What I did and saw:
Ghent Christmas Market-
During the Christmas season Ghent puts on a wonderful Christmas Market in their city center. It contains a number of different food stalls as well as places to buy gifts for others. While at the Christmas market I was also able to see both the Korenmarkt and the Saint Nicholas Church. It is a beautiful and festive place to walk through, and they even had things like a swanparade.

Citadel Park-
The Citadel Park in Ghent is relatively close to the Ghent Saint Peters Station. Although the weather wasn’t great, it was a nice park to walk through and spend some time in. I can imagine that it would be an excellent place to be on a bright summer day.​

Beautiful buildings-
I was able to see a number of beautiful buildings while in Ghent. I was able to see the Saint Nicholas Church at the Christmas market in the city center. I was also able to see St. Bavo's Cathedral (Sint-Baafskathedraal), which is located across the street from Peaberry Coffee (see below). Additionally I was able to check out the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Sint-Pieters. Just walking through the city of Ghent was a great experience.

Where I ate and drank:
​OR Coffeebar-
OR Coffeebar has a few different locations in Ghent and Brussels, and I visited their Backstay location in an area that seemed to be a univeristy area. They offered excellent coffee as well as some really good food options.

Peaberry Coffeebar-
Located across the street from St. Bavo’s Cathedral, Peaberry Coffee was another nice place to get some excellent coffee. It is a small, cozy space with good food options also.

Swiss Sandwich Raclette (in Christmas Market)-
Racelette sandwiches are made from melting cheese that is shaved directly onto bread. They are very tasty, and the one I had at a stand in the Ghent Christmas market did not disappoint.

Ghent Gruut Brewery (in Christmas Market)-
​Gruut is something that was historically used in place of hops when making beer. One of the few places in the world that still uses this process is the Ghent Gruut Brewery. While I was in Ghent the Gruut Brewery was closed, but fortunately they had a stand open in the Christmas market, and I was able to try some of their creations (which were very tasty).

Where I stayed and How I got around:
​Jacques Brel Youth Hostel-
When I visited Ghent I was staying at Jacques Brel Youth Hostel in Brussels.  To see more about it check out my post on Brussels.  I traveled by train to both Ghent and Bruges on different days while staying in Brussels.  Once there I walked to get around and take in the sights.

My favorite thing:
My favorite thing I experienced during my time in Ghent was the Christmas market. Also, the parade of ducks was one of the more unique things I have seen.

My least favorite thing:
Ghent has a graffiti street that I had heard good things about, but I was a bit let down by it when compared to the graffiti in cities like Lisbon, Bristol, and especially Miami.
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For next time:
​I would love to spend more time at the magical Christmas market Ghent. However it would also be interesting to see what Ghent is like in the summer.

I have previously mentioned that a smartphone is a great tool to use when traveling, and one of the ways I maximize its benefit is by using Google Maps.  Google Maps is a great resource to use when travelling.  I had used CityMapper more in the past, but now I have started to use Google Maps more often.  Here are a few of the reasons I like to use Google Maps:

Want to go-
The biggest reason I use Google Maps is due to the ease of saving locations for further reference.  As I mentioned in my post about making travel itineraries, whenever I come across a place  I think I will want to try (through word of mouth, travel blogs, newsletter, etc.) I save it in Google Maps.  It is very easy to do, and makes it easy to plan out my days while traveling.

Favorites-
Once I have visited a place, I will usually save it to my favorites so it is easy to find and visit again.  I also use this to remember the exact places I have been when recommending places to other and/or when writing my blog.

Starred-
I will also star important places, such as airports, hostels, meeting points, or train stations.  These stand out so I am able to quickly and easily access them whenever necessary.

Public Transportation-
Google Maps works very well when I need to sort out my transportation options.  It can sort by type of transportation, such as bus, train, metro, long distance train, or any mix of those options.  While I slightly prefer using Citymapper for checking public transportation options, due to the other things Google Maps offers I tend to use it more rather than flipping back and forth between the two different apps.

Walking distance-
Google Maps will also sort out the walking distance from one place to another.  You can also add multiple stops along the way if there are a few different things you want to see.

Open hours-
Google will also display the opening times for restaurants, musuems, and other places of interest.  While it is not correct 100% of the time (and I would suggest double-checking with the specific site if necessary), it is correct the vast majority of the time.

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Happy Exploring!

What I did and saw:
Grand Place of Brussels-
The Grand Place of Brussels is one of the most beautiful plazas I have ever seen.  It is surrounded by magnificent Guildhouses, and while I was there a free light show was put on every hour at night.

Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert-
Another one of the many beautiful things in Brussels is the Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert.  It is a covered mall with a variety of shops (and about every other one is a Belgian chocolate shop).  It is worth walking through and sampling some of the Belgian delicacies.

Manneken Pis and Jeanneke Pis-
Manneken Pis is one of the more famous statues in Belgium.  It literally translates to "little pisser," and while he is shown in all his glory some of the time, he will also be dressed in a variety of different outfits.  For example, he was dressed in a Santa Claus costume for Christmas.  It is believed to have  originated from a time when leatherworkers would pay children to pee into jars so they could use the ammonia in the tanning process, but it has come to signify the sense of humor of the Belgian people.  Since the construction of Manneken Pis there have been other versions built in the city such as Jeanneke Pis (girl) and Het Zinneke (dog).

Brussels Christmas Market-
The Brussels Christmas Market was outstanding.  It is very large and is full of stands with delicious food and drink.  They have delicious treats such as shaved beef and mulled wine.  It is even great just to walk through even if you aren't buying anything.

