The stunning town hidden by Belgians - Ghent, Belgium 🇧🇪

Continuing from the previous episode, it only takes one hour by train from Brussels to Ghent. It is obvious that there are not as many crowds of people as in Brussels, and most of the people on the streets are local residents. The hotel I booked is next to the Ghent Belfry. The whole city is not big, and you can walk to the main attractions near the Belfry 🚶‍♀️. Stayed in Ghent for two days. Arrived in the afternoon of the first day and strolled around the streets. Had dinner at a steakhouse with good ratings (picture 18). Although Ghent is small, the nightlife is quite rich. After dinner, it was already past 11 o'clock. I thought the streets should be deserted, but when I walked to the old fish market, I found that several small pubs around were brightly lit and almost full. Surrounded by the lively atmosphere, I couldn't help but have two more drinks. Did you find the Easter egg? The top of the old fish market is a statue of Poseidon, the sea king (picture 13). This used to be a market for selling seafood, but now it has been transformed into a gathering place for small pubs. 🕒Time has come to the second day. Itinerary: Count's Castle ➡️ Ghent Belfry ➡️ Saint Michael's Bridge ➡️ Saint Bavo's Cathedral ➡️ Saint Nicholas' Church ➡️ Canal boat ride on the Graslei ➡️ Departure to the next destination. I plan to visit from far to near, so I choose the farthest attraction, Count's Castle, as the starting point on the whole route (in fact, it only takes a 25-minute walk from the bell tower). Count's Castle was the residence of the Count of Flanders, built in the 9th century, and was later transformed into a court and prison after being abandoned. It was later purchased and restored by the city of Ghent, and now it has become the main attraction for tourists. The castle has a large open area, with many green plants in the courtyard, but what impressed me the most were the dark restored paintings in the castle and the WC on the moat (Figure 16). Due to the special structure (the moat is just below the hole), it is no wonder that documentaries mentioned that there were assassins who specifically attacked nobles through the toilet hole while they were using the toilet (use your imagination). After leaving the castle, it was already mealtime. Not very hungry due to eating too much the night before, I went to check in at this place that is famous for its Michelin fries. I ordered the signature beer-braised beef sauce, every bite full of sauce and tender shredded beef, the sauce was also very rich, and I even caught a very handsome staff member! The next attraction is the Belfry of Ghent, which is also the best viewpoint overlooking the entire city (picture 1⃣️). It takes half an hour to climb the stairs, and you can enjoy the view for 5 minutes before climbing back down. The rest of the itinerary is a relatively relaxed church tour. The Saint Michael's Bridge itself is nothing special, but standing on the bridge, you can see the three major attractions in the same frame, which is a great shooting location. On the way, I randomly entered a chocolate shop. The chocolates here are mostly sold by weight. Because I wanted to try more flavors, I basically tried every flavor once. I filled a box for less than 20 euros, and there were no disappointments. Every flavor was delicious! After visiting the main attractions and it was only 4pm, with plenty of time and clear weather, we decided to take a boat ride on the Vanilla Riverbank. The boats here are privately operated, and you can see boat owners soliciting business along the riverbank. The captain will explain the buildings along the way while driving the boat, and the explanation is available in English or French. Even if you just want to take a leisurely sightseeing tour, it won't affect the experience, after all, sitting on the boat and enjoying the breeze and sun is already very pleasant~ Ghent is a small town that I want to keep to myself, but I can't bear to see it underestimated. If you're visiting Belgium, make sure to include it in your itinerary if you have enough time! After getting ashore, hurry to the train station and head to the next stop. Let's go! "Creating is not easy, if you like it, please support the author with a click, and watch the world with Feimei Zhang." 🌟Tip Most attractions here offer discounts for EU student card holders. Count's Castle Address: Sint-Veerleplein 11, 9000 Gent, Belgium 🎫: 12 euros Ghent Belfry Address: Sint-Baafsplein, 9000 Gent 🎫: 9 euros Vanilla Riverbank Cruise 🎫: 15 euros Dinner steak at Centre Ville. Address: Botermarkt 4, 9000 Gent Per person: 50 euros 🍟: Frites Atelier | Gent Address: Groentenmarkt 20, 9000 Gent Per person: 10 euros Small tavern: 't Galgenhuis Address: Groentenmarkt 5, 9000 Gent Per person: 20 euros Chocolate shop: Chocolaterie Luc Van Hoorebeke Address: Sint-Baafsplein 15, 9000 Gent Per person: 20 euros