It was a free weekend so I bought a high-speed Thalys train ticket from Paris Gare du Nord Station to Bruxelles-Midi Station then to Ghent-Sint-Piters Station situated in a small Belgian town west of Brusells.
The Thalys roundtrip ticket from Paris to Brussels was about 120 euro and the Belgian local train from Brussels to Ghent was only 10 euro roundtrip (50% discount on weekends!). The local train looked like it came straight out of a factory: it was sparkling clean and it looked very modern. I was planning to go solo but I found a lovely companion at the last minute.
After 2 hours of train ride from Paris, I suddenly found my self surrounded by Medieval Castles in Ghent, Belgium. This couldn't be real.
Back in the days (i.e. Middle Ages), Ghent was the most powerful city in Europe. Until the present time, Ghent is still adorned with elegant and imposing medieval buildings that are remarkably preserved. Unlike Brussels, where French is mainly spoken, Ghent is located in the Flemish region of Belgium and its primary languages are Flemish and Dutch.
The public transportation (tram) was exceptional and the people were just amazingly pleasant (a guy at the station walked us to the tram stop and a guy at a chocolate shop gave me a piece of Belgian chocolate for free).
The city breathed an atmosphere that was a mix of laidback locals and classy tourism. After seeing people all dressed in the same demure fashion in Paris, all rushed to wherever they had to be, it was a joy seeing people walking around Ghent in pretty colorful spring dresses and high heels and with normal pace.
The city centre was bustling on that Saturday morning. Local artists were painting and selling their crafts along the river. Just 2 blocks away from the city centre, Het Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) stood tall. The castle was built in 1180 by a count after he got home from the Crusades to intimidate potential attackers. It also has a well-equipped torture chamber inside.
I skipped the torture chamber this time and opted to go to the Belfort et Lakenhalle, a belfry that holds great bells that have rung throughout the centuries. The entry fee was only 5 euro per person, and after climbing some stairs and riding an elevator for a very brief time, we were rewarded with such amazing views of the Sint-Niklaaskerk (St Nicholas' Church), a Schelde Gothic church that dates back to the 13th century.
I forgot to mention that I did meet the dragon at the Belfry.
This was the very dragon that used to be on the very top of the tower. Do you know how in the States some buildings have a chicken that spins on top of the roof? Why go for chickens when you have dragons. It's not that the chickens in Ghent were not awesome. The people just knew the best place to put their chicken on: the plate.
Gentse waterzooi is one of Belgian signature dishes. It originated in this city and I only needed a spoonful before I decided that this was my ultimate comfort food. The heavenly soup base of egg yolk, cream, and vegetable broth complimented the fresh herbs, leeks, tomatoes, potatoes, and chicken thrown into this unearthly concoction. I will report when I successfully recreate the dish in my American kitchen.
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