Ghent, Belgium - Fall 2019

 It's October 31, Halloween when we took the train from Bruges to Ghent for a day trip. It's nice to travel light without suitcase! Only half an hour later, we arrived at Ghent central station. We took local public transportation to the city center. When we got off the tram, we saw a charming little "Morocco" coffee shop with attractive variety of sweets displayed on the window. We couldn't help but going in. The Moroccan shopkeeper was glad to have us, the American tourists for his customers. He had fun practicing his English with us. We had some delicious coffee and sweets for a midday break.

In the Fez!.

A popular McDonald's in city center- college students in costumes hanging out.

Like Bruges, Ghent is known for its beautiful canals and quays. It is the third largest city in Belgium after Brussels and Antwerp. Just one block from the tram stop, we arrived at the edge of the historical center. The city has a well-preserved medieval architecture and numerous historic churches and buildings. 

Main street in the historic center

The canal view of quay Graslei 

Saint Nicholas' Church and the Belfry dominate the historic center

The prominent St. Nicholas Church

Inside St. Nicholas Church

The Belfry of Ghent

Saint Bavo's Cathedral and view of the Belfry

It was a beautiful sunny day. We enjoyed our take-out lunch in the park and later a leisure stroll to St. Bavo Square nearby. Our next stop was to visit St. Bavo's Cathedral to view the magnificent paintings, the Altarpiece's Lamb of God which is prominently displayed inside the Cathedral.

 

A Grand Theater in the Saint Bavo Square

Saint Bavo Square 

Entrance to the St. Bavo's Cathedral

The famous Altarpiece's Lamb of God

The Ghent Altarpiece's "Lamb of God" paintings

Inside Saint Bavo's Cathedral

Beautiful stained glass windows in St. Bavo's Cathedral

It's an enjoyable walk around the Vrijdagmarkt Square. The Graslei over the river Leie is one of the most scenic places in the historic city center to view the splendid architecture along the old harbor. 
  

Charming restaurants in the old square

Cobblestone streets

Graffiti Alley

Wall-Art

Quay Korenlei

Gravensteen Castle (Castle of the Counts)

                                                                   Charming view of the canal

Picturesque canal

The Graslei quay and the Leie river 

A renovated restaurant from an old Food Hall

The local delicacies are the praline chocolates and the cuberdons, cone-shaped purple jelly-filled candies.

Popular cuberdon street vendor