Day Six - Ghent, Belgium

We arose at 10:00 for breakfast at the hotel (boy, do I love how these kids like to sleep late like me!!!!). From there we made our way to the City Center of Ghent, the second largest city behind Paris from the years 1000 to 1550. The buildings, streets, bridges, and canals contain a treasure trove of medieval architecture.

We started by touring the Castle of the Counts, a medieval castle in the city center. Unlike back home in America, you can go wherever you like in this castle -- up the steep, steep, winding stones steps to the room where you can climb out onto the roof, down the slippery old stairs into the dungeon and then into the torture rooms, where instruments of torture are prominently displayed. The torturing devices were donated by the town's last official torturer to be put on display. Here you can view the guillotine, thumb press, body stretcher, and the wheel of pain.

From there we moved on the lighter things by indulging in Belgium frites and Belgium chocolate. From there, we are off to climb the Belfry to climb the tower for view of the city and to listen to the carillon. The folks working there were delightful and invited Roxie to come on up with us and also gave a shout-out to New Orleans and its rebuilding efforts.

From there we headed to S. Bavo's Cathedral, where we froze our arses off, but it was worth the freeze to see this incredible Gothic structure dating back to 1500. The remains of an earlier Romanesque church can be seen in the crypt. St. Bavo's art collection is impressive - a major work by Rubens and the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by Hubert and Jan van Eyck (1432). Next we dragged the kids (and Roxie) into St. Nicholas' Church, which was begun in the 13th century, a strikingly beautiful "Scheldt" Gothic structure.

After warming up in a pub with a pint, we head over to our restaurant destination and are in for a treat - gourmet pizza. The name is La Mystic and it is on Hoogpoort. I highly recommend it. After we attempted to find the plaque marking the building where the Treat of Ghent was negotiated and signed in 1814, ending the war of 1812. Several important figures participating in the negotiations were John Adams and Henry Clay, among others. The results of the Battle of New Orleans effected the treaty negotiations, and so, upon a suggestion by Randy, we (Rick and I) wanted to find the plaque. We were whole heartedly voted down, much to my dismay, so we headed back to the hotel. From there, I left on a run, determined to find that plaque. It took an hour and 15 minutes of jogging, but I found the plaque! It was placed there in 1964 by the Daughters of the War of 1812. The building now contains an Esprint clothing store. Hopefully I can successfully lobby for riding by there in the morning to get a picture.

Tomorrow, we go to Bruges, Belgium. We'll be back in Amsterdam tomorrow evening, so I should be able to upload pictures then.