Mont des Arts-
The Mont des Arts is a beautiful spot in Belgium that offers great views of the city.

Sandemans Free Walking Tour-
As I have mentioned in previous posts, I enjoy going on free walking tours, and the Sandemans free tour in Brussels did not disappoint.  I had a great local guide that gave some interesting historical context (including some "Grandma history") and recommendations.

Where I ate and drank:
​Balls & Glory-
Meatballs are a traditional Belgian food, but Balls & Glory puts a new spin on it.  The serve a variety of different, fun flavors of meatballs.

Cafe Capitale-
Cafe Capitale is an excellent craft coffee place.  I had my best cup of coffee in Brussels while I was there.

BrewDog Brussels-
The BrewDog in Brussels is set in a cool building right by the Central train station.  They offer good quality food and drinks at good prices in a chill environment.

Maison Dandoy-
Maison Dandoy is famous for their Belgian waffles, chocolates, and cookies.  Their speculoos dark chocolate cookies are one of the best things I have ever tasted in my life.

Delirium Cafe-
Delirium holds the Guiness World Record for most beers offered.  The menu is more like a book, and it is a cool place to hang out with friends (or make some new ones).

Le Funambule-
While the waffle I ate at Maison Dandoy was more expensive, the cheap tourist waffle at Le Funambule next to Manneken Pis was still tasty, mostly thanks to the scrumptious speculoos spread.

Aksum Coffee House-
Located inside the Saint Hubert Galleries, Aksum looks great from the outside.  However, despite its pretty decor I found it overpriced relative to its quality, and they also did not have any filter coffee options.

Le Bistro Porte de Hal-
​I ate Christmas dinner at Le Bistro across the street from Porte de Hal.  The food was very good and the service was excellent. I was able to try some of the famous Brussles "moules-frites," which are steamed mussels and fries.

Taverne Manneken Pis-
​Located across the street from Manneken Pis, Taverne Manneken Pis offers good Belgian snack and drink without a significant upcharge considering the location.

Where I stayed:
Jacques Brel Youth Hostel-
Jacques Brel had one of the best hostel breakfasts I've come across.  It was a great place to stay, and the staff were very kind and helpful.  I would definitely recommend staying at Jacques Brel.

How I got around:
​While in the city I walked to get around and take in the beauty of the city and Christmas market.  I also traveled by train to Ghent and Bruges during my time in Belgium.

My favorite thing:
My favorite things about Brussels are the dark chocolate covered speculoos and the delicious trappist craft brews.  The Christmas market was also outstanding.

My least favorite thing:
I am not a big fan of the cold, but Brussels has moved to the top of my list of favorite cold cities.

For next time:
​Next time in Brussels I would like to have more of the tasty food and drink, as it was some of the best I have tasted.  I would also be interested in visiting Antwerp next time I am in Belgium.

Big cities like Barcelona and Rome can be amazing.  However, there can also tend to be a big problem with petty theft in some of these great cities.  I personally had my phone stolen out of my pocket while in Barcelona, and many of my friends have had things stolen from them as well.  One way to help protect yourself against theft is to use a secure, theft-proof backpack.  The Bobby Anti Theft Backpack by XD design is probably the most popular example I have come across.  Here are some of its advantages and disadvantages:

The Good:

• Hidden zippers- The zippers for the bag sit against my back when I am wearing it, so I have to take it off before I (or anyone else) can open it.
• Durable exterior- The outside of the backpack is slash-proof, so you don't have to worry about any thieves slashing your bag.
• Water resistant- I have taken my Bobby Anti Theft Backpack outside in the rain, and everything inside the bag stayed dry.  However, I don't know if it would still hold up in long, sustained periods of heavy rain.
• Comfortable- The backpack is comfortable for me to wear and there is adequate padding in the shoulder straps.
• Fully opens- The bag can open like a suitcase to facilitate easier packing.
• USB charger- If you have a power bank/portable charger (which are great to have when traveling) you can have it plugged into the the bag on the inside.  Then you can plug your device into the USB port on the outside while leaving your power bank/portable charger secured inside the bag.
• Lockable zippers- In addition to being hidden, the zippers on the backpack are also lockable for extra security.
• Personal item- I have taken this bag on a number of flights as a personal item.  Whether I am traveling on a budget airline and don't want to pay extra for overhead bin space, or I am moving somewhere and I want to bring a few extra things with me, this bag has fit under the airplane seat in front of me.

The Bad:

• Not so durable interior- After normal use, part of the inside bag ripped (see photo) which has been an annoyance.  Unfortunately the inside of the bag has not proven to be as durable as the exterior of the bag.
• Quick access pocket not good for paper tickets- While the quick access pocket would be great in a city that uses plastic cards for public transportation, it is not great for cities like Barcelona that use paper tickets.  The tickets tend to get bent and can be rendered unusable.
• Possible slight zipper access at the top- If the bag is fully packed and it is zipped up at the top, the zippers can come apart a little, and the interior of the bag could possilby be accessed.  I would recommend keeping the zippers on the side and not at the top, which easily solves this issue.
• Not as much space as other backpacks- The bag does not offer as much packability as other bags that are specifically geared towards travel.  It also looks bigger on the outside than it actually is on the inside.
  

The Ugly:
It is ugly that there is a demand for taking anti theft measures.  However, we unfortunately do not live in a perfect world, so the Bobby Anti Theft Backpack is a good option.  After the success of their original bag, XD Design has also introduced a variety of other bag options to combat theft.  You should still exercise caution, but the bag gives you the opportunity to rest a little easier.  While I am using TEFL to travel I usually use mine at least five days a week.

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