Next Stop... Belgium: Brussels - Ostend!

Belgium brought some doom and gloom as Europe ever prepared me for my imminent arrival to the United Kingdom a few days later! I had slept off my hangover from Porto, finally I felt human enough to start my day with Ostend. I know the Flemish spell it, 'Oostende!' I'm not stupid! Taking the train from 'Brussel-Noord', I wanted to see some 'Lekker' views! U.K, Hun? 

Claiming the previous day as a 'reset day', I had originally planned to take the train from Brussels to Ostend as soon as I had reached my city centre hotel after landing! Belgium saw a very 'hungover' version of me touchdown, Ostend would do good to wait a little longer before welcoming me! Waking up before the birds, I wanted to catch the 05:55 A.M departure from 'Brussel-Noord' but those debit card woes saw me wait until the ticket office opened, cash would be the only way as I continued my very own 'European Tour!' Now, getting to grips with those Belgian trains and stations wasn't difficult, although the trip from Brussels Zavantem Airport was no joke! Those Belgian trains that I took from the airport and on the way to Ostend weren't exactly new, you know I was all about getting back to what Europe does so well! That was truth that, those first Belgian trains reminded me a little bit of home! Sure, Ostend would provide me with those direct 'UK' views, I just needed to get to the other side of that Belgian trainline! Gaan!

Leaving 'Brussel-Noord' behind me, it finally felt real that I was in the land of 'Drag Race Belgique!' That choosing had been down to that double serving of 'Belgian Drag', I always make those travel decisions with the guidance of 'Mama Ru's' own productions! I wanted to capture the multi-lingual country of Belgium from all angles. The train announcements were serving 'tri-lingual settings' with French, Dutch and English address, although I would find out that some Flemish bound services didn't take kindly to speaking the French language onboard! Let's not get political because it's just a train, I am sure some would disagree with me but I don't care! The flat green pastures passed me by, the grey skies told me that I had truly left the sunnier climbs of Portugal behind me! Ostend grew nearer, those 'North Sea' settings also grew nearer with my own 'United Kingdom' almost seen in the distance! 'Oostende', set in the province of 'West Flanders' wouldn't be my only 'Flemish' stop of the day! Those train fares didn't impress me! 

Ostend served winter weather during that summer moment, I had truly arrived on the North Sea coast for sure! I had my eyes firmly set on the 'Strand Oostende' because I wanted to stare endlessly into the direction of the United Kingdom, it was my choice and that only! I saw certain reminders of Amsterdam with those taller builders that held a certain 'Flemish/Dutch' feel to them. I saw lots of 'Frieten/Frites' signs but those establishments were all closed because it was early on, I didn't have the time to wait because Ghent also deserved my attention that day! Serving a sense of 'Beside The Sea', I embraced the ice cold feel from those raging waters because the beach wasn't meant for swimming or sunbathing that day! I walked over onto the 'Pier van Oostende' because I wanted to capture those views over on the promenade. Need I not mention the little boy that shouted 'Hallo' from his bike as he zoomed past in his rain-overalls! Het was schattig/It was cute! Hey, I don't speak Dutch, Google Translate sorted that! 

Ostend allowed me the chance to walk pretty far out into the sea with that pier stretching into those choppy waters. I made sure nobody could hear me because my friend was spilling all of the tea via voice messages, Ostend didn't need to hear what were talking about! Piping hot from the kettle? I do think! I wasn't in Ostend to see anything special, I wanted to hear the Flemish/Dutch language spoken though, based in West Flanders I wanted to rep the language of those underrepresented 'Langue Flamande' queens! Yes, it was important for me to embrace both 'Flanders' and 'Brussels' because there seemed to be a definite divide with languages changing over those regional boundaries. Ostend sounded very 'Flemish' to me, please I didn't understand a lick but I listened because that's what you should do! Making my way along the promenade served coldness in matrimony because at least two newlywed couples passed me by, people cheered them jubilantly! Leopold, who!? Get off that high horse, Leo! Ostend, you already knew! 

I had but had enough of that freezing cold beachfront, the turning point was when I saw the 'Equestrian statue of Leopold II'. Now, I knew of Belgium's attempt at being a 'Colonial Power', spear headed by 'King Leopold II'. I later found out that this statue has been vandalised several times, to be honest I don't blame those individuals because being a 'Brit', I know all to well about my nations own former 'Empire'. I did some research after seeing this beachside statue, finding out that Belgium did have a few colonies but 'Belgian Congo' was their main stronghold. Now known as the 'Democratic Republic of Congo', it is known that 'Kinshasa' has one of the largest French speaking populations outside of France! To be fair, the greyness of that morning suited the dark and unsavory past of that former Belgian monarch, may they vandalise it again! I looked at the time, I needed to shake a leg because I wanted to spend the rest of the day exploring 'Ghent!' A light rail system? I was done dirty by that tram because it was card only!

To be honest, I am glad that I had no choice but to walk back to the train station in Ostend because I got to see a lot of the city centre. I loved the feel of that small city, serving the right amount of European charm and 'everyday reality' in the same breath. I looked at the window of several estate agencies to be reunited with the horror that is the 'European Property Market!' Scary stuff! I didn't buy anything but I absolutely adored that 'High Street' I walked down because it reminded me of something in England, the homeland grew nearer when I saw 'Waterstones!' Clocking those familiar conveniences made me feel very far away from China, for the first time in a long time that wasn't a bad thing! Oh, the price of everything was scary! Shame, those bistros looked lovely but I had plans for something Lekker to eat in Ghent! My time in Ostend was short but fulfilling at the same time, catching the train onwards to Ghent was the one, I had to run for that 'Next Stop' service! Just like that, Belgium saw me moving again! 

Oostende, Dank Je Wel! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure