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"July 21 in Ghent: exotic!" a Gent Travel Page by Norali

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"July 21 in Ghent: exotic!" a Gent Travel Page by Norali

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Norali    
Natural Highs Only ;-)


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Lives In: Antananarivo, MG
Member Since: Aug 11, 2002
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Page Views: 5,022            Last Visit to Gent: July, 2003      

July 21 in Ghent: exotic!

by Norali - last update: Apr 4, 2004

Ghentse feesten, Jul 21: Belgian Ind. celebration
I only had two days in Ghent in my poor life. LOL Yet, it is not far from Brussels, where I live, and it has a lot to offer. To be accurate, two days in Ghent center and one afternoon cycling in Greater Ghent, a great experience.

My first visit was guided by a local who was not that interested in cultural stuffs, more like his place, some food in a pankoeken snack. Not bad.

Yet, my second visit, July 2003, is more of my taste. Culture, discovery, beauty ... those are words that would depict the tour Dannie planned for me. Yep, she again! Therefore, you may expect something comprehensive here.

The afternoon and the evening were of different style. Fun, music, mojitos, crowd, mini-meeting... We were celebrating Belgian Independence day, July 21 by assisting the Gentse Feesten. Some off beat track stuffs made it unusual as a July 21st celebration.

More about and history of the Gentse Feesten: http://www.gentsefeesten.be/english/index.htm

.
Still hesitating.. Is it a local custom?

Statues.. sculptures

Was it a coincidence?

Apart from the beauty of this city with a past, I noticed in Ghent, more than anywhere else in Belgium, many sculptures... Not only could I admire the sculptures of local "personnages", I also saw many huge artworks, from diverse subjects, several styles, in many spots of the city. Some were weird, ones monumental, others detailed...

May I call it the statue city?

This one is near Stadpark and in front of the Fine arts museum. Look at my travelogue on sculptures to see some of those I could spot.
.
Abbey

Sint Peter abbey

I would say that this is certainly something NOT to miss in Ghent. I saw monuments, nice places, statues but the Sint- Pieters abbey has it all, for me!

A real piece of haven of peace.

Look at my travelogue to see more pictures of this abbey...

Also, I found some ways to experience cheap Ghent. Check the tips (all categories) to see possibilities to make your experience fun and cheaper than you think.

> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]

Pros:"Beautiful classical city, statues and sculptures, less touristy than "picturesque" Brugges"
In A Nutshell:"Something I like, worth the visit. Don't forget the museums crossing over till end 2006 (see my must-see activity tip)"
Norali's Gent Travel Tips

OverviewThings to Do
Tips: 2 - Photos: 2
 
Restaurants
Tips: 2 - Photos: 1
Hotels & Accommodations
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
 
Nightlife
Tips: 2 - Photos: 2
Off The Beaten Path
Tips: 12 - Photos: 12
 
Tourist TrapsWarnings Or Dangers
Tips: 4 - Photos: 4
 
Transportation
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
Local Customs
Tips: 2 - Photos: 2
 
Packing Lists
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
Shopping
 
Sports Travel
Tips: 2 - Photos: 1
General Tips
Tips: 16 - Photos: 16

Norali's Gent Travelogues
Title [Click to view]Travel YearPictures
Statues and sculptures in Sculpture cityJuly, 2003 6
StadparkJuly, 2003 7
An abbey, the first I visitedJuly, 2003 8
Gentse FeestenJuly, 2003 8

Comments for Norali about Gent
kenHuocj Mon Mar 17, 2008 20:40 UTC
 time flies, but you vivid descriptions are fresh as the kiwi ;-)))
lorino Fri Nov 18, 2005 18:36 UTC
 Thank you for sharing, I loved it Gent when I was there. Brussels, Brugge, and finally in Gent a couple days. I LOVED Belgium and hope to get back sometime soon. Visit my pages. Beautiful country and very nice people! Lori in Seattle
luckyzen Sun Nov 13, 2005 08:25 UTC
 Gosh, Gent really does look like a nice place to visit. Thank you for sharing.....from Cape Town.
hundwalder Sat Jun 18, 2005 17:40 UTC
 Excellent tips and photos of Ghent. They make me want to return for a longer visit.
See More Comments

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