Antwerp

Dageraadplaats, Antwerp

After yesterday's intense ride, today, Tuesday, I'm taking it easy in Antwerp, rediscovering the city. This is at least my third visit since I moved to Amsterdam and I'm starting to love the place. I could easily live here. I like the trams that lumber through the streets, the Jews on bicycles. It seems a less self-conscious place than Amsterdam.

Schilde route

Albertkanaal

Today, Monday, the weather is splendid and I'm doing the Schilde route: "fietsen door de groene gemeenten rond Antwerpen." This will take me through the towns of Schilde, Schoten, Brasschat and Willekom. Right off the bat (kp 3 → 15) I'm going through the large park called the Rivierenhof, with fields, gardens, woods, a lake with swans, acorns dropping, and a small castle. A fair number of fietsers out to enjoy the weather. It is as delightful as anything Holland has to offer.

Ghent → Antwerp

Ghent

It was a long exhausting journey to Ghent via the LF-2, which, though it appeared to be the most straightforward route from Terneuzen, actually takes a substantial eastern loop before heading for that city. Fortunately the signage was good and I cycled along a succession of tree-lined paths through countryside, finally reaching Ghent at dusk. I spent a couple of rainy days in the lively university town, sightseeing, staying at the home of my friend Wim.