Ghent, Belgium

On our way to Langley, UK, we have to stop (just like last year) in Ghent, Belgium. This is where we're supposed  to take the staff coach and leave for England for an entire month of working and having fun (speaking english at all times) with belgian teens and wonderful dutch/english staff members. So this is the main reason we're travelling, me and my sweetheart throughout Europe. Just like last year, we took Mate's car, so we ca visit more cities and places as we ride to Belgium. 

This time, the weather in Ghent was pretty cold, so we tried to have a snack and a beer (form their 400 types) at the House of Beer, as we've created already a custom whenever we arrive in Belgium to hit the french fries and beer locals.... :))) Only if you'd taste them, you'll know what I'm talking about. After a while, we had to go inside ( I was freezin') at the first floor, because downstaires was full of tourists. Here....surprisingly , was nobody...So we had our beers in peace...and the we went hunting for some french fries with andalusian sauce. Period.

Stay with me throughout my jounrey! 

Love, Gab~

"In Bruges"...West Flanders

I only knew Bruges from the movie (with the same name)...I was glad to find out that the city it's a lot more than just what it looks like in the movie... Plus the weather was more pleasant to visit it...although I could feel that september was so close...and summer was done...

I ended up loving Belgium, not just because of the beautiful old (and new) cities it has, but also knowing wonderful people, that made this hole trip something to remember after years!

Here are some pics along with some info about the places I've seen...

The belfry of Bruges (or Belfort)

- is a medieval bell tower in the historical center of Bruges, Belgium. One of the city's most prominent symbols, the belfry formerly housed a treasury and the municipal archives, and served as an observation post for spotting fires and other danger. A narrow, steep staircase of 366 steps, accessible by the public for an entry fee, leads to the top of the 83-meter-high building, which leans about a meter to the east.

Provincial Court

The historic centre of Bruges has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

This is a spot that is very known in Bruges...and every tourist has to take at least a pic here...couldn't be an exception... :)) Along with a few other canal-based northern cities, such as Amsterdam, Bruges it's sometimes referred to as "The Venice of the North".

All the windows from the Chocolate Shops (and there are a loooot!) look fabulous...beware!!! If you are a sweets lover (as I desperately am...), you can easily spend all your money on loads of eye catching and delicious sweets... I died there several times... :)

Yeah..we couldn't leave Bruges empty handed...

Brussels

Apart of being the administrative centre of the European Union and the capital of Belgium...Brussels means picturesque medieval streets, lively squares, beautiful boulevards, impressive monuments, spacious parks, cosy cafés, interesting restaurants and an active cultural life and (probably the same poem for all the tourists) - chocolate, waffles, beer, lace, and ...chocolate again... :)

delicious belgian waffles :)

St. Michael and Gudula Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Michel or Sint-Michiels Kathedraal) was the first thing we visited as soon as we parked the car...Inside the cathedral we heard a beautiful voice singing the mass...celestial :)

City atmosphere...

...one of the many things I like to do when I get out of the country is I buy my fave magazines at their (almost) normal price...For eg. Vogue Paris is three times more expensive in Romania to buy than in the rest of the (central or west) european countries...Thant gets on my nerves... Freakin' backward country...

spectacular Ghent

This is beautiful and unique Belgium...to be more precise the old town of Gent.

The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of northern Europe. Today it is a busy city with a port and a university.

First time in Belgiu (hope it's not gonna be the last one) we tried all the good stuff that this nation offered to the world: chocolate, french fries, beer...and so on...

I'm not a beer drinker, but I had to ty the Cherry beer at the famous Beer House...and yeah, I loved it so much that I bought some for home too :)

in a boat trip, sightseein'

The Old Post Office seen from the Sint-Michielsbrug Bridge

Gent (Ghent), Belgium

The Gravensteen is a castle in Ghent originating from the Middle Ages. The name means "castle of the count" in Dutch

Historical centre of Ghent – from left to right:

Saint-Nicholas Church, Belfry, and Saint Bavo Cathedral