Ghent

Trip Start May 20, 2008
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Trip End Sep 15, 2008


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Where I stayed
Guesthouse PoortAckere
(Ghent hotels)

Flag of Belgium  , East Flanders,
Tuesday, August 19, 2008

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1) statue of male diver on one side of river 1) statue of male diver on one side of river 1527 guild hall of bricklayers;1435 Flemish house 1527 guild hall of bricklayers;1435 Flemish house 16th c. homes line St. Verleer Square 16th c. homes line St. Verleer Square 17th c. baroque facade with Neptune & trident 17th c. baroque facade with Neptune & trident
2) while statue of female diver is on other side 2) while statue of female diver is on other side 27 US dollars for a burrito! Don't think so. 27 US dollars for a burrito! Don't think so. At left,Church of St. James dates from 1120 At left,Church of St. James dates from 1120 Attractive building with one of many outdoor cafes Attractive building with one of many outdoor cafes
Belfort built 13&14th c. to store impt city papers Belfort built 13&14th c. to store impt city papers Belfort keys given to different people;all needed Belfort keys given to different people;all needed Bell built in 1660 but cracked in 1914;weighs 6kkg Bell built in 1660 but cracked in 1914;weighs 6kkg Bells chime every 15 minutes in Belfort Bells chime every 15 minutes in Belfort
Best views of Ghent were from top of castle Best views of Ghent were from top of castle Bicyclists took major jarring on cobblestone rds Bicyclists took major jarring on cobblestone rds Canal boat tour provided different views of town Canal boat tour provided different views of town Canal hits dead-end here:plans for cut through Canal hits dead-end here:plans for cut through
Canal tour given in 4 different languages Canal tour given in 4 different languages Canal tour nice but lacking in information Canal tour nice but lacking in information Cast iron cannon built in 1400s;weighs 1600 kgs Cast iron cannon built in 1400s;weighs 1600 kgs Castle actually seemed to function like one should Castle actually seemed to function like one should
Castle had interesting displays from last 800 yrs Castle had interesting displays from last 800 yrs Castle had one of its original guillotines Castle had one of its original guillotines Castle had torture chambers and prison Castle had torture chambers and prison Castle has sunk a couple of meters in 800 yrs Castle has sunk a couple of meters in 800 yrs
Castle is a lot bigger than it looks Castle is a lot bigger than it looks Castle kitchen looks about as useful as mine Castle kitchen looks about as useful as mine Castle looks even more intimidating in the rain Castle looks even more intimidating in the rain Castle of the Counts aka Gravenkasteel Castle of the Counts aka Gravenkasteel
Castle steps were dizzing but look new Castle steps were dizzing but look new Castle was built in 1180 by Philip of Alsace Castle was built in 1180 by Philip of Alsace Cathedral initiated by wealthy lace traders Cathedral initiated by wealthy lace traders Church of St. Michael begun in 1440;completed 1648 Church of St. Michael begun in 1440;completed 1648
Church of St. Nicholas 2x destroyed by fire 1100s Church of St. Nicholas 2x destroyed by fire 1100s Church of St. Nicholas started in 1220; updates Church of St. Nicholas started in 1220; updates Church used as horse stable during French Revol Church used as horse stable during French Revol Couple of well-preserved 1754 homes Couple of well-preserved 1754 homes
Court of Justice,1836, is at corner of tow rivers Court of Justice,1836, is at corner of tow rivers Definitely the best way to navigate Ghent! Definitely the best way to navigate Ghent! Did my hotel kick the monks out? Did my hotel kick the monks out? Don't think homeowners assn would like this Don't think homeowners assn would like this
Don't think this art would fly in the US Don't think this art would fly in the US Drivers great about stopping at crosswalks Drivers great about stopping at crosswalks Drum controls 44 bells in carillon of Belfort Drum controls 44 bells in carillon of Belfort Easy to see some of castle modifications Easy to see some of castle modifications
Enormous copper dragon built in 1377 Enormous copper dragon built in 1377 Few cars make Ghent enjoyable old town to walk Few cars make Ghent enjoyable old town to walk First castle built around 868 but later rebuilt First castle built around 868 but later rebuilt Friday Market-forum for wool trade in middle ages Friday Market-forum for wool trade in middle ages
Ghent founded in 7th c. around 2 abbeys Ghent founded in 7th c. around 2 abbeys Ghent home to big annual intl flower show Ghent home to big annual intl flower show Ghent is big college town; plenty of beerhalls Ghent is big college town; plenty of beerhalls Ghent is in Flemish part of Belgium Ghent is in Flemish part of Belgium
Ghent is very peaceful town;at least in August Ghent is very peaceful town;at least in August Ghent panorama;cranes mainly for renovating Ghent panorama;cranes mainly for renovating Ghent version of Mannekin Pis;supposedly older Ghent version of Mannekin Pis;supposedly older Graffiti a problem; mainly outside old town Graffiti a problem; mainly outside old town
Graslei home to wealthy traders on Leie River Graslei home to wealthy traders on Leie River Graslei St. on canal popular for beerhalls Graslei St. on canal popular for beerhalls Guild hall of independent shippers 1531 Guild hall of independent shippers 1531 Guild halls from 1600s;tiny bldg was toll house Guild halls from 1600s;tiny bldg was toll house
