"Ghent" Gent by JohnniOmani

Ghent, Belgium was discovered by accident due to traveling through the city in the middle of the night. While driving through the area during the night I was struck by how traditional European the city looked not to mention how the place was so centralized. I got the train from Brussels to Ghent and it was a great decision on my part. Ghent reminded me a lot of Amsterdam with its canals and waterways but more quiet and peaceful. Ghent has the typical Belgian architecture and it had a great feel, it had some beautiful churches and the city was full of local elementary students doing school educational tours. There were hardly any backpackers and after spending some time in Amsterdam, Ghent was the perfect get away. I stayed in a hostel/hotel for 35 euros a night(Hotel Draeke) and it was a class place. There were not many options for budget hostels in Ghent but the city is worth the extra effort. The hostel was nice and the manager even looked like my buddy shaggy from Canada. The roads and avenues were lined with cobble stones and small Belgian homes. The bar scene is typical of France as there are no night clubs but relaxing outdoor pubs. I relaxed while drinking some local Belgian beverages by the canal and bridges in the city center only to find people playing chess in many of the bars. Overall, Ghent was a beautiful little city and I would love to visit it again in the near future.

• Pros:Buildings and local people
• Cons:None
• In a nutshell:Favorite place in Belgium