ED IN EUROPE

Part 2 - Ghent, Belgium

Ed & Hans at the 12th century  Gravensteen Castle, Ghent, Belgium

In Belgium, we took a train to Ghent and met the leader of our "Competitour."

Note: I've received no remuneration from "Competitours," nor was I asked to write about them.)

Very loosely based on TV's "Amazing Race," 20 folks in 10 teams compete in a variety of pre-arranged 'Challenges' over 10-days. ...Details at  Competitours.com 

Unlike the TV show, there are no eliminations and the competition is much friendlier. Like the show, upon signing up we did NOT know in advance where we were headed; only the beginning and ending points (Brussels and Venice).

In Ghent, we found ourselves in a Medieval festival centered at Gravensteen Castle (above). We met costumed characters and toured the "Torture Museum"(!) where we saw a real 'Iron Maiden', a Guillotine and a Rack, plus other stuff we don't even want to describe.

We did our first day's Challenges, viz. A 'Scavenger Hunt'!

1st) ...Find a cafe serving a food illegal in US. Turns out it's a sausage made with horsemeat... didn't taste that bad.

2nd)  Find a pub serving Belgian beer in a glass requiring drinker to give a shoe as a deposit! They put all the shoes in a basket suspended from the ceiling...

The beer was really good, according to Hans (Were his tastebuds distorted from horsemeat?)

"By the way #1" while in Ghent--  We checked about seeing the famed "Ghent Altarpiece" at the local cathedral. Turns out the church displays a facsimile in the sanctuary; the real item is locked away, seen only by paying for a pricey ticket!  We passed...

The Ghent Altarpiece was featured in recent George Clooney Film,  "Monuments Men."

 "By the way #2, while in Ghent--  Hans saw this in the window of a used bookstore. He considered buying it as a self-help book for his career.  ;)

...but passed it up, instead taking this photo.

Check back soon!  We'll keep adding stuff about the trip  ...Next: Belgian chocolate and Fencing duels.

---Ed