We spent a night and parts of two days in Ghent. The chronology of these photos is 1) canal boat tour, 2) castle of the Counts of Flanders, 3) coffee, 4) belfry, and 5) St. Nicholas church. We seem to have an affinity for churches named St. Nicholas. It’s not on purpose. It just kinda happened.
Ghent
Buildings
along
the
quay
St. Michael’s bridge
St. Michael’s church--one of the oldest in town
Swimming dog
Two of Ghent’s famous three towers
America still exports!
A stuffed cheetah watching the canal traffic
Diving Lady
Diving Man--across from the diving lady of course
Cutesy statues
A canal tunnel, which was creepier without the flash
See?
Former abbey...I think
Soldier murals
Random Renaissance cuteness
We had nice weather. Rita wore capris.
Popular music concert hall under construction
The Opera--just down from the pop place
“Docking for restaurant patrons only”
Tour boat
Canoe dudes
The whole town is just really cute.
Vrijeschippershall--Free shippers guild house--with a couple of free shippers out front
Unfree shippers house. No kidding.
The castle
Again
Our hotel. Expensive. Worth it.
Our hotel with some context
Cuteness
Quaintness
Eclecticness
Okay, so it’s not all cuteness.
What can I say?
Statue
Museum
Crazy Margaret the Cannon--never used in combat
Because she fired only 50 cm. This was before we invented the technical school.
Wheel lock firearms
Views
from
atop
the counts’ castle,
which
(pause for a shot of the Flemish flag)
in Dutch
is called
het Gravensteen.
French import
Local version of car up on blocks in the front yard
Shots
of
the castle itself
from inside
the walls.
We got coffee and a joke.
Weather vane retired from the belfry
Cool tiles in belfry
Shots
from atop
the belfry.
Belfry bell
Mammalokker
These stepped façades are very typical of the Low Countries.
St. Nick’s
St. Nick’s
St. Nick’s
St. Nick’s
Belgian train conductor. Love that hat.