Waving goodbye to London, I head East, to Belgium. I had booked the Eurostar taking a train to Brussels where I’ll be spending the day in Gent before heading to Bruges in the evening (where I’m staying). I had arrived at the station 30mins prior tp my departure time, THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH. I knew I was in trouble when I showed my train ticket to the attendant and she was like: “Oh my! You’d better hurry!” As soon as I went into the departures I knew I was f*cked. There was a huge line snaking around with half of the people school kids. And that was just the line to get through the security checks. Then there was the customs. I don’t understand why Scotland>Dublin you need to go through the customs but Dublin>London you don’t!? And now I have to go through customs in this winding line of people with 10mins until my train, GAH! Luckily with 5mins to go this train attendant shouted to see if anyone was on the Brussels train and
the lady in front of me was on the same train I was, so we both cut through the line of people (and their death glares) and made it to the front to quickly get out passports stamped. WHEW!
Anyway, Belgium has 3 official languages: Dutch, French and German (and I thought Switzerland was confusing!) and the parts I will be going to are all Dutch, and I speak ABSOLUTELY NO DUTCH, luckily I have my trusty Google Translate Dutch package downloaded to use offline. 👍
Arrived at Brussels and bought a train ticket to Bruges stopping over at Gent Sint Pieters station. (Loll! @ the dad on the left!! 😂😂😂)
There’s like a train every half an hour, even if the train doesn’t END in Gent Sint Pieters, look out for the ones that stop there because the sign might just show the stations that they end in at the main signage place. Oh yeah, everything is in Dutch and there are no English signs ANYWHERE. Ask some friendly locals if you get lost. 😉
After arriving at Gent and stashing my luggage away at a paid locker in the station, I headed off to take a tram towards the city center. You can buy the tram ticket that allows you to take the tram anywhere within 1hr for €3, unfortunately I did not have change and was forced to buy this delicious thick chocolatey drink… Mmmmm… *drools* So good…
As I mentioned before there are NO SIGNS NO DIRECTIONS in English, so I had to stare at this tram map in Dutch and guess. I GUESS this tram goes to city center… Since there are most people waiting. 😂 Then I asked a local just to be sure.
I didn’t know where to get off then I saw this castle and decided to get off. 😂
Apparently this is the Gravensteen, which means “castle of the counts” in Dutch.
Built in the 12th century, the middle ages. I’m getting better at history!
Every castle must have a collection of armour, it’s the LAW. 😂
This castle is the first one that looks EXACTLY what I imagined castles to look like before I came to Europe.
Excellent view of Gent from above.
Pew pew pew! Eat arrowheads!
The blade of this guillotine is original… UGH. 😱
You can just imagine a beautiful maiden playing this harp. ☺
Oww… Just looking at these pictures HURT. 😫
Okay, forget the Museum of Ancient Torture Devices in Toledo, this place trumps every other torture museums I’ve been to. How can they put a lifelike mannequin to display torture devices without warnings of viewers’ discretion? 😱
Wow… The ultimate wedgie.
The chapel of the castle I assume.
The higher up, the better the view gets!
Wow, such Belgium.
Top of the castle.
Taking a walk along the castle walls.
Castle courtyard.
Standing tall and proud.
Little kiddied group running into the castle dressed as knights and princesses. 😂
The Gravensteen is located next to one of the many canals of Gent.
A very Belgium plaza just outside of Gravensteen.
I wonder who climbed all the way up there to give the lion a dunce hat!? 😂
Ghent is a university town and houses a large population of students, so you do see a lot if hipster young people around, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a typical picturesque little Belgian town. ☺
I came all the way here for Ghent candy but it was closed, lame.
This area called Graslei and Korenlei is probably the most iconic image of Ghent.
All those awesome houses just sitting in a row along the canal. This place is beautiful at night, too bad I won’t be staying here, next time…
Had time to spare so jumped on a random canal cruise.
The houses look like a wall of cookie tins. 😂
Riding past some awesome architecture.
I did not choose this cruise because the boat guy was good looking. *shifty eyes*
The have gondolas just like Venice, apparently these come from Bangladesh, but I haven’t seen any in use on the canals…
Hi Gravensteen again! 👋
The boat guy turned off the engine for a moment to let us enjoy the peacefulness of floating down the canal. Nice.
The gas mask angel coming down to smite all ye who fart too much.
There are turtle living in the canals!
Panoramic Ghent canal.
Ghent street view #1.
When you think of Belgium, apart from chocolate you think of waffles. This place has been making waffles since 1839, so time to test out their waffles!
Had a hot chocolate, it was good but was finished after two sips. 😐
The crust is so thin but crispy and the inside of the waffle is the most light and fluffy waffle I have ever tasted. 👍
Ghent street view #2.
Next, I shall climb this Belfort! (By lift!)
Displays inside the Belfort.
In Belgium, bells don’t just ring, they ring to a melody, as controlled by this device here. Almost like a music box.
Too bad that tower’s under construction, otherwise it would’ve been a great view.
As you can see there’s not much room to walk around in the tower and two people cannot pass each other, unless you want to spoon someone or get spooned.
Great view of Ghent #1.
Great view of Ghent #2.
A display of bells.
This must be to Quasimodo as a kid in a candy store.
I don’t even know what this is (all the signs are in Dutch), I assume the one in the light is original and the other ones are just remakes according to the cracks.
Apparently Australian ive creams are a thing!? Since when??
Ghent street view #3.
Ghent street view #4.
Ghent street view #5. I’m feeling lazy okay!? 😂
Back to my favourite spot.
…For DINNERRRR. Waterzooi is a Ghent dish which is like a thin creamy stew of chicken or fish. Btw the view was great but it was so windy my spoon blew away. Still don’t understand why Europeans like to sit outside…
One last panorama of this awesome place.
Actually Gent Sint Pieters is a pretty nice station too, but it was all construction in front when I was there.
The main hall of Gent Sint Pieters.
Cool art on the walls.
Even cooler art on the ceilings.
And then I arrive at Bruged which looks like a bomb shelter. 😂
Stayed at an ibis, great cheap rates and big clean rooms, but the bathroom is so open! Perfect if you are traveling alone. 😂
Around ½ of The World in 80 Days 