When I first visited Belgium I was 16 years old and more than 2 1/2 years into an open-ended trip around the world with my family. We’d just spent a very challenging yet fun-filled five months exploring every corner of Egypt, repetitively visiting some of the most historic monuments in the world. Having become accustomed to the Arabic world, flying from Egypt directly to Belgium was one of the major culture shocks I had on that trip that I’ll never forget. We flew into Brussels and were all blown away by the incredible attention to detail on each and every building, the Grand Place square was absolutely gorgeous. Stepping from a strictly Arabic culture into this fairy-tale European world with horse carriages, pigeons pecking at crumbs between cobblestone and paintings being sold in the square was a 180 degree flip.

Having eaten falafel, grape leaves stuffed with rice, Kebabs and Baba Ghannoug for months, we made ourselves completely sick inhaling the famous Belgian waffles decorated with strawberries, chocolate and homemade whipped cream.

Never in a million years would I have guessed that just two years later I would be living right next door to Belgium in The Netherlands. Now that I live here, Belgium has become a stepping stone to almost all of my European travels. I’ve driven through the neighbouring country nearly every time I head out on a road trip to the south, either to visit Portugal, Spain, France or Italy. I’ve driven down to Belgium to visit my sick mother-in-law in the hospital after operations more than once. Other times, just for day trips to Antwerp to help a friend with his helicopter, speed boat and Segway tours, or weekend trips to explore Ghent or the gorgeously quaint town of Bruges.

A little walk through the park in Ghent.

Street art in Ghent

Graffiti Street, Ghent

Ghent

A view from the City Tower in Brugge

A beauty from Brugge

Beautiful Brugge by night.

Oh so cold in Bastogne.

The 91-metre-tall belfry of Ghent is one of three medieval towers that overlook the old city centre of Ghent

Canals through Brugge are always amazing

Brussels the capital city of Belgium

This is a great way to see Brussels.

Antwerp is a lovely city to see from the water too.

Brussels Historic Center.

Ghent

You have to eat waffles if you go to Brussels. So yummy!!

Manneken Pis, was designed by Hiëronymus Duquesnoy the Elder and put in place in 1618 or 1619.

Despite no longer being able to count the number of times I have visited Belgium, I always get out my camera and feel like it’s my first time.

Stay tuned for more #FridayFotos. Next week is Benin

Savannah Grace

View more photos of Belgium here.

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