Four days in Belguim
Not many jobs will pay you to go on holiday and stay in some of the nicest hotels Europe has to offer. But that’s exactly what was asked of me in my third week of working for Railbookers. My adventure started on a morning Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Lille in northern France. My one hour journey went by so fast I didn’t even have time for a nap to counter the morning grogginess that comes with a 5am start. Armed with a notepad and pen, I made the short journey across the road from Lille Europe train station to my first hotel, The Crowne Plaza, ideal for short trips and business. After soaking up some “Frenchness” which included a Steak Tartare and a glass of red, it was time to move on to one of the most popular and stunning towns in Europe, Bruges. Gare de Lille Flandres’ central location made the transit effortless. I was quite pleased that a station that busy had a very helpful and friendly information desk. The journey time in total was around one hour and twenty minutes. To my delight, my accommodation – The 4* deluxe Heritage Hotel – was just off The Markt which made it handy to grab some dinner whilst being serenaded by the eight hundred-year-old Belfry of Bruges.
The next day, the market was up and running with its wide range of flowers, fruit, meats, cheese and tempting pastries! But all too soon it was time to bid farewell and move on, this time to Ghent. A quick hop on a train and a half-hour later I was on to my next adventure. Usually, in the shadow of nearby Bruges, Ghent has enough medieval history and tourist attractions to be a holiday favourite in its own right. The three nearby universities house around seventy-five thousand students in total, giving the city a more vibrant feeling than Bruges. I was lucky enough to stay at the Hotel Gravensteen, located directly opposite the stunning Ghent Castle of the Counts, and I couldn’t leave Ghent without a proper tour of it, climbing the spiral staircases to take advantage of the breathtaking views afforded atop of this former courthouse and prison. The castle also houses an exhibition on death and torture in the middle-aged… Yikes! But all good things must come to an end and once again I was on the move, this time to Brussels.
The train out was during rush hour and my seat in a near-empty first-class carriage was much appreciated. Forty minutes later I arrived at the home of NATO and the European Parliament. My stay at the Leopold was very pleasant. Feeling lazy, I took advantage of the restaurant’s good reputation and dined in. After a good night’s sleep, I spent the next day visiting some wonderful hotels. My favourite has to be the Hotel Amigo, a stone’s throw from the Grand Place. Filled with opulent buildings and endless chocolate shops, the Grand Place is one of my favourite locations on this journey. My Eurostar journey home was in Standard Premier, which meant more legroom and free food and drinks. I happily nibbled on my cheese and sipped the wine whilst unwinding from a fun - but tiring - four days. Two hours later and Belgium was already a distant memory as I made my way home from St Pancras. I guess I’ll have to go back soon.
