Belgium's super convenient railway allowed me to hop from Ostend over to Ghent with the quickness! I was aiming hard for two places visited in just one day, taking the train and being mindful of my time would be the winning formula. Now, hearing French was a challenge because those Ghent dwellers were speaking Flemish like never before! I walked far! I deserved a beer!
Now, I needed to choose because my time Belgium was limited! Would be it be 'Bruges' or 'Ghent?' I needed to make a choice! Having spent the morning in Ostend on the coast, I decided to make my way down to Ghent because it seemed like a larger and less 'tourist focused' place. Arriving at Ghent's 'Sint-Pieters' before lunchtime allowed me to maximise my time, the station was in chaos with scaffolding everywhere, that aside I hadn't had my ticket checked! Yet another light rail system did me dirty with those card only systems, I started the 40 something minute walk from the station into the city center. Ghent served a very different vibe, I wanted to see those period buildings but that never-ending street served a mish-mash of everyday settings. I was so relieved when 'Koning Albertlaaan' turned into a riverside path with a myriad of period buildings, I had finally arrived in the Ghent that I had clocked on Instagram! Now, where was that viral scene over the River Leie? Yes, I knew those Insta reels would direct me, they did so!
'Sint-Michielshelling/Saint Michael's Bridge' came into sight with those familiar medieval buildings reminding me of those pre-trip scrolling sessions. Those tourists were doing the most, I wasn't because I just wanted my photo! Blessings were in an abundance with that 'fairy tale' view looking right, I wanted to capture that dreamy scene and move on! Patience was ensured because I saw a bar with a 'La Chouffe' logo in the near distance, cooling down I admired that view before I simmered down with that Belgian brew. I gazed into the near distance with that Instagram view in front of me, Ghent's 'Sint-Niklaaskerk/Saint Nicholas' Church' set the scene perfectly. I imagined how dreamy Ghent could look during the festive season, even though it was the height of the summer during that July moment! My first beer? Yes, I needed a sit down after the morning in Ostend and the lengthy walk from the train station. I sat with that famous medieval view in my sights, that 'La Chouffe' drink cemented the fact I was in Belgium! Skal, G!
Sure, 'Beauty & The Beast' was set in France but I felt like I was half walking through those cobbled streets living my 'Princess Belle' fantasy! Now, I didn't feel the need to visit that church nor eat any chocolates because I wanted to drink another beer or two in Ghent. I did look online briefly because I wanted to pick a tavern with some character, I hadn't traveled all that way to drink in some sanitized environment. My maps were giving me the runaround but I was being led towards 'Vrijdagmarkt/Friday Market'. Before I reached that bustling market square I saw an extraordinary sight, two female 'Politie/Police' were handling business in the streets after a woman had confirmed a possible theft that she had experienced! Those two Belgian police officers were standing on business in real-time, it was amazing to see those petty criminals stopped in the street just moments after the report had been made! The British could never! Ghent served sunshine, the rainy conditions in Ostend had melted away, I was grateful for that!
'De Dulle Griet' looked like the right place for my next two or three beers, I sat at the bar with all of that character surrounding me. It was lively but people knew what they were doing, people were in control of their senses. I chose to sit at the bar because I wanted to see all of the trinkets that were hung up. I ordered one of the hundred odd beers that were being served, I went for a cherry flavoured beer, I made mine a 'Liefmans Kriek Brut'. I was half expecting 'Gaston' to walk in with his three blonde maidens even thought that is referencing the wrong country! I also got an essence of the inn that was featured in the live action version of 'Les Misérables' with 'Cosette' sweeping the floor! Hey, that novel was first published in Belgium so I wasn't half wrong! For me, I enjoyed those beers and soaked in the feel of that venue. I already binned a previous venue because it was much too busy and a certain demographic of tourists were sitting on the table in front of me. Sure, I would find my lunch time meal within 'Friday Market!' Yes, I kept moving!
In every sense, Ghent had been a whole mood! I wanted something 'Lekker' to eat! I had polished off a fair few beers and I wanted another, sure I knew that I needed to eat something! 'Babbelut' came to save the day! Making my way around the square from 'De Dulle Griet' was easy, checking those food-spots online had not been so easy! I wanted something with fries but knew that the protein needed to be something local within that Flanders location. Their outdoor dining options impressed me much because that glorious summer sun was another mood! Ordering a 'Duvel' felt correct, I needed to see the menu! Was that handsome waiter on the menu also? I wanted to know! I ordered the 'Stoofvlees/Flemish Stew' with a side order of fries, I was beyond starving! Sipping on my 'Duvel' beer was bliss, it was one of the things I had pledged to execute whilst I was in Belgium! Getting to grips with that Flemish culture made me feel like I was in a different country almost because I hadn't properly heard French all day! Oh, holidays!
My food arrived within a reasonable amount of time but to be fair the sunshine and beer kept me busy, not to mention views of that waiter! It wasn't just food that was looking 'Lekker!' I joked with that gentleman that I had learned the word 'Lekker' from my South African friends. We spoke about how the 'Afrikaans' language shares links with the Dutch language. I wasn't bothered that my stew was going to be cow cheek because I was going to embrace that 'national dish' of Belgium with all of my might! Cooked in a red wine sauce, I really did enjoy that hearty stewed dish. The chips were perfect, I added them to my plate and mixed them with the sauce. I finished my meal with a cheeky dessert, ordering a 'Dame Blanche' was the chocolate surprise I needed because I hadn't gone mad with chocolate. I did tip that fine looking Flemish gentleman, he did have a look of 'Susan' from 'Drag Race Belgique, Series One!' Ready to move on, I bid a fond farewell to 'Babbelut' and Ghent's 'Vrijdagmarkt!' So, 'lekker, lekker!' No more beers! No!
My time in Ghent was coming to end, I walked some more through those winding cobbles streets and alley ways. I got to know and love the many different picturesque vantage points. It was clear to see that some large event was being prepared for along the river, for me I was glad I had swerved that because I was able to appreciate the riverside without the noise that event was poised to create. I definitely had a few beers onboard but I knew that I needed to get back to Brussels before the evening came, I had my eye on the time! Before I headed back down that never-ending road back to the station, I walked past Ghent's 'Gravensteen/Count's Rock Castle'. For me, the view of the castle from where I was standing was enough, I didn't feel the need to pay for any entrance. If truth be told, the castle had already gone and closed for the day. I felt content with my wanderings in Ghent, I had definitely ticked off a few of my travel requests. Ghent, why had I not planned to spend at least one overnight stay in your city? Why?! Oh, no!
That day of exploration had seen me get up before birds, making my way first to Ostend had been that early morning plan. Ghent was by no means an after-thought because it made sense to make the best of the day in a city located nearby on the train. I had managed to squeeze everything into my afternoon in Ghent, there was nothing that I had missed out on! I wouldn't miss that mammoth walk from the station and back again, I really needed my 'WeChat Pay' brought back to life, those card only payments were killing me! Heading back to Brussels was the right thing for me to do, I needed to be rested for my extra long 'World War I' coach trip the following day. There would be no going 'out out' because as soon as that Belgian train arrived into 'Brussel-Noord', I ran back to my hotel to bed down for the night! I don't feel guilty that I shunned Bruges for Ghent, I had to make peace with not having the time to visit Antwerp also! Belgium was shaping up to be the slice of 'European charm' I needed! Those prices were insane!
Ghent Or Gent?
Desperately Seeking Adventure
