Ghent. Dandelions and Spring 2014

Ghent:

Whirling, swirling, tumbling around like tumbleweed.  It’s spring again in Belgium.  Is that snow outside?  No my darlings, it is dandelions.  They are the tumbleweed of Europe.  Achoo! 

Women in high heels on cobblestone streets.  Ankles going in every direction.

Lots of construction and many tower cranes.  The economy must be good here.

Beautiful town with a church and castle.  An amazing Flemish Beef Stew that I hope to duplicate.  Keep an eye open for bikes, cars, trams and horse drawn carriages if you want to cross the street.

I may never look at a castle the same after visiting the Gravensteen 12^th-century stone castle.  It has been meticulously restored down to the torture devices used.  I don’t think we have improved as time has passed.  I couldn’t stand the exhibit of instruments of torture.  Creepy.

Since we don’t have a car we act like the locals and walk everywhere.  That is until we bought the museum pass that included unlimited tram rides and they even threw in a canal ride.  The larger supermarkets are found on the outskirts of towns.  Since I needed to do a major marketing (again) we took our two carts, boarded the tram and found the market.  It was easy.  For small items the tiny family owned markets were almost everywhere we went and some were well stocked.

We much preferred Ghent to Brugge.  Here in Ghent we see tourists yes, but also many school children on field trips, and people going about their day to day business.  Prices are much more reasonable as well.  

Here we go again.  An angry man was speaking to us thru our hallway window telling us we can't tie up here.  He speaks no English.  What he spoke sounded like German (probably Dutch), and then French.  We had gotten permission from the port captain.  This guy says the captain has no authority and we must move.  With the VNF strike on Monday we won't be moving until Tuesday at the earliest.  

The square facing Gravensteen Castle.  We had a delicious Flemish Beef Stew.

A view of the castle.

Picturesque street along a canal.

View during the boat ride which I highly recommend.

The monastery that once housed a 1000 monks is down to 14.  In its heyday a major problem was lining up for the toilet pictured on the left.  Can you imagine?

An artist's interpretation of what is to come.

Charming views with the castle towering over the town.

They were serious about their weapons during medieval times.

View of Ghent from the top of the castle.

A few forms of torture!

A portion of the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by the Van Eyck brothers.  This 20 panel alter piece has quite a history,  part of which was also mentioned in the movie Monument Men.

We went to SMAK Ghents Museum of Contemporary Art.  Thomas Ruff creates huge works of art making and painting many canvases which are fashioned into things like mazes.  When the exhibit is completed the exhibit is destroyed.

When in Belgium one must have a Belgium waffle. 

The castle lit at night.

Tom invites you to have a drink with him.  To your health!