A week in Belgium.
I’m not sure when Belgium first showed up on my radar. It may have been the moules frites I had at a Belgian restaurant in NYC with a Trappist monk theme, or the movie In Bruges, but it’s a place that had been low-key on my mind for a little while.
I’ve also fallen into a pattern of visiting Europe for a week on my way back to the States from Africa, and this time was no different, having just finished three months in southern Africa, of which my time in Namibia stands out.
Belgium also seemed like a perfect place to spend a month. I could visit the main cities without feeling overly rushed; the distances weren’t great, and the long days proved to allow for extended viewing hours.
27 July – 3 August 2024
1.
Arrival and a Sunday in Bruges.
After the months in Africa, it’s almost a shock to arrive at the Brussels airport and navigate the transport system.
2.
A few more days in Bruges.
I spend a lovely few days in Bruges, exploring the city when I can. It’s not quite what I had expected, a hazy memory of the film In Bruges not enough to give me a solid picture of what the city is like.
3.
Two days in Ghent.
It’s an early morning. I’m taking a morning train from Bruges to Ghent so I can explore the city before settling down for the afternoon.
4.
24 hours in Brussels.
I wake up to a grey morning in Ghent. The towers and spires are almost completely veiled, emerging slowly as the sun rises.
5.
A day in Antwerp.
I met Alain and Lucy in Namibia. We were heading in opposite directions; they were at the end of their trip, mine was just beginning.