A few days away

It was our wedding anniversary last week, so we thought we'd go somewhere for a few days . . . we caught the train and four hours later we were

here . . .

. . . in Ghent, in Belgium. This is the view as we approached the city centre walking along the cobbled streets from the hotel; the three vast medieval towers rising high above the stepped gabled town houses.

The weather was cold, temperatures barely reached 3C for the whole time we were there; nor did we see the sun, clouds wrapped Flanders in a grey cloak – the colour palette was muted and subtle with accents of red tiles or green railings – like stepping into a winter scene painted by Avercamp or Bruegel.

At night the illuminated buildings looked like the points and picots of Belgium lace against the black sky and reflected in the water.

Despite the cold we walked all around the city and found lots of places to visit and things to see.

10 things to do in Ghent when it's flipping freezing!

Go to a classical concert in the breathtaking medieval hospital hall at De Bijloke.

See the Van Eyk brothers' "Lam Gots" (the Ghent Altar Piece or Mystic Lamb) in St Bavo's Cathedral

and also being cleaned in the restoration laboratory in the Museum of Fine Arts

Look at lots of cool stuff in the Design Museum

Learn stuff about all sort of stuff at MIAT

Laugh at the films of bands and drum majorettes in The House of Alijn

Have dinner at the Pakhuis

and a vegetarian gourmet banquet at Avalon

Stumble upon a lovely place for lunch

Buy a jar of mustard and a red nose.



Celia
xx