The Gent Days
The move to Gent
€7.40 is all that it cost us to complete this journey using a splendid Belgian Rail pass. Anywhere in the country for this price. Why do we get ripped off so much in public transport in the UK?
Tram 4 from Gent St Pieters to Kornmaarkt is what the Tin-Tinerary showed. Tram 4 went all round the houses then dropped us off well short of our destination. We soon found out why: we had arrived at the peak of the Gent Fest. What Gent Fest? There was a stage at the front of St Baafs Kathedral. We were staying across the street, a late night was called for.
Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant
The Waterhuis and Hopduvel are two of the four pubs Hector has set foot in at Gent, these were the attractions. There was the lovely glass of Kriek last April during our Dunkirk-like retreat from Europe due to a certain Icelandic volcano. Tonight, I would spend my first night in Gent.
With the hotel rituals completed we assembled at the Waterhuis, having made our way through the throng crowding the streets. A jazz outfit were playing at the doorway, good, and more chance of a seat inside. The lovely Kathleen served us at the bar in front of the bar, a great arrangement. She despaired somewhat that we ordered and paid for our drinks separately, but then we might not all have been together. Oh, the t-shirts tend to give it away…
The place was mobbed, we slowly mustered two adjacent tables and so the party was underway. Barbar Blond and Gandavum were the Biers of choice.
Then something happened that one cannot make up. Jonathan was seen in conversation with a young enthusiast, Jeff turned out to be the Brewer at Steen Brugge. We introduced ourselves, photos were taken and he then insisted in buying us Bier, three rounds he put up – ten Biers at a time. The Waterhuis sold three of his Biers on draught: Augustijn Donker, Piraat, and Augustjn Blond. He brewed them, he insisted we try them. The Piraat impressed Hector most. We have been invited to the Steen Brugge Brewery on our next trip, this will happen. Being honourable Scots we bought his group a round back. Self respect.
Kaffee De Hopduvel
From a quiet start in the midst of a Festival we were all now in Festive mood. Time to leave.
Jonathan and Robin left after the main body by taxi to rendezvous with Dr Stan, David, Howard, Neil and myself across town at Hector’s favourite Gent watering hole. Les Freres were there too, somehow. My plan was to be last out of here one evening.
We arrived in the back street whose parallels with Coronation Street are uncanny. This tiny façade gives way to a magnificent Tardis-like pub with an acre of Bier Garden out the back. It was closed. As in gone, forever… I was not a happy old Hector. Kathleen’s colleague would later reveal that the place had gone bust.
What is a man to do?
Meanwhile back in the Waterhuis
The streets were even busier than before. People were arriving for a rock concert at Kornmaarkt around the corner. Craig and Yvonne had stayed behind and were in conversation with a couple who kept them amused until it was Craig’s bedtime. The night shift then arrived. After the worst Curry of 2011 Hector was in the mood for more Bier. La Chouffe’s Houblon, more Piraat and a local Wit Bier kept us amused. We stayed late, Hector was last off the premises.
Favourite Gent Bars
Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant, Groentenmarkt 9
Kaffee De Hopduvel, Rokerelsstraat 10 (Closed)