Rain and Hail and Ghent

Before heading to Brussels for two nights we needed to explore Ghent. We stayed in Ghent for two nights, but we had arrived late the first day and then had done a day trip to Bruges the next day. My first impression of Ghent was that it was a bicycle city. I have never seen so many bicycles in my life. We thought about honoring the bicycling tradition and renting some bicycles for the day, but the weather did not look promising. Walking in the rain, hail, and wind seemed easier than bicycling in it. 

Crowded rows of bicycles. The photo captures only about half of them. 

St Michael's Church from a bridge over the Leie River

A view down the Leie

View of St. Bavo's Cathedral down the street. We went inside, but photos were not permitted

Ghent Market Hall and Ghent Belfry 

St Nicholas' Church

An infinity-like fountain

Ghent graffiti alley

A hot Belgian waffle snack to help ward off the cold 

Yes, Belgian waffles are everywhere in Belgium. They're not just a tourist thing, they're a common snack for locals. 

Gravensteen Castle "Castle of the Counts" built in 1180

As far as we could get into the castle without paying 

The backyard of the castle had an abandoned feel

A beer store with an extensive selection 

Despite the poor weather, we made the most of sightseeing in Ghent. When we made it to our Airbnb in Brussels we located a grocery store. Armed with three frozen pizzas and three beers we settled into the warm, cozy apartment away from the elements for the night. 

Our beer sampling for the night. We had the Rochefort 8 previously, so we were interested to try the Rochefort 10. We all agreed that the 8 was better.