Gent Belgium is Gorgeous

Gent, also known as Ghent, was on our way to our friends. See my blog 
http://exploramum.com/2014/06/quick-trip-netherlands.html so when we arrived we did not expect the GPS to take us into the center of town. You might think this sounds OK, but as soon as we see we are the only car amidst buses and trams, we quirky turnaround and exit the cobblestone streets. We locate a Parking station right by the bridge and in we go. The parks are so narrow that the passengers must exit the vehicle before I park and worm my way out of the car. It is a very tight squeeze.

Once outside the grey clouds start to leak tiny droplets in us as we walk past the 500-year-old church and over the canal bridge to the medieval center of the historical section of the city.

I wish I had brought Explorason and a jacket. It is feeling more like the start of winter, that the start of Summer.

Cuberdons, known as “Gent noses” or “Gentse neuzen” because of their cone-shaped appearance. These purple or black sweets are a Belgium specialty and are made of a concentration of jam/marmalade.  Purple is most famous, but we are told there are other fruit flavors too. You’ll find they are chewy and gummy, with a syrup or jelly-like center. So as we are true explorers, we like to try what is new and we buy a bag of them – a small 150 gm bag is three Euros.

Next, we wander the cobblestone streets and over another canal. We find really alternative clothing stores. Very bohemian is style but with a European price tag.

Next to visit is Gravensteen Castle. This was built 1000 years ago. It is so grand and amazing.  You can read more here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravensteen_castle.

We are greeted by a knight and Explorason loves this!

Inside is spectacular and we wonder how the stonework was completed.

Opposite the castle is the Neptune building. Look at the detail on this.

We head to an interesting old building and meat hangs from the ceiling – some kind of market/restaurant maybe?

The streets seem to merge together with pedestrians every which way you turn.  It is then replaced with bridges over canals.

Pretty buildings in traditional Belgium style line the waterways.

As it buckets down with rain, we sit outside watching people pass by, canners and boaters sporting matching umbrellas as we sit and enjoy our cappuccino – with a swirl of cream – this is cappuccino Belgium style.

I forget to go to the toilet, so we stop at MacDonald’s for a soft serve ice-cream. This costs the equivalent of $250 AU yet AU it is 0.30 cents!  I go to MacDonald’s toilet and there is a woman chugging entry of the equivalent of nearly $1 AU. So I decline and pop into a bar next door instead.

We meet some fun party-goers. There is a big Expo on tonight and everyone in town will be dressed in crazy and 1980s fashion as we are told.

Architecture the changes to a sudden modern canopy so we sad there for a look. It doesn’t fit the scene.

This building is adorned with strange figures on the roof. The architecture is interesting.

As we head back to find the car, we cross our last canal and say goodbye to Gent.  We are glad we visited.

Questions and Comments

• What do you find fascinating about Belgium?
• Have you been to Gent, Belgium before?
• How was the experience?
• Do share your comments with us below.