the point that Ghent is far more quiet and relaxed with far fewer tourists, and he is exactly right, but more than that, his writings are filled with the emotion of life, and I heartily recommend them to others.

So here's to you, Luc - a man who loved his life, his family, his city, his country, and his world. We are, all of us, better for having known you or of you. Sail on, friend. May your winds be strong for your sails and soft for your journey.Close

I'm normally not this much of a perfectionist, but I feel that I have left much undone in my writing about Ghent. I can understand my love of Edinburgh and Nürnberg. I have spent much time in Edinburgh and I lived in Nürnberg for…Read More

I'm normally not this much of a perfectionist, but I feel that I have left much undone in my writing about Ghent. I can understand my love of Edinburgh and Nürnberg. I have spent much time in Edinburgh and I lived in Nürnberg for three years. I wish I could live in both of those cities for a couple of years each. I love Scottish history and I was able to see Nürnberg "rise from the ashes," so to speak. Ghent is different. I spent a couple of days there twice in the 1960's, seven days in 2005 (Ghent was my "base city" for Belgium), and a couple of days in 2011. I have not spent much time there at all.

I remember liking Belgium in the 60's. I liked everyplace new in the 60's. I especially liked the beer, wine, and girls (not necessarily in that order). There are a number of stories from that period that are better left untold, but I do have those memories and they are good memories (mostly). On my first visit to Belgium I traveled with a couple of buddies from the US Army and the second time with some German University students that I had met. Oddly enough, the subjects of those trips were the same. How about that?

Five or six years ago I was in Ghent for seven nights using the city as my base to visit Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp as well as my base city. Ghent is central to those cities and I was able to stay in one spot. At the time, it cost €4.00 for a "senior" to travel anywhere in Belgium and back on the same day (this year it is €5.20, still a bargain). During those seven days I spent most of my nights in Ghent wandering the streets without a working camera. Perhaps having a camera stolen was a blessing because I was able to see the city at night without looking through the viewfinder. During the day I used a rented camera that had to be returned before 6:00 PM each evening. Consequently, I had to return each evening and saw none of the other three cities at night. If I had, I might still be there. As it turned out, I "saw" Ghent and enjoyed every minute of my time there.

Moving forward to 2011, I returned for just a short visit because I had a rail pass and a few extra days before I needed to be in Berlin. It was a long train ride from Nürnberg, Germany, but it was well worth it. Of course, with me, nothing ever goes perfectly. I was unable to get my new tripod into my pack so I planned to purchase a cheap one in Poland thinking that it would be less expensive there. Nope. I looked for a bargain tripod in every city and they were all too expensive (much more than in the US). So, as a result, every photo that I took on the trip to twelve cities was hand-held. Obviously, I had a few bad ones - like about 700! I did get some good ones though, and they'll be here in numbers. I am taking the time to ID each image with the city name (Ghent) and what I think it is. I'm not certain about a few of them.

For the photographer that lurks in all of us travelers, I'll include some information that I found to be kind of unique to Ghent. I'll also try to include some helpful information for all tourist groups, based on conversations I had with the different groups while I was there and from others I met in Berlin and Warsaw. I'll include hostelers, backpackers, young romantics, 2nd honeymooners, singles, couples, geezers (like me), tourists, and seasoned travelers (I talk to everyone I meet). I will not write anything negative because I found nothing negative. I won't write about first class travel because I have never done it and talked to very few who have. They tend to be in the more exclusive restaurants and hotels of which I have absolutely no experience (I still choose my hostels partially based on price and recommendation of other travelers). I hope that you will find the writing and information interesting and of value.


Note: I have tried to identify the photos as inconspicuously as possible on the lower part of the image, but it will probably be necessary to view them in "Full" mode to see the ID. Close

Ghent is another Belgian city that has magnificent lighting that makes the Old City come alive at night. Young people line the Graslei and the Korenlei and St. Micheal's Bridge becomes a very busy thoroughfare. The Friday Market Square is lined with restaurants…Read More

Ghent is another Belgian city that has magnificent lighting that makes the Old City come alive at night. Young people line the Graslei and the Korenlei and St. Micheal's Bridge becomes a very busy thoroughfare. The Friday Market Square is lined with restaurants and pubs, all of which are very crowded indeed. Tourists who are staying overnight in Ghent mix with locals at the restaurants and students and hostelers meet in the pubs and along the river and canals. While a few of the outside areas are brightly lit, most of the lighting inspires romance (for any age). Nights and evenings in Ghent are times to relax. Locals and tourists alike amble slowly through the streets and along the river and canals, some holding hands or arm in arm, appearing as though no one wishes to disturb the reverie. Like Bruges, it is magic.

If you are staying only one night and wish to wander through the old city, this is my suggested route. Ideally, this route would take a couple of nights if a few extended refreshment stops along the way were included. So while it is not a recommendation because relaxation is the operative word, it is doable. However... if you were to have a little extra time...

I would start at the rear of the Belfry (the Tourist Information Desk, "Infokantoor") is in the basement). From there you will be facing St-Baafskathedral which is beautifully lit from most angles. Walk down Kapittelsrtaat turning right and crossing past the front of the cathedral. Turn right at the corner and continue to the Belfry and then to St-Niklaaskerk. Then continue until you pass the "Old Post Office" on your right, cross St. Michael's Bridge and take the walkway on the right that leads under the bridge. You will then be on the Korenlei side of the Leie River looking across at the Graslei. Walk along the Korenlei while viewing the Graslei, then retrace your steps and recross the St Michael's Bridge. Turn left at the corner just past the Old Post Office, and find a spot to take a break. You haven't walked far, but you deserve a beer!

