Bruges and Ghent
Bruges and Ghent are two remarkably well-preserved medieval cities, and walking through their historic centres surrounded by Flemish architecture felt almost like stepping into another time. Canals, cobblestone streets, old churches and centuries-old buildings gave both cities an atmosphere that was sometimes downright mystical.
The two cities are close enough that we were able to experience them together, yet each had its own character. One thing they definitely shared was beer. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many different brands and varieties of beer anywhere else in my travels. This is Belgium, after all, and sampling a few seemed like an important cultural responsibility.
We also tried cuberdons, a traditional Belgian candy that was completely new to us. They’re small, usually purple, cone-shaped candies with a firm outer shell and a soft, sweet raspberry-flavoured centre. They were delicious!
