Recommend September 2011 - (Page 56)

Afternoon—Day 2 For lunch, try some of the beer food at Dulle Griet, a popular beer bar that serves up a variety of typical beer food such as sausages, cheeses, chicken wings and salami. But the real reason for stopping here is a try at the Maxi Kwak beer that’s served in a large coachmen’s glass. But to get it, you have to give the waiter one of your shoes which is put in a basket and hauled up to the ceiling and you won’t get it back until you’ve finished your beer and returned your glass. After lunch, go to St. Bavo’s Cathedral for a visit to see the priceless religious art on view there and then take advantage of a photo opportunity at the nearby Belfry where you can climb up 44 steps and get a wonderful view of the city and a great panoramic photo. Evening—Day 2 Tonight, take advantage of a Ghent Walking Tour by night and see the wonderfully beautiful lighting the city has designed and developed, showcasing all the magnificent historic buildings lit up in the evening. You can also take a boat tour by night. Later, head over to the Bord’eau brasserie, which is quite popular (reservations recommended) and offers stunning views of the canal. l 48 HOURS IN GHENT Continued of the poor.” Due to the natural additions that have occurred over the centuries, today the building is quite unique and beautiful. End the afternoon with some museum visits and start with the STAM City Museum located at the historic Bijloke site, a green oasis close to the city-center, where for seven centuries the sick were cared for, but then a quarter of a century ago the hospital vacated, making way for a number of departments of the local university. Visitors follow a chronological trail of objects and multimedia that trace the development and growth of Ghent. Evening—Day 1 For a home-cooked meal try Restaurant De Avonden. For after dinner drink a good choice is the ‘t Galgenhuisje (The Gallows House), one of the oldest and smallest pubs in town. The bar is supposedly housed in the former gallows house dating from the 16th century, with a restaurant in the cellar, holding cells for the condemned. It’s very rustic with old exposed timbers, witches hanging from the ceiling, some tin beer signs, paper money of all nationalities and denominations stapled to the walls behind the bar and Flemish phrases painted on the timbers. Later, go over to ‘t Dreupelkot, a popular bar that produces its own jenever (Belgian gin) in a multitude of different flavors, including vanilla and chocolate. The bar is run by Pol, the boss, one of the most perceptive experts on jenever in Belgium, since he put together some of the 200 varieties on offer. St. Bavo’s Cathedral The massive Sint-Baafskathedraal Cathedral, which everyone—for obvious reasons—refers to as St. Bavo’s, dominates the square where the city of Ghent began. The original St. Bavo’s was a wooden church dating back to 942, replaced in 1038 with a Romanesque church, parts of which still survive in the present-day crypt, the burial place of St. John, decorated with thousand-year-old murals. The current, massive cathedral was built in the 14th and 15th centuries in the Gothic style, but the real draw here is the wealth of religious art contained within. In the interior, the massive Baroque pulpit is made of white marble and oak in a design reminiscent of Bernini, while the Baroque organ that was installed in 1653, is the largest in the Low Countries. And, in the chapel behind the high altar is the recently restored “Conversion of St. Bavo” painted by Rubens in 1624. But without a doubt, the most important work of art in the Cathedral is the 24-panel altarpiece titled, “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb,” painted by Hubert and Jan van Eyck and consecrated for this chapel on May 3, 1432. Currently being renovated by art experts from the Getty Museum, the beautiful oil painting is considered an important part of art history because of its increased emphasis on realism in both portraits and landscapes. Morning—Day 2 Start at Graslei & Korenlei, where Ghent’s wharf once stood and where today you’ll find the imposing Marriott overlooking the canal and dock, which was once, by the way, a thriving brothel thanks to its proximity to the wharf and the arriving sailors. Here, too, you can take one of the boat tours, which will take you around to all the city sights. Hop off the boat at the jetty at the rear of St. Pietersplein for a visit to S.M.A.K. Museum, the museum of contemporary art. It’s located opposite the Museum of Fine Arts and the two museums now form an artistic haven in a city park located on the outskirts of Ghent. Also, make a visit to the Design Museum of Ghent, with an outstanding collection that includes 17th and 18th century furnishings, as well as Art Nouveau pieces, complemented by objects from the 70s and 80s. F14 / www.visitflanders.us http://www.visitflanders.us

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Abercrombie & Kent
Sunset Key Guest Cottages, Key West
Can't Get Enough of Jupiter Beach, Florida
Hanging Out in the Outer Banks
Aloha to Families in Hawaii's Resorts
Cruise Stockholm
Galapagos Islands- Cruising 101: Back to Basics
The Ultimate Family Adventure in Costa Rica
Flanders Travel Planner
Fabulous Family Voyages
China: A Wonderland for Kids
India: Pure Wonderment
An African Adventure
Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa, D.R.
The Bahamas: Islands of Adventure
Cayman Islands: A Home Away from Home
Mazatlan Reinvigorated
CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort

Recommend September 2011