Life in Ghent

this is a blog about my experience as an international student in Ghent

[newinghent]

The open markets of Ghent

Even if at the beginning I was a bit suspicious about the available range of activities during my stay in Ghent, this place is so charming and has gained such a special place in my heart, that I wonder how did I even dare to question my choice. 

The open markets that somehow pop up during the weekend are among my favourite things here. On Fridays we have 

If you like flowers, plants and/or gardening, the Sunday flower market is a must see. I love unique looking plants and the variety of colours, shapes and smells in there is just to die for! I bought my tiny cactus from there and for some reason it managed to keep me smiling for the rest of the day. Meet beautiful Chloé ^^

My neighbors, colleagues and friends, Canadians Kim and Nadine also bought their pretty cacti and named them, so if for a second you thought it's weird that plants have names, please also meet Henrietta and Lola :D

Alright. Moving on to the next. The Ajuinlei book market is right by the water, on Sundays, from 9:00 to 13:00.

Also on Sundays, you can see the animal market in Oude Beestenmarkt. Mostly small animals and birds looking for owner.

The organic market on Fridays, from 7.30 to 13:00. In Dutch, they call it Groentenmarkt. It's not located in only one place, but you can rather see stands with organic products in most important squares, like Vrijdagmarkt, Ledebergplein etc.

Ok, saved the best for last. Friday market or Vrijdagmarkt is there on Fridays (7:30-13:00), but also Saturdays (11:00-18:00). The square is called exactly like that, Vrijdagmarkt, and you can recognize it by the famous statue of Jacob van Artevelde (also the name of my host uni. here - Artevelde). You can find basically anything there, from clothes, bags, household items to any kind of delicious food, fresh meat, fish, flavourful cheeses and beautiful fruit & veggies. 

Super close to this one, you can find the Antique Market in Bij Sint-Jacobs. On the side streets you can also find antique shops or just entire halls filled with old objects, like the one that I saw. I was instantly drawn in, but as I stepped further, I realized I'm surrounded by the daily lives of people who no longer exist and the air was somehow filled by their presence. A bit creepy, can't deny it, but definitely worth seeing.

[newinghent]

summary of sunrise on sunny days

[newinghent]

Found my new favourite place in Ghent and it's called Pain Perdu

So, thanks to a friend and colleague of mine, I found this wonderful cafe/retreat today. It's called Pain Perdu and it's the coziest hiding place one could encounter in the middle of a busy day.

You can sit by the window and do some people watching or work on your computer, at the regular table or in the wonderful green garden in the back. It's so soothing and has this old, but precious feel, that you almost have to pinch yourself and realize you're not living in a movie or between the pages of a good book. You have this feeling of timelessness, as if you're living in a wonderland and you're witnessing something absolute, like finding a treasure buried in the sand.

The music was perfect, maybe because I happen to love Alt-J, but anyway, who wouldn't?! It's soothing, refreshing and warm at the same time. 

My Earl Grey tea was perfect, I particularly appreciated the absence of sugar (once you stop putting sugar in your tea, the epiphany is complete and irreversible. the flavour is just so pure, gotta try it). I also craved for the cakes and tarts in the window and I promised myself next time I won't leave without trying one. The menu is generous, I am convinced the food is simply divine and the staff is so sweet, you just wanna take them home with you :)

Oh, and they have tulips. White tulips and hardwood. Gotta love that.

[newinghent]

After I found these on the street, I couldn't help wondering why they were there. Soon enough, I discovered the term "shoefiti", derived from "graffiti", which connects this practice somehow to the field of urban art & street culture. 

It's intriguing for many and certainly interesting why these shoes end up on power lines. Curiously enough, the motivation is different in every place. People give it meaning according to their own context and need for expression. What is unusual for me is the name "shoefiti", because the real graffiti artists disapprove this type of association. For them, graffiti is a true art, that requires a lot more time and effort than simply tossing shoes on a wire. There are also people who spend time removing the shoes from power lines, since they believe it's degrading for a town to look like this. 

So, what's the meaning behind the action?

Well, it could signal the presence of bands, drug dealers or police being involved in the area. Another option is not one that I easily accept: that the shoes belong to victims of violence, who are beaten and their footwear remains on the wire as a cruel souvenir. In Ireland, it often means some teenager did it for the first time, in other places, former employees hang their shoes up after they quit, or students - as a sign of graduation. 

I don't know what is the meaning for this in Gent, but I know what I want to do with my sneakers before I leave. I find this an interesting form of expression, especially when used to redefine the way we create memories and the use of urban space.

Here's the movie too, if you're curious to find out more

The Mystery of Flying Kicks