From Brussels we rode the train an hour north to Ghent, Belgium, and checked into the Carlton Hotel near the train station. Ghent, or Gent as they spell it here, is charming. This is where the Scheldt and Leie rivers join and in past centuries Gent was a powerful trading center in Europe. It is amazing the number of huge stone and brick buildings dating back hundreds of years which still survive and are used today.
Our highlights from our time in Gent included a visit to the mammoth St. Bavo’s Cathedral, climbing to the top of the Belfry to get a birds eye view of the city, and meandering through cobblestone streets with centuries of history and memories. After a late lunch we took a leisurely boat ride through the canals and appreciated hearing stories of the importance of the city in the past and present.
We especially enjoyed our stay at the Carlton Hotel which was marvelous. Two brothers purchased this twenty-four room hotel in 2012 and their small hotel epitomizes exceptional service and hospitality. Their cook-to-order breakfast alone was worth the trip to Gent. The hotel has a very small elevator and we had to chuckle when two older Dutch folks and their little dog joined us for a trip downstairs. Suffice it to say that we were very cozy but our smiles and good attitudes transcended the language barrier.
The first half of this trip we are using a five-days Eurorail pass to get from Brussels to Gent, then to Bruges followed by Delft, and then onto Amsterdam and Frankfurt. The amount of bicycle and public transportation used here is impressive and far exceeds anything we have seen in the U.S.
Our trip is going well and we’re looking forward to experiencing the glories of Bruge at our next stop.
