Ghent Updated

May 22, 2025

Dear gentle traveler, I feel that I have been rather light in my Belgium, and Ghent in particular, commentary. There is no particular reason for this, simply that if I don't have anything to say, then I tend to say nothing. However on reflection that is perhaps unfair or even ungracious to the people of Ghent, as they are certainly not silent in any sense. If I was to describe Ghent it would be bricks, doors, stained glass windows, sirens, bikes, trams, buses, cars, a few pedestrians, and lacking greenery. It is a city built of bricks and while these are not all alike they have the same dull shade so much so that the Italian Pizzeria, that is on the tram route to the station, stands out with its Sorento styled brightly coloured flowered ceramic tiles around its door way with its bright yellow, greens, reds, is as effective as a neon sign. If you look closely you will see that there are little pieces of individuality around each doorway whether this be relief carvings, small statures or simply patterned wood. It is often the same with the windows/balconies and here stained glass provides the individuality. I am almost tempted to describe it as a gritty place which is more of a reflection of my reaction to all the brick, as the houses are built right up to the street, as in no front garden, which invites you to think that there is a lack of greenery and this is again misleading as there are lots of parks and trees line the the canals. Also on Sundays there is a book market where I bought two volumes of Karl Popper's - The Open Society and Its Enemies: Volume 1 -Plato, and Volume 2 Hegel & Marx. it will be engaging reading.

Then, as commented before, it is a city of bikes, and when you add trams, buses and some cars to this - there isn't a lot of space for pedestrians as the footpaths are narrow to cater for the above - we really should get on a bike. The place is very multicultural, quite the melting pot, and I am never sure which language is being spoken, and I don't mean I can't follow if its Dutch or French, but there are a whole host of others in the mix - I love it. The beer is very potent up to 9% of more which give certainly means that one is enough! As is their strong coffees which are a third alcohol, a third coffee, and a third cream - I am considering offering them at work as part of a wellness programme. I have two very yummy and fulfilling stew meals with potato croquettes or with chips. The bread and cheese is also very nice. Exploring the local supermarkets is also fun although I am not sure why the sparkling wine is behind the cashier given the strength and freely available beer in the aisles. I have discovered the little 'shop' across the road - next to the night store, sells mostly alcohol and snacks including GnT in a can. So a well worn path may be trodden - if I don't get taken out by a stream if cyclists who keep coming even though the cross light was green! So that is a taste of our week here is Ghent, Belgium.

As today (20th May) was a rail and train strike we stayed local and explored the old dock area and more of the town and found another square where a lovely beer, no, lunch was had just along from the socialist party's head quarters.