Visiting Belgium Coast Friendship Force

Ghent's water front

We left Cologne on the 11 AM train and even though there is a train strike, the German Railway decided to run its "international" destination trains.  So, off we went and arrived in Oostende, a beautiful Belgian port city on the North Sea.  Since it was dinner time, the club had a lovely pot luck for us all at the home of their president, Marie Paule Blonde.  I tried a cherry beer that

President, Marie Paule

tasted more like soda than beer with a little zing - very good.  Beer is their national drink and even the ladies indulge liberally.  Our host, Roger Longhorn, took us to his home and set us up in a nice bedroom with a private bath.  He's an American from Iowa married to Flo, who is a resident of the UK.  They've lived in Europe almost 39 years in different countries (UK, Luxembourg, and of course, Belgium). 

Today we had a wonderful time touring the medieval city of Ghent.  It became wealthy from the textile and grain trades and for a time, was one of the biggest cities in Europe.  During this prosperous time, it erected ornate houses and grand churches. 

Joanne with Renate demonstrating Ghent candy noses

Eventually, its fortunes fell, but today it is a thriving city and is home to Belgium's biggest university.  One of the club's members, Arlette, is a professional tour guide.  She took us on a fantastic walking tour and covered the highlights - The Church of St Nicholas, the Belfy (with a dragon rather than a cross on top!), and a renown altar piece, Van Eychk's Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (circa 1432).  The day finished with a guided boat tour along the city's canals and sampling a Belgian waffle. 

Belgian waffle with ice cream

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