Continue on Korte Munt and turn left on Grasburg. Stopping in the middle, there are lovely views of either side of the bridge. Finish crossing the bridge and turn right continuing to Burgstraat where you will turn right and have a nice view of Het Gravensteen ("Castle of Counts"). Turn left at the corner for other good views of the castle. More good views are available if you continue up one block to Lievestraat, and turn left. The views will be on your left. Retrace your steps back to the entrance to the castle and turn left (Burgstraat becomes Bekelingestaat and then Kraanleistraat). Turn right at the bridge and enter the Vrijdagmarkt, which is wonderfully lit and filled with delightful places to stop. Take a break.

Leave the "Friday Market" on Kamerstraat and walk to Belfortstraat and turn right. Follow Belfortstraat to the starting point and have a beer!

Now you can truthfully say that you saw Ghent - well, most of it anyway. Cheers!


Note: Most of the photographs are identified on the lower part of the image, but it is necessary to view them in "Full" mode.
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I love Ghent! This Spring, 2011, I again found it to be a wonderful city, friendly and helpful, and even better than I remembered. I wish I could live there for a couple of years. I had a full and terrific day…Read More

I love Ghent! This Spring, 2011, I again found it to be a wonderful city, friendly and helpful, and even better than I remembered. I wish I could live there for a couple of years. I had a full and terrific day and evening, and a beautiful morning; met some super folks, and I wanted to tell people about it. First, though, I needed to do a little fact checking and I'm still looking.

I try not to bore readers with a travelogue that is nothing more than a regurgitation of information available online and in book stores. As a photographer I am visually oriented so it is natural for me to take and to use a lot of photographs. I become so much more interested in a place that I can see as opposed to reading a written description of the same location. My goal is to show other travelers what I have seen and experienced, and why a place interests me emotionally. I do not look for that which I find negative about a place; my goal is to give others a reason to visit a place. Consequently, I don't write about places which I have visited and not enjoyed. I remember Ghent as a very special place because of its' beauty, and because of the city's character and ambiance, and my delightful experiences there.

Back in 2006 (or 2005, whenever) and I was researching my Spring trip for that year, I fell into the trap of: if there isn't much information about the place, it must not be worth much time. I have since learned different. What others find land less interesting, I may find fascinating. I don't write about food and seldom write about restaurants because restaurants are too expensive for my travel budget. I eat to live, not live to eat, which that puts me in the minority among travelers.

My first visit to Belgium was in 1963, and there was a huge lack of information about the country available to military personnel, except that the beer was great and the Belgian girls were even better. All of that was true and I was fascinated by both.

Five years ago, and 42 years later, my interests had changed, but with the exception of Brussels and Bruges, Belgium was still kind of a second-class destination for American tourists (not European tourists). As the capital city of the European Union, Brussels enjoys an international reputation and lots of tourism which it deserves. Bruges is one of the most romantic cities in the world and is also big on the tourism map. In contrast, Ghent and Antwerp have surprisingly little information available in comparison to many other European cities half their size. I am still incredulous at the dearth of information available for both Antwerp and Ghent among other Belgian cities. My friends in Germany and Austria agree. They love Belgium.

When traveling, I usually transfer my images and make notes on my netbook at the end of each day. I carry a small pad of note paper during my walks. Then, when I get home, and start thinking about journals, I review my notes and do some fact-checking online, or in travel guides. I don't need much information, just enough for verification. I also need a photograph to make sure I have the right place stuck in my head. One of the reasons that I travel is to make photographs and I go overboard - the Spring, 2011 trip was almost 4,000. Even with the bad ones and duplicates, that's a lot of places to identify. It normally isn't a problem, and I haven't had any corrections submitted by readers, but Ghent has been tough because I am attempting to identify each image that I submit (hopefully it is a benefit for those who would rather look at photographs and skip over written comments).

Anyway, the problem is that travel guides usually have very few photographs. They are packed with information but short on pictures (one exception is the DK Eyewitness Travel Guides). Consequently, I have spent hours online attempting to make sure that the photograph descriptions are correct, but in many cases, I find descriptions, but few photographs. (I am so thankful that IgoUgo does not (yet, anyway) limit the number of photographs submitted. Thanks IgoUgo!)

There is a system that others use that I have tried in the past, and need to reassess. Every city or town has small tourist guides that are available for five euros or less. I pick them up at the local tourist information office basing my choice on the recommendations of the office personnel. These guides generally show photographs of sights with a small amount of history for each. They are a good idea for a couple of reasons. First, the attractions are pictured. Second, the guides give amateur photographers the best angle for a photograph. The last part of the system is to mail them home after visiting the town in pre-addressed shipping envelopes brought from home. (Don't carry a bunch of them around - they get heavy! Send them home!)

Finally, Ghent is one of my favorite cities. It has everything that interests me. It is a Medieval city, very old with lots of Gothic buildings, marvelous vaulted ceilings, magnificent art treasures, a population that is friendly and most helpful, and very tolerant of tourists asking the same questions. Arriving in Ghent is an emotional high for me and it seems to get better throughout my stay. There are new things around every corner and in every building, church or cathedral, municipal buildings from the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries, museums that are all very interesting. There is all of that, but most importantly, Ghent is fun.


Note: Most of the photographs are identified on the lower part of the image, but it is necessary to view them in "Full" mode.
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