Firstly, everything in Belgium is repeated in different languages. Great for assisting your multilingual ability but in the case of place names it does get confusing. I wonder how much of the GDP is wasted simply in the physical production of multiple languages on every sign, window, announcement, subtitle, office, business card and shopping docket. Hmm, maybe it increases the GDP? Perhaps Australia would have a larger economy if it was bilingual?...hmm, scary.
Let's move on to nicer things:
1) Door handles - I've spotted quite a few really cool door handles just up and down the street that I'm staying on. Venice has interesting door handles and doors in general but these ones here in Gent are funky.
2) Fish-scale buildings - Many buildings here have this diamond-shaped cladding on the walls which is the perfect grey colour to make me think of fish scales, and giant fish sticking out of the ground, every time I see them.
3) Mobile phone companies - Every time I check my phone there's the name "PROXIMUS" or "BASE" on it. Unfortunately neither of them will let me receive text messages from Ali or send them to her.
4) General Belgian organisedness - This isn't exclusive to Belgium but after a spell in Italy it's great to be in a country where stuff works and is organised to work. Perhaps it's a little too organised, but there are bike lanes everywhere, as well as footpaths, and when you have to cross the road there are separate sets of lights for people, bikes and cars. Also a result of being in Italy, I'm not letting myself get too comfortable around crosswalks - I know they'll mean nothing again when I get back there. The final great thing about Belgian organisedness is the pissoir - I think Paris is more famous for them but they are much more useful in Belgium on account of all the great beer there is to drink - very handy, solar powered (really) and located in handy places like main thoroughfares and the drinking parts of the city.
Yesterday I went on a daytrip to Brugge, and I've been around Gent pretty well in the last week but that's all that I'll see of Belgium - on Saturday I'll train straight back to the airport without time for Brussels. Didn't get a chance to go cycling either - but at least I tried out a Belgian climbing wall (Ironically, they're higher here than in Venice). Gent is a really beautiful town with a bit of everything - medieval wonders and nightlife and shops and musea and plenty of good pubs and restaurants - on top of the usual Belgian highlights of beer and chocolate. I agree with Eric that there's a lot of good things to visit in Belgium, and I'm happy to have left some for next time.
Ciao, Paul.
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