Ghent
Smitten by Antwerpen and Brugge, we couldn’t miss another opportunity to visit this beautiful country—known the world over for its sweet, soft-spoken and friendly people. Their chocolates—worth dying for.
But Ghent was not on radar, when we planned our trip—it was supposed to be a drive to Paris and back. But the distance made us rethink—about how frisky we’d be after a 7-hour drive, and still be able to stretch our hands-up to the air of the magical Disneyland.
On our second trip to Belgium, we were reminded of its distinctive tarmac feel; and traffic signals—they’re a common sight on Belgian motorways. But of course, roads are not what Belgium is proud of.
Ghent looks like a city frozen in the middle ages. Its carefully maintained and restored medieval architecture lets you have a glimpse of its magnificent past.
It is best to see Ghent by boat and of course, on foot. We enjoyed an uninterrupted view of this perfectly preserved city, together with a group of strangers. The best, however, isn’t how beautiful this place is.
Places retain their sparkle, not because of mere luck or destiny, but because of the efforts by its people, who are passionate enough to see it that way and feel proud about. We saw that in Brugge, and we were happy to see it in Ghent. We could see that they weren’t just proud of their heritage, but felt equally responsible in maintaining it that way.
Some pictures—taken during this trip.
Near Mariott Ghent: Korenlei 10, B-9000 Ghent, BE.