Moments in Belgium, Part one

So many ideas were buzzing in my mind, so it took me weeks to decide where to start. Naturally, I am beginning in the middle, with a trip to Belgium. My first time in Belgium, so I was extremely excited and originally planned a castle trey trip that turned into a free-style joyride through the country.
But first, let's enjoy some duck portrait photos I took on the first days of the trip.

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As we drove through the country, it became clear that you can not visit Belgium without visiting some castles. If not, then you have to avoid them purposely.  

Walzin... How incredibly charming, surrounded by nature from all sides. It was kind of incredible how in synch with the landscape this castle was. Genuinely, it is an unforgettable view. And then there were the people, looking so small while paddling with their canoes in front of the caste, which was such a fun contrast to the dramatic cliff the castle was standing on and the frigid, cold building walls. 

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Here, I made my first-ever drone footage. This video includes another beautiful Belgian castle, the Wijnendale castle. Unfortunately, it was closed to visitors during our visit, but we could enjoy it thanks to the drone. 

What I enjoyed almost as much as the caste itself was the cattle living on the premises. Here is one of my favorite images. 

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One of the most unexpectedly delightful stops of this road trip was Dinant. It was an unforgettable sight, with the colorful buildings nestled on the riverside, backed by massive cliffs and the many pears the younger crowd used as meeting and party stops.

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Another stop on our tour was Bruges. You can not miss this city when you are visiting Belgium. This medieval gothic city is one of the most photogenic cities I have ever visited. So, even the most inexperienced photographer can have a blast here. Here are some of my favorite images from the town. As it was a beautiful autumnal whether, we, most of the time, just walked through the streets and marveled at the city.  There were some obligative sights, like the church of our Lady Bruges, the Gruuthusemuseum and climbing the Belfry, which was fun and worth the experience for a first-time visit to the city. And if you are a foodie and enjoy a nice lunch or a dinner with an exquisite menu each day, then you are definitely in the right city. Unfortunately, there are no images worth posting. I was distracted from eating, making a mental note for the next time. 

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The next stop was Gent. Here we had just a few hours to spend. The rainy, cloudy weather complimented the medieval buildings perfectly and gave the city a slightly grungy feeling.

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The one sight we visited that is undoubtedly a must-see is Gavensteen. It has a very informative, entertaining and surprisingly funny audioguide tour that guides you through the castle and Belgian history.

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To be continued....