Belgian Odyssey Part Five: Out and About in Ostend

Ostend is a wonderful mix of the very old and the ultra modern.

Yesterday was our last day in the beautiful coastal city of Ostend. ClarinetFest has been an amazing and inspirational experience, and I’m so grateful to be a part of the International Clarinet Association, which has afforded me the opportunities to visit cities around the world that I would never otherwise have had the opportunity to see. This trip has touched my heart and mind on many levels, as a musician and as a lover of beauty and history.

The amazing French virtuoso, Phillipe Bescond, with the Brussels Philharmonic. Such artistry!

Views from our hotel…

We’ve been here for a week, but I had not had the chance to get out into the city until the conference ended. Dan had been itching to share some of the things he had seen and explore new places with me, so we headed out into the city to visit the historically preserved ship, the Mercator, and enjoy walking wherever inspiration took us on what turned out to be a lovely day after some cold and incredibly windy weather the day before.

After enjoying a lunch of shrimp and cheese croquettes at a lovely French restaurant that we stumbled upon, I indulged my love of photographing old doors. Doors fascinate me with their beauty and mystery…what lies on the other side? So many stories, so many possibilities.

We also explored a beautiful old church in the middle of the city. Sint-Petrus-en-Pauluskerk (Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul), the main church of Ostend, Belgium, is a Roman Catholic Neo-Gothic church built on the ashes of a previous church.

I am missing my dogs terribly, so I also enjoyed photographing some of the many dogs in Ostend. Ostend is a very dog-friendly city, with people being able to bring their dogs into businesses and restaurants. We often saw water bowls put out for them in the restaurants along the boardwalk. Dogs of all breeds, all shapes and sizes. I was in heaven.

I am grateful for my time in Ostend. Now it’s time to head to the picturesque and historic city of Bruges for two days. I can’t wait for the adventures that await!