Like the days before by 8am I was up and in the shower. I really wanted to get going and see how Ghent fared during the day since I loved it already by night. Also a hostel is exactly the right place to get up early and leave before everyone else awakes. This hostel even included breakfast and I had a coffee overlooking the canal below.
![good morning in Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1222.jpg?resize=473%2C630&ssl=1)
good morning in Ghent
I walked outside the hostel and was immediately enchanted again. Today was the first morning with clear blue sky and against this backdrop everything just looked amazing.
![Uppelink Hostel @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1223.jpg?resize=473%2C630&ssl=1)
Uppelink Hostel @Ghent
![empty streets on Sunday morning @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1224.jpg?resize=630%2C473&ssl=1)
empty streets on Sunday morning @Ghent
I had made a plan on how to spend my last hours since not much time was left. I really needed to make the most of it. First off was a visit of the castle Gravensteen, but since it only opened at 10am I decided on a breakfast stop at Maison Elza. The offered Eggs Benedict enticed me to stay since the last I had were so awful. Plus, Maison Elza was just around the castle, actually everything was just around. So it was as good a place to wait as any.
![Maison Elza @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1235.jpg?resize=630%2C473&ssl=1)
Maison Elza @Ghent
The breakfast was tasty and I spoiled myself with a glass of champagne. I was on holidays after all and it was my last day.
![Breakfast with champagne @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1246.jpg?resize=473%2C630&ssl=1)
Breakfast with champagne @Ghent
![Eggs Benedict from Maison Elza @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1247.jpg?resize=630%2C473&ssl=1)
Eggs Benedict from Maison Elza @Ghent
The castle after looked so impressive, so beautifully restored that one could see how the Counts have lived here before. I was especially fascinated by the man-high swords, I wonder how they could be yielded.
![Gravensteen @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1236.jpg?resize=630%2C473&ssl=1)
Gravensteen @Ghent
![Gravensteen @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1242.jpg?resize=473%2C630&ssl=1)
Gravensteen @Ghent
![swords in Gravensteen @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1251.jpg?resize=473%2C630&ssl=1)
swords in Gravensteen @Ghent
![hunting horn in Gravensteen @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1258.jpg?resize=630%2C473&ssl=1)
hunting horn in Gravensteen @Ghent
![sword in Gravensteen @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1259.jpg?resize=473%2C630&ssl=1)
sword in Gravensteen @Ghent
Inside there was not so much to see but the view from the top of the castle was amazing.
![view on Ghent from Gravensteen](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1267.jpg?resize=473%2C630&ssl=1)
view on Ghent from Gravensteen
![view on Ghent from Gravensteen](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1268.jpg?resize=473%2C630&ssl=1)
view on Ghent from Gravensteen
![Pollybert in Gravensteen @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1271.jpg?resize=473%2C630&ssl=1)
Pollybert in Gravensteen @Ghent
From there I went to the Belfry, also on the Unesco world heritage list as is the one in Bruges. But since I missed the latter one, I figured I had to climb this one at least. The view of course was superb over the city. Blue sky, clear view. I couldn’t ask for more.
![up the Belfry @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1295.jpg?resize=473%2C630&ssl=1)
up the Belfry @Ghent
![view from Belfry on Saint Nicholas' Church @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1296.jpg?resize=473%2C630&ssl=1)
view from Belfry on Saint Nicholas’ Church @Ghent
And after that one more church which was supposed to hold a van Eyck altar. It probably does but i didn’t see it. Even the church had its shop closed on holy days. And without a ticket no museum and no holy lamb altar at the St. Bravo Cathedral. Nonetheless the church was beautiful inside and it was well worth the visit.
After that I just walked around the center a bit more and eventually sat down for a glass of Shandy. The beer was red, colored with cherry juice. It tasted just fine with the ice, cool and refreshing.
![cherry beer @Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1318.jpg?resize=473%2C630&ssl=1)
cherry beer @Ghent
In the end all of a sudden I had to rush. I wasn’t sure how strict the security at Brussels airport was and I wasn’t able to get my ticket online the night before. So I just wanted to arrive with a little buffer. But of course I had cut it too close and missed the direct airport train by one minute. Still I made it back home without a hitch. Yours, Pollybert
![the streets of Ghent](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1325.jpg?resize=473%2C630&ssl=1)
the streets of Ghent