Strategically placed?

But maybe not universally accessible, and definitely too high for me to reach.

a Happyface goes 2 ways

Trien

"Tring!Tring!", thank you for the Belgium Train experience

Behind Bars

I planned to take a day trip out of Ghent. After weighing many options, I finally chose to visit to a Pop Art Exhibition in Hasselt taking place in a very special location.

(Bezoekzaal or Visitor's Room; Infirmerie or Patient Infirmary)

After all, it is not everyday that I will have the opportunity to visit a Belgium Jail where prisoner cells are transformed into creative spaces for artists.

including an attic venue for live Belgian music.

Design Museum Ghent

Not only is the Design museum in Ghent interesting because of their art nouveau and art deco exhibitions, it also has a unique courtyard...

...and a passageway to washroom facilities designed such that the world around can see where you are going

Double Vision

1 of 3 towers

St. Bavo's Catherdral

The old city of Ghent revolves around Three Towers: St. Nicholas' Church, the Belfry, and St. Bavo's Cathedral. (website)

Guild Houses

The Leie canal

a closer view

even closer

Detailed facades of medieval guild houses on Grasleistraat

History:

During the 14th century in Ghent, artisans or craftsmen gained prestige and hence were organized into guilds. These associations were developed for the organization of labour as well as to function as real political associations with a voice in the city's policy. As a group, the guild members were not only part of the municipal militia, they also went to church as a group, participated in processions, and welcomed rulers. They had their own guild houses, their chapels, dedicated to the patron saint of their profession, and even their own hospitals for sick and old members and their widows.(source)

A New Life

NEWS FLASH: After an infection of a number of Trojan viruses on my laptop and an operating system seriously jeopardized, I am pleased to announce that my computer has been reborn!

Everything was recovered but only because I had done a full backup of programs and files on a separate external harddrive before I started on my journey. I strongly urge anyone with a computer system to do the same.

Special thanks to Shailoh for introducing me to Jago, to Jago for connecting me to Roeland, and to Roeland for getting the job done in less than 4 hours!

Freedom

In Ghent, I had the freedom to explore and discover the beauty of the city by my favorite means fo transportation, a bicycle! Thank you to Lynn and Caroline.

Belgium June 13 - 16

On the train from Brugge to Hasselt

Belgium, such a small country and thus easy to get around. I decided to base myself out of Ghent for 3 nights and take day trips to Brugge, Antwerpen or Brussels. Instead, I spent one day in Ghent, one day in Hasselt and one dinner in Brugge. Yes, I can confirm that the major cities in Northern Belgium is definitely easy to visit. You just have to sit on the train, run to catch connection and occassionally miss your stop.