Heavenly Snails

This weekend in Paris, my friend Aurelien got a restaurant recommendation from one of his friends who is a restaurant reviewer in the city. Hence, we ended up going to an incredible yet reasonably affordable restaurant (at about $30/plate). The escargot here is one of the best dishes I have ever tried. The sauce, called Persillade (or beurre d'ail), was simple but unbelievable. The texture of the escargot was like a perfect shrimp with even less crunch. All for a cool 1 euro per snail. Stewed snails here in Gent just don't compare. Chalk one up for the inflated reputation of French food.

Amsterdam

I met Dennis and his brother in Amsterdam in September for a few days before classes began. Pretty much, it seems like Gent on steroids. More canals, more bicycles and bicycle lanes, more small bridges, more flowers, more red lights, more cafes, and less laws. But also less good beer. Only a cool 2 hours from Gent with the high speed link from Antwerp-Amsterdam. Definitely a very beautiful city.




Warning: Renter must enjoy claustrophobia:


Bicycle dominos:

A car small enough to use the bicycle lanes. Enough space to fit your foldable grocery cart outside the vehicle on the storage rack:

Can't pass through Amsterdam without people watching in the red light district:

Belgian Practicality

When you are a country that drinks a LOT of beer, it requires practical solutions to letting go of all that liquid in places other than the closest wall or gutter. Behold, the quick-access public male urinals, scattered in discrete locations all over Gent. No longer must you get a whiff of yellow whilst on your Sunday stroll. The best part: you musn't suspend your conversation while you conduct your business. Women may try to use them, but alas, it is not advisable.



The approach applies equally for festivals. Except they go for super quick access, with no barriers surrounding the urinals. Efficiency:

Kortrijk

This is a small city (75k) 30 minutes by train from Gent near the border with France. Very close to where Brecht grew up. Still, it manages to have 3 impressive cathedrals, a canal with ancient bridges and towers, a pedestrianized center, and enough medieval and historic things to see for a few hours walk. Known for being the site of a battle in 1302 when the Flemish rose up successfully against annexation by the French.

Fall is here, Mark plays with leaves:


Just your average furnishing for the interior of a church: