Belgium

I absolutely fell in love with Belgium. It was such a storybook place. Villages with thatched roofs and beautiful cottages. There was an old world look and feel to Belgium. Not in a backward way, don't get me wrong. I mean there was a pride and so much care for every building and all of their history. I've heard an expression that Belgium is the "Capitol" of Europe. It feels like that. Maybe it was the striking difference of going from France to Belgium, but they are more than different countries. It was like a different world. When people travel, they want to see Paris or they talk of Italy. But, no one should claim to visit Europe unless they have experienced Belgium. I know it's been over 40 years, but I am sure I could still recommend it highly. Just about everyone speaks two to four languages. They made every effort to be garcious and friendly.

Gent (or Ghent or Gant) is a port city on the North Sea. Close to the Netherlands. It sits where two rivers come together and Gent has waterways or canels all through town. In fact, in much of the "old city"cars are restricted. Old city Gent is full of Gothic style buildings, (forget what you know of "Goth" children) that are ornate and neatly kept. Among them is a Belfry or Bell Tower with several different kinds of bells. It must have been four or five stories high. They have big bells that warn of fires or something to make the people gather. Then there were the carillon bells that rang every 15 minutes and set a joyous tone that reflected in the people. Not a sharp ring, but the music of carillon bells. We didn't go into the Belfry, but I've seen papers that tell of a huge music box like drum that rotates with pins to make the music. So many European Churches and bell towers announce the time and ring joyously in their cities and towns. I loved it.

And, we must not forget the Belgium Chocolate. Or European pastries and baked goods. Everything tasted so good. Our time in Belgium was relaxed and fun. I'm not much for shopping, but I enjoyed their shops too. I bought a toy for J, and started a trend. He got a new toy in each country we visited after that. Those little animals or people who are connected by string and when you push the bottom of the platform they stand on, they collapse. Only to spring back into shape when you release the pressure. After all these years, I still have some of them. I also have a mug shaped like a chubby, smiling mans face that still has the "Gent, Belgium" stamp on the bottom. He looks like the happy people I remember.

Belgium is small, but we took our time traveling from Gent to Brussel, (Bruxelles) on the Senne River. We didn't hurry through any part of Belgium. Even after these 41 years, I have many impressions, but not enough details. Except for one special meal.

The food was all good, but there is one meal that I still remember in detail. The waiter was very helpful, but didn't have a translation for a sauce served on ham. I've never been afraid to try something new, and I ordered the ham without knowing what was on it. When it came, the sauce was a pretty dark brown and smooth except for the raisins in it. Then when I bit into the first raisin, it was gritty and had an odd flavor for a raisin. I ate several more of them before I was able to figure out that the the raisins were actually snails. They made a pretty good sauce on the ham. Eating strange food in a foreign country is part of the adventure. I wonder what the people of Brussel would think of being connected in my memory with snails. Probably amused.