summer summer summer

Quick last recap before the start of my Aussie adventures part2

My European summer started out pretty good. Everything was going as good as I could've hoped for. Within a week I had a place to live in my beloved Ghent, within another week I got a job with great colleagues and I had reunited with all my loved ones. 

I had just over a month to finish and perfect my dissertation, which I did. And I could not have been prouder of the result. After all the stress of finishing my dissertation I escaped life for a short city trip to the beautiful city of Prague.

Phara, July 2018

One day I might write a post good enough for this beautiful city. because it really is a gem. But for now I hope to spark something within you to go and experience it for yourself.

You can't miss the beauty of this wonderfull city. There are so many places to see and things to eat. Easy to walk around and get lost for days in the small ancient streets, up to the castle or to the other side of town to the memorial hill. Something new to see, experience and eat around every corner. 

Vítkov memorial hill view

Castle hill vineyard

We only spend a couple of days here at the end of June, but we absolutely loved it and I would love to go back and explore the city even more. 
Sleeping in the many parks along the river, walking far and wide for the best views of the city and eating in small alley ways was great to start off our European summer!

famous 'dancing house'

Vítkov memorial 

picturesque old town

View over old town from the astronomical clock
with the national memorial on Vítkov in the back

Ghent, summer of 2018

Two weeks after Praha we booked our flights to Melbourne, Australia. Finally. I was going back.

But first, I still had to finish my degree. obviously. 

So my last European summer I spent living quite a good life, finally in the city centre with a good job, my friends and loved ones close, exploring ever more corners of the beautiful city of Ghent. 

Nature reserve, 'Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen' just a
10min bike ride out of the city

Castle of the counts on a beautiful summers day

day break at work on the Korenmarkt

Another couple weeks of hell survived and I finally, FINALLY got message that my three years of hard hard work had paid off and that I would officially be graduated about a week before my departure for Australia.

Edinburgh, September 2018

Off we went to Edinburgh, my brother, two sisters and myself. Off to our very first all sibling adventure!

Edinburgh is such a beautiful city, again a great European getaway. We were only there for a couple of days again but managed to get the most out of our time nonetheless (considering my oldest sister was highly pregnant at the time lol)

Ancient buildings woven in between so many parks, I love discovering and exploring these kind of places around the world. Plus it reminds me you don't always have to go far and wide to find great travel destinations !

Pretty chilly as summer draws to an end quite a bit sooner as in the south of Europe we still had great weather, always in for treats, coffees or lunch at the right times to avoid the showers.
Also very exciting was that I met up with a friend from Costa Rica here aswel! Which was super fun to see and catch up with her again. So great full for the people I'm meeting and reuniting with around the world. 

Arthurs seat is just a walk out of the city, a decent walk up is rewarded
with absolutely magnificent views all round.

I spend my last week in Belgium moving my stuff from my place in Ghent to my moms house across the country and then organising all my stuff at home. Sorting out what I wanted to take with me, what I wanted to keep and what I wouldn't need anymore at all.
Spending time with friends and family, trying to have seen everyone before my one way departure to the other side of the world.

Excitement building, I couldn't have been more ready to go back.

Today I'm almost 4 months into my adventure and so much has happened. can't wait to finally start filling you in on all the weird and wonderful moments I've had here.

xoxo Liz

a glimps of Ghent

Because I've lived in the beautiful city of Ghent for almost a year now, I decided to write a bit about it, as it definitely is part of my world adventures.

Now, there is a lot to see in and around the city but I'll take you on a one-day trip through Ghent.




Start off your day with a big brekkie (or brunch for all yous who can't get out of bed early) at the Pain Quotidien, in the beautiful historic building 'De Post' on the Korenmarkt just across of the square from the Sint-Niklaas church.

The first Pain Quotidien opend in Brussels in 1990, today the chain has more than 200 locations on 5 continents!

Go to lepainquotidien.be/en/our-philosophy/ and learn the story behind this wonderful place.

(Not sure what to chose? I'd recommend the Angler Brunch if you're in for a big brekkie.

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Ghent has a lot of historic sites including the Sint-Niklaas church, the Belfry (Belfort) and the Saint Bavo Cathedral (Sint Baafs). These three medieval towers the old city centre, where you will be heading after breakfast.
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Follow the Leie north across the Graslei, where you'll find plenty little boat companies on your left and nice cafes and restaurants on your right overlooking the river,  straight ahead through the cobbled street lined with some more restaurants and cafes, the Pensmarkt and over the groentenmarkt where you take a left across the water to find yourself on the Saint Pharaildis square (Sint Veerle plein) dominated by the great Castle of the Counts on the northern side.

This impressive fortress was built in the early 11th century like you see it now standing tall before you. Head across the square and through the massive entrance, once inside the main courtyard simply follow the signs and numbers up the stairs directly on your right to guide you through and around the Fortress. 

It started out, almost entirely out of wood. Funnily enough. The count of Flanders was the first to fortify the place by building a medieval bastion on the high sand dune as early as 918. 

It wasn't until the 11th century that the central wooden building was replaced by the stone residence.

The ‘Gravensteen’ as you can visit it now has been open to the public since 1907 after restoration.

For more, accurate, history/prices/opening hours/... of the site please go to following link to find the official website. Castle of the Counts, Hart of historic Ghent!

After all that historical wandering grab a bagel at one of the many bagel-bars, such as a cute place on Kramersplein (just behind Sint Pieters plein) in a hipster-y shop with bagels to die for @Bar Jan Creemer or @Jackie's Baglebar which is just a short 15 min walk across the city from the Castle of the Counts where you’ll find plenty of choice in bagels, cupcakes and donuts.

With your tummy full of bagels, donuts and cupcakes from Jackies take a strole by the waterside to the Vooruit, a vibrant arts centre as well as a significant meeting place which is practically around the corner from Jackie’s.

The 100-year old building houses four stages, four studios and a large café. Check the site to see if you can pitch in with a guided tour of this official historical landmark! (vooruit.be/en/) 

Follow your feet south on the Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat passing the Rectorate and university forum (UFO) of Ghent University on your left just after the Vooruit. 

Feeling peckish already?  Take a pit-stop @Mayana chocolate bar a small heaven on earth place for everyone who loves chocolate! 

(Don't know what to chose? the ice creams are delicious! <<<----)

Keeping heading south for another 300m to find yourself on St Peter's square and thus near the entrance of his Abbey, the St Peter’s Abbey. Find your way through the buildings and beautiful gardens and learn all about the history or just enjoy this calm green oasis in the middle of the city from the vineyard or orchid garden.

Fun fact: Did you know that the manuscripts from the St. Peter's Abbey's library contained a curse until the twelfth century? In Latin it says, 'This book belongs to the St. Peter's Abbey in Ghent, bless those who keep it, curse those who take it away. Anyone who tears out or rips a page, be under the Church's ban.'

Find more on sintpietersabdij.stad.gent/en !

After al long sight-seeing day make your way to Frituur Zorro or De Frietketel for some real upper class Belgian fries and take a final stroll next to Ghent's water banks flowing all throughout the city as if you were in Venice.

There is so much more to do (and eat!) in this beautiful city, I would certainly recommend staying at least a full weekend if not more. Trust me. It will be worth it! 

It may not be as worldly famous as Bruges but it's just as beautiful and picturesque (if not more ;) ).

Up next is Dublin and Berlin for a couple of days each! I'll be back soon with more worldly adventures. Oh and a foodie post!!

until next time,

xoxo Lizzie