No Pictures!

So, this is an entry that is not about a travel I have recently done. That usually means there's something in here, but now there isn't. Yup, you got it. There isn't a picture at the end of the post. Why?

Traversing the Ardennes: Ghent's Old Town

When we were in Ghent, not only did we visit a castle and a bunch of churches, but we also took the chance to walk around and see what the city was like. My overall impression of the city was highly favorable. As much as Ghent was a very pretty town, the tourist sector was not overwhelming. The souvenir shops were discreet, and strolling along the roads felt like the town was very real, instead of something where tourists run the place. It was indeed very different from other big cities in Europe (well, Ghent isn't a big city, after all), where almost everywhere you look, there is something, a shop, a booth, that is right there just because there are tourists.

Tübingen Again!

Some good news: I am heading to Germany!

Traversing the Ardennes: Werregarensteeg in Ghent

When we were in Ghent, not only did we visit a medieval castle and several churches, we also checked out some urban street art. Ghent is a very clean city, not as clean as Luxembourg perhaps, but still clean. However, there was one tiny alley in the city that is known for having plenty of graffiti. This is Werregarensteeg or Graffiti Alley. It is a small tiny pedestrian road somewhere near the castle, and surprisingly enough, there are houses whose entrance is on that alley. However, given the amount of graffiti, it is very hard to see where the doors are.

Book Review: Cain by José Saramago

Cain: the first murderer, the first person who committed fratricide, what do we know about him? In this novel published shortly before he died, José Saramago continues his long-standing argument with God, through the eyes of Cain. It has been a while since I read a Saramago novel (the last time was a year ago, with The Gospel According to Jesus Christ), so it is once again refreshing to encounter the long paragraphs, and his very unique writing style.

Anyway, a short synopsis first. This book tells the Biblical story, from the beginning, so to speak, through the eyes of Cain. After killing his brother, he was condemned to wander forever. He witnesses plenty of things, including the building of Noah's ark, the tower of Babel, the golden calf incident with Moses. And in typical Saramago fashion, he writes in a way that somehow fills in the holes of the Bible (or the Book of Nonsense according to Saramago, as is stated in the Prologue). For example, Cain is the one who rescues Isaac from being sacrificed by Abraham when God's angel arrives late because of a wing malfunction.