Hand-crafted boat still looks good centuries later Hand-crafted boat still looks good centuries later Helpful to climb spires to get good orientation Helpful to climb spires to get good orientation Homes and guilds lined 16th c. port Homes and guilds lined 16th c. port I can only imagine the Marriott rates I can only imagine the Marriott rates
I had to include one photo that shows sunshine I had to include one photo that shows sunshine I seem to bring the gray weather with me I seem to bring the gray weather with me I was in back of boat so sorry for the heads I was in back of boat so sorry for the heads Jacob Van Artevelde town governor in 1300s Jacob Van Artevelde town governor in 1300s
Just your ordinary $500 pair of shoes! Just your ordinary $500 pair of shoes! Large exhibit with different torture devices;ouch! Large exhibit with different torture devices;ouch! Last building in old Ghent with wood facade Last building in old Ghent with wood facade Locals all dress like it's 30 below Locals all dress like it's 30 below
Lots of art museums in town but I skipped them Lots of art museums in town but I skipped them Lots of dogs but few cats seen;some poop to avoid Lots of dogs but few cats seen;some poop to avoid Many old buildings preserved but not in use Many old buildings preserved but not in use Many stores were vacant;not sure closed or holiday Many stores were vacant;not sure closed or holiday
Meat Hall 1419;architecture of merchant class Meat Hall 1419;architecture of merchant class Mosquitos big problem with all this water Mosquitos big problem with all this water Most old buildings made of brick so little color Most old buildings made of brick so little color Much of old town closed to private cars Much of old town closed to private cars
Neo-Gothic post office only dates from 1910 Neo-Gothic post office only dates from 1910 Nice patio if you're not looking for privacy Nice patio if you're not looking for privacy Old boats now displays along canal for tourists Old boats now displays along canal for tourists Old houses employing craftsmen today to restore Old houses employing craftsmen today to restore
Old town gradually gives way to new,uglier bldgs Old town gradually gives way to new,uglier bldgs On left, baroque house from 1669 On left, baroque house from 1669 One of many busy shopping streets in old town One of many busy shopping streets in old town One of old boats used by traders in Ghent One of old boats used by traders in Ghent
One of the few fixed bridges along rivers One of the few fixed bridges along rivers Opera House dates from 1837, ornate doors Opera House dates from 1837, ornate doors Part of the old monastery where I stayed Part of the old monastery where I stayed Photos are light to provide contrast with gray sky Photos are light to provide contrast with gray sky
Playful statues grace front of this building Playful statues grace front of this building Plaza between Cathedral and Belfry Plaza between Cathedral and Belfry Pop up showers not so good for canal tours Pop up showers not so good for canal tours Post office has historical panorama in stone Post office has historical panorama in stone
Rabot built in 1486 to strengthen city gates Rabot built in 1486 to strengthen city gates Rabot successfully defended city from 40000 men Rabot successfully defended city from 40000 men Renaissance facade1559;faces of Counts of Flanders Renaissance facade1559;faces of Counts of Flanders Royal Flanders Art House w/mythological scene Royal Flanders Art House w/mythological scene
Some old buildings not mentioned in guidebook Some old buildings not mentioned in guidebook Some urban renewal projects promising Some urban renewal projects promising St. Michael Bridge offered great 360 degree view St. Michael Bridge offered great 360 degree view Stately facade of Court of Justice from river Stately facade of Court of Justice from river
Statue is "Spring of the Bereaved" Statue is "Spring of the Bereaved" Sun brought everyone outside to enjoy nice day Sun brought everyone outside to enjoy nice day Surprise! The monsoons come as I try to photograph Surprise! The monsoons come as I try to photograph Tanners guild hall 1483;bell rung to start markets Tanners guild hall 1483;bell rung to start markets
The rain means fewer tourists out which is good The rain means fewer tourists out which is good There was 1 very long tunnel on canal tour There was 1 very long tunnel on canal tour This pissoir is a little too public for me to use This pissoir is a little too public for me to use Told castle built on 10m supports Told castle built on 10m supports
Town did not have much greenspace;1 park Town did not have much greenspace;1 park Town is built between 2 rivers-Leie&Schelde Town is built between 2 rivers-Leie&Schelde Town really spruces up for summer tourists Town really spruces up for summer tourists Train station not close to old town;trams good Train station not close to old town;trams good
Unfortunately best view of castle is from above Unfortunately best view of castle is from above Unique swing bridge;never saw any of them open Unique swing bridge;never saw any of them open Veldstraat is one of most popular shopping streets Veldstraat is one of most popular shopping streets Very attractive town hall dwarfed by belfry Very attractive town hall dwarfed by belfry
View from top of castle-easy to see invaders View from top of castle-easy to see invaders View of town from St. Michaels Church View of town from St. Michaels Church Was never quite sure what this represented Was never quite sure what this represented Weather would go rainy to sunny every 30 minutes Weather would go rainy to sunny every 30 minutes
Windows did not photograph well at monastery Windows did not photograph well at monastery Wonder how people afford to live here;high prices Wonder how people afford to live here;high prices
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