The Arc in the early, wet misty morning
Majestic and designed in 1880 for Belgium's 50th independence
But the Arc de Triomphe in Paris is still taller
And the free army museum the guide was talking about
Majestic and designed in 1880 for Belgium's 50th independence
But the Arc de Triomphe in Paris is still taller
And the free army museum the guide was talking about
The army museum wasn't even open yet cos I was too early. It's about 8 plus in the morning. To the disbelieving, I have a habit of waking up early when I travel in order to make full use of the day. So I guess travelling on my own had a bit of its perks as I was pushed to discipline myself. (That also means waking up on time to catch the train or bus to the next destination, checking train timings, being more alert lest I get screwed over)
Anw waited outside until the museum opened at 9am, and the lone security guard was kinda bewildered that I was waiting outside. He couldn't speak much English, but when I gestured going up to the Arc, he flashed a grin. Cool! So in I went and what greeted me was a very huge, very silent aircraft hangar. I was stunned and the silence was soooo unsettling that you could literally hear a needle dropping that kind...And it's kinda odd yet cool at the same time to see huge life-size aircraft about when a tiny and insignificant me was wandering about the place. My playground, a bloody eerily quiet hangar!!
Anw waited outside until the museum opened at 9am, and the lone security guard was kinda bewildered that I was waiting outside. He couldn't speak much English, but when I gestured going up to the Arc, he flashed a grin. Cool! So in I went and what greeted me was a very huge, very silent aircraft hangar. I was stunned and the silence was soooo unsettling that you could literally hear a needle dropping that kind...And it's kinda odd yet cool at the same time to see huge life-size aircraft about when a tiny and insignificant me was wandering about the place. My playground, a bloody eerily quiet hangar!!
I then proceeded to find that mysterious elevator that will lead to the top of the Arc. And the place is really huge. I finally understood what the guide meant by museums within a museum. After the aircraft hangar experience, I walked through galleries of paintings, collections of guns, swords and lotsa stuff and each was named differently until I really got hor-lan! And there was no soul in sight! Luckily there was this Belgian ah ma that was opening up the museum shop so I asked her where the elevator was. She did not understand English too, so I merely pointed to the top and she was like "Ahhh!" enlightened look...keke
Check out the number of galleries and museums....piangz...
And the mysterious elevator...found!
And finally the last flight of stairs up to the top
Yay! Finally reached the top but it's sure misty sia...
A successful 自拍, but no scenery...hahaha dangz....
Parting shot....when there's more people in the museum...looks like a school excursion trip
Reached Brussels Gare Central where I saw a huge crowd gathering...thought it was a protest of some sorts, but they all seemed rather jovial..the blues, reds and greens
And the mysterious elevator...found!
And finally the last flight of stairs up to the top
Yay! Finally reached the top but it's sure misty sia...
A successful 自拍, but no scenery...hahaha dangz....
Parting shot....when there's more people in the museum...looks like a school excursion trip
Reached Brussels Gare Central where I saw a huge crowd gathering...thought it was a protest of some sorts, but they all seemed rather jovial..the blues, reds and greens
And a short convenient 30 min ride by train to Ghent! Ghent, also known as Gent in Dutch is one interesting place. It is the biggest city in the East Flanders province, yet with the bustling hype the city somehow manages to retain much of its historical and medieval flavour.
Wee! Over to Ghent!
Arrival at Ghent Sint Pieters station
It's a 20 min walk to the city centre with all the sights, but the Use-It guide listed some intriguing stuff, which I went to check out...and over here is what I meant by the guide has certain WTF moments....for example, this tree here, which I took a photo of, is described as the most beautiful tree in Ghent....right......
Right.....a tree that everybody loves.....
Next up was this tower known as the Book Tower / Boekentoren, or simply put, just the main university library cos Ghent is also a university city. Also the highest tower in Ghent
And the Vooruit, the most beautiful building in Ghent, so claimed. Huh!?! This building used to be a front for the socialist movement but now it has a concert hall, restaurant and more of a chill-out place
Arrival at Ghent Sint Pieters station
It's a 20 min walk to the city centre with all the sights, but the Use-It guide listed some intriguing stuff, which I went to check out...and over here is what I meant by the guide has certain WTF moments....for example, this tree here, which I took a photo of, is described as the most beautiful tree in Ghent....right......
Right.....a tree that everybody loves.....
Next up was this tower known as the Book Tower / Boekentoren, or simply put, just the main university library cos Ghent is also a university city. Also the highest tower in Ghent
And the Vooruit, the most beautiful building in Ghent, so claimed. Huh!?! This building used to be a front for the socialist movement but now it has a concert hall, restaurant and more of a chill-out place
Eventually reached St Baafs Plein, where the 3 towers of Ghent stand. (The Belfry, St Baafskathedraal and St Niklasskerk) This is the medieval core of the city.
