A few years ago, I had some time between leaving one job and starting a new one. I was itching to go someplace, but was planning travel at the last minute and had no one who was able to join me. Fortunately, a friend of a friend in Ghent offered to let me stay in his guest apartment.
Last minute travel can sometimes be expensive, but a little creativity may resolve that problem and add to the adventure. I was able to get a great deal on flight from NYC to London. I spent some time visiting friends and family in London before catching the EuroStar train to Belgium. The train allowed me to enjoy the views as we traveled through a bit of France before making it to Brussels where I changed trains for Ghent.
My host didn't live too far from the Gravensteen Castle so the gorgeous building served as my guide during my stay. I love architecture and history so I had plenty to explore around the city. This website does an excellent job at outlining the historic points of interest.
And the city is not limited to history buffs. There is The University and the area surrounding it is filled with interesting shops, colorful street art and interesting characters.
It is a very walkable city with plenty of places to stop and explore along the way. I am used to city life so my idea of walkable does not always find agreement. The city is also well known for bicycle travel.
Most everyone speaks English so it is a great place to visit for lazy Americans such as myself who never bothered to become fluent in any other language. Dutch is the official language and this is a pretty interesting article explaining the difference between Flemish and Dutch dialects.
OK. Let's get down to chocolate and beer. I had to sample a bit each day. Leonidas was already a favorite and their creamy milk chocolate definitely tastes even better in Belgium. I did fall in love with this shop and took my share of their chocolates home. I especially adored their dark chocolate. As for beer, I found myself stopping here and there to enjoy a beer outdoors throughout each day. This place is great for enjoying a beer and people watching with the market as a backdrop. You really cannot go wrong anywhere, but my absolute favorite stop had a very friendly bartender who made suggestions and poured me some interesting brews. I must admit, I stumbled a bit on my way out!
I am a vegetarian so sometimes finding good food while traveling can be tricky. I found a market where I picked up some fresh bread and cheese. Since I was traveling alone, I mostly snacked around rather than sitting for a formal meal. I did find this amazing place with a piano and lounge feel and the most amazing asparagus soup, but I cannot remember the name for the life of me. I can tell you that you will find Le Pain Quotidien in Belgium so if you visit the ones in the city, it is authentic.