Category: Belgium

Ghent or Gent, it’s all the same place, a really neat old city in the Flanders region of Belgium, about 40 miles east of Bruges. We arrived at the Blaarmeersen playground (stadium) amidst an international yoof  football tournament  and the place was absolutely crammed with football teams. Thankfully, Sunday, our arrival day, was the last day of the tournament  and by mid afternoon the thumping music had stopped and it was much quieter. Our chosen pitch was good, and the facilities were well maintained, though there was some road noise. Families of bunnies invaded every day…they were quite confident among us humans. Andrew’s threats of an air-rifle seemed lost in translation.

We ventured out on bikes mid afternoon to take a look at the city in the afternoon sunshine. As elsewhere in Belgium, cycling is the way to go, and it was very easy to find the city centre, where we also found a secure, covered cycle park, which was well used. Sitting outside a bar, Andrew managed to lose half his beer onto his shorts, thanks to a sudden gust of wind..as in it was a very breezy day, not a reference to Andrew’s digestion!

Talking of which, we’d arrived almost out of food…forgot the Continental “shops closed on Sundays ” convention…oops…so we found (via Google Maps) a Lidl, and we stocked up with – beer and wine (of course) and a range of other items, it’s amazing what a pannier and a rucksack can hold!

Ghent’s best kept secret is…..their Tourist Information office…we wandered, following the “i” signs…never quite finding it..eventually, we stopped for (another) beer, and asked the waiter…”under the bell tower”, says he..huh, nope, it had  been moved to the near the castle….hidden in a corner of the square…blink and you’ll miss it…we did, several times!

Overall, though, Ghent was a wonderful city to visit, it has a real buzz to it, with many interesting churches to visit (yes, a few Euros to light some candles). Some beautiful architecture to admire, and picturesque views of the old city.

Click on the photo below for more images of  Ghent.

It’s been on the Bucket List for a while, since we first saw the film…”In Bruges”, so it was an obvious destination for the Wills Belgian trip. At Camping Memling, ..Automatic Check-in! We managed it OK, just before the “Full” sign went up, phew! We bussed into Bruges a couple of times, before cycling in on the 3rd day. Had we known just how easy the bike ride was, we’d have ditched the bus sooner. It’s refreshing to see that cyclists seem to take priority over other road-users, a bit un- nerving till you get used to it!

Bruges is picture perfect, with its waterways and cobbled streets. We saw the sights, and topped it up with  a really informative  bus tour of the town..at a touristy price, but worth dipping into the budget.

The photo opposite shows the Belfort in central Bruges, click on the photo for more images

Prices were generally high in   Bruges, but we found a reasonable  set 3 course menu, where A indulged in a  bunny rabbit dish…no bunnies were harmed in making my beef casserole…and Motown was being played in the restaurant…fine by me! For a bit of culture, on our last day, it was off to  the Groeningemuseum, where there was  some very interesting art, including some Van Eyck, and the weird and wonderful Bosch. Andrew, of course, has his own take on the religious art….we did a lot of walking around, including spotting some film set locations…Bucket List ticked! I may not mention it, but in every town, I go into at least one church, and pay my Euro (max. spend)  and light a candle…A usually mutters a bit, but I have to do it!

We took the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais…then, shock horror…drove through France, to reach Belgium! Fiona managed a couple of hasty photos of the Belgium signpost…then we were on to our first non_french destination- Ypres, or Wipers, if you prefer…

We arrived at our first campsite…luckily Andrew had reserved a spot, it was getting rather busy, due to (we later found out) a huge motoring rally which was hitting town..The pitch was quite roomy, and there was a very handy pathway to the town. First stop was the Menin Gate, quite a stunning monument, both in its size, and the endless list of names on it….all those souls lost during WW1, without a “proper” grave…and all those wreaths, stating “we will never forget” and nor should we.

The photo below is of the Menin Gate, click on the photo for further images taken around Ypres.

Feeling the need for some Euros, we went on an ATM hunt….eventually finding an ING bank, which allowed us €200..woohoo…time for some drinks! In fact, we opted to eat in town..and what a great decision that was! Andrew chose the “scampi in garlic butter”….NOT yer normal deep fried scampi we find in any pub in the UK…no, these were the most succulent king prawns, in a wonderful garlic butter…A has died and gone to heaven! I had a steak, which was also very good, but it wasn’t quite as outstanding as the scampi. After a few drinks and coffee, we were ready to hit the streets and wander more.

Next day, we saw some more of Ypres, including a few hours spent at the In Flanders Field Museum in the town centre. Well, I admit, I had to escape to the Ladies for a few minutes, to wipe my tears….it was the bit where chlorine gas had been deployed, and the accounts of soldiers almost ripping the skin from their faces, in agony…..man’s inhumanity to man….just horrendous…I returned to the exhibits, and continued. Wow, what a museum that was! Well worth the entrance fee…so much has gone into showing what the Belgian people went through…

Home to camp for dinner, then out to experience The Last Post at Menin Gate….a ceremony carried out every single evening at 8pm…a kind gent from Arkansas invited me to stand in front, so I could see things better…(short arse moment) and we got chatting..he too has a Motorhome…a 40 footer! He asked if we tow a car behind our Moho…different world! The ceremony was very moving, with the Last Post, and a few people walking through to lay wreathes, to add to the many, many already there. The crowd is asked for silence, and no applause. Soon, its over and we disperse. Drinks in the main square..which will soon be filled with the Rally stands, and exhibits.

We’re off on our holidays again, with differences….a whole 4 weeks available to us, and we’re going via the Channel Tunnel instead of car ferry. (Quite a bargain, thanks to Tesco Clubcard deals) We spent the first night at Canterbury Park and Ride, here they have a Motorhome Aire..other councils, please note! Having been very impressed by the cathedrals at Winchester, and more recently York, we were keen to see how Canterbury compared. Well, we don’t know, as a.) the exterior was largely covered by scaffolding, and b.)  having arrived late afternoon, the £12.50 entrance fee didn’t seem good value..we’d only have about 30 minutes for a whistlestop tour. Unlike the aforementioned cathedrals, you can’t wander round the outside here…only  a glimpse without paying the entrance fee…so  Chaucer’s tales etc.  will have to wait for another visit. Instead, we had a lovely meal at Cote Brasserie, and did some people watching. We had a few drinks at the local (to the Park and Ride) pub in the evening, before our Eurotunnel trip next day.
Here is the best  (free ) view  of what is acclaimed as a beautiful building.