The Belfry
Note the dragon at the top, which is also the town's symbol
St Baafskathedraal, herein houses the Adoration of the Lamb, a famous and one of the earliest known oil paintings
St Niklasskerk. Guide describes it as having cracks in the wall, water on the floow and a crumbling tower.....hmm....
The interior looks ok to me though...wtf guide moments again....
Went up to the top of the Belfry. All 256 steps up. Narrow and squeezy.
The Dragon
View of Ghent from the top
Failed 自拍...narrow and squuezy walkway at the top...how to 自拍 like that?!?
See what I mean?
Gargoyle staring at the carpark below
This pair of really cool Spanish dudes helped me take these photos. At last something decent! They also quite auto in telling me to pose for both towers....lol!
Other scenic sights of Ghent, which I really enjoyed with its canals and very quaint medieval old town feel
A very wide bridge
Hmmm....I really must find a way to make sure my money pouch ain't so obvious at my waist...nono I did not put on weight!!
This building is also the central post office and a huge shopping complex (can you see Mango?) Stunning piece of architecture
The St Michielskerk, distinct because it has no tower at all. Or rather, it never got finished
And the view from the St Michiels Bridge, which is THE place to get the prettiest pic in Ghent here.
The Gravensteen (Count's Castle) in the distance. The guide challenges the imagining of this place 700 years ago when this area was still the main harbour in Ghent
And the view from the opposite end with the St Michiels Bridge in the distance
The Graslei, a place of chill-out and bars.
The Gravensteen up close
Walking amidst the Patershol, a labyrinth of medieval streets. Cobbled walkways and a quiet setting
Even Mr Potty agrees it's a quiet neighbourhood
Vrijdagmarkt, an open space for bazaars
Odd-looking building that resembles something out of Halloween
Tasty Ghent candies and biscuits at the sweet shop Temmerman
Grabbed a couple of boterwafeltjes, soft chewy butter wafels
And the traditional Belgian candies; Asked the very nice lady for some sampling, loved the cuberdon, which is that purple cone candy in the middle. It's blackcurrant flavoured, hard on the outside yet gooey and sweet inside.
Note the dragon at the top, which is also the town's symbol
St Baafskathedraal, herein houses the Adoration of the Lamb, a famous and one of the earliest known oil paintings
St Niklasskerk. Guide describes it as having cracks in the wall, water on the floow and a crumbling tower.....hmm....
The interior looks ok to me though...wtf guide moments again....
Went up to the top of the Belfry. All 256 steps up. Narrow and squeezy.
The Dragon
View of Ghent from the top
Failed 自拍...narrow and squuezy walkway at the top...how to 自拍 like that?!?
See what I mean?
Gargoyle staring at the carpark below
This pair of really cool Spanish dudes helped me take these photos. At last something decent! They also quite auto in telling me to pose for both towers....lol!
Other scenic sights of Ghent, which I really enjoyed with its canals and very quaint medieval old town feel
A very wide bridge
Hmmm....I really must find a way to make sure my money pouch ain't so obvious at my waist...nono I did not put on weight!!
This building is also the central post office and a huge shopping complex (can you see Mango?) Stunning piece of architecture
The St Michielskerk, distinct because it has no tower at all. Or rather, it never got finished
And the view from the St Michiels Bridge, which is THE place to get the prettiest pic in Ghent here.
The Gravensteen (Count's Castle) in the distance. The guide challenges the imagining of this place 700 years ago when this area was still the main harbour in Ghent
And the view from the opposite end with the St Michiels Bridge in the distance
The Graslei, a place of chill-out and bars.
The Gravensteen up close
Walking amidst the Patershol, a labyrinth of medieval streets. Cobbled walkways and a quiet setting
Even Mr Potty agrees it's a quiet neighbourhood
Vrijdagmarkt, an open space for bazaars
Odd-looking building that resembles something out of Halloween
Tasty Ghent candies and biscuits at the sweet shop Temmerman
Grabbed a couple of boterwafeltjes, soft chewy butter wafels
And the traditional Belgian candies; Asked the very nice lady for some sampling, loved the cuberdon, which is that purple cone candy in the middle. It's blackcurrant flavoured, hard on the outside yet gooey and sweet inside.
And there concludes the day in Ghent. Wonderful quaint place to spend the time away. And the main medieval district isn't very big so it's very possible to cover lots within a few hours just taking in the sights. Will be comparing this with Bruges next as it is touted that Bruges is much more medieval in feel, prettier and Ghent somehow ends up as the overlooked of the two. But first, the return to Brussels for more action!
For more pics, go here
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