Traveling with the Jones — Sharing Travel Discoveries

A Delightful Dinner at Ristorante Gallo Nero in Antwerp, Belgium

by Janis on June 22, 2015

NOTE: we were sad to learn this restaurant has closed.

While walking around the Old Town of Antwerp, Belgium, Mr. Jones spotted this restaurant.

We peeked in the window, and it looked like a lovely small restaurant.

Two nights later, we remembered as we were thinking about dinner, and we asked if we could get a table. The answer was yes.

The Gall Nero is a small Italian restaurant with fewer than 10 tables. As we settled in and soaked up the atmosphere, I noticed the chandelier of bottles.

We soon realized that the waiter (likely the owner as well) did not speak English but wanted to communicate in either Italian or French. We don’t speak either language, or Dutch, the language of Antwerp, but we managed to order. This gentleman is a charming host.

First we began with antipasto (which was a mix of cured meats.)

We also had bread, and our waiter poured the olive oil in a dish, then salted it, then ground fresh black pepper on top. Olive oil with bread is always good, but this table side addition of salt and pepper took it to an entirely different height of deliciousness.

I enjoyed the branzino fish special of the evening. It was light, an accompanied by perfectly cooked assortment of fresh vegetables with a butter and white wine sauce. (Even though I don’t speak Italian or French, I can figure out key words describing food.)

Mr. Jones had the veal Marsala, which he devoured.

We enjoyed both with a tasty Italian red wine recommended by our waiter.

Dining at Gallo Nero was our favorite dining experience in Belgium, and it did not involve waffles, frites, chocolate, cocktails, rose wine or tomato soap, although we enjoyed all of those specialties during our visit to Antwerp.

For a fantastic Italian dining experience in the historic part of Antwerp, we highly recommend the Restaurant Gall Nero at 36 Grote Pieter Potstraat.

What is your favorite Belgium food? Please share in comments below.

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17 Fun Facts About Ghent, Belgium

by Janis on June 21, 2015

With a population of 248,739 residents, Ghent is Belgium’s second largest city.

Ghent is spelled Gent in Dutch and Gand in French.

Since Ghent is located in the Flemish Region of Belgium, Starbucks uses the Dutch spelling on its coffee mugs.

We learned these 17 interesting facts about Ghent before and during our late May visit to Belgium.

Buildings along the Leie river in the city center of Ghent, Belgium.

1. Ghent began as a settlement at the confluence of the Scheldt and Leie Rivers in the Middle Ages, although archaeological discoveries date human presence in the region back to the Stone Age.

2. Historians believe that the name for Ghent was derived from the Celtic word ganda which means confluence.

3. Back in the 11th century Ghent was the second biggest city in Northern Europe after Paris, with its growth driven by its leadership in cloth production and trading.

4. The grass marshes in the areas around Ghent were ideal for herding sheep. The sheep provided wool used in making cloth. The demand for wool from Ghent was so massive that it had to be imported from England and Scotland. The wool cloth merchants accumulated significant wealth and power in governing of the city.

The Roman Emperor and King of Spain Charles V was born in Ghent in 1500.

5. In 1500, Juana of Castile gave birth to Charles V, who became Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain. Although native to Ghent, Charles V wasn’t exactly friendly to the people of Ghent, ordering people who crossed him to be decapitated, burned or even buried alive in those days.

6. Ghent has always been know as a city of rebels.

7. After the winning the Revolt of Ghent in 1539, Charles V humiliated the people of Ghent by having city’s nobles to parade around the city barefoot with a noose (Dutch: “strop”) around their necks; since this incident, the people of Ghent have been called “Stroppendragers” (noose bearers).

8. Much of the Ghent’s medieval architecture remains remarkably well preserved and restored. Cars are banned in the city center, and the cobblestone streets are filled with people walking, biking or taking the public trams. The city center of Ghent is Belgium’s largest carfree area.

9. A cruise on the canals is a good way to view Ghent’s highlights and learn about it’s history from an entertaining boat driver. Boat tours are offered daily between April and October, and on weekends between November and March.

10. The Gravensteen Castle or the Castle of the Counts is a medieval castle is situated in the middle Ghent. While the top of the castle offers superb views of the city, the inside today houses a torture museum.

11. Ghent is a university city with 65,000 students, more than 25 percent of its population.

12. According to the tourism office, Ghent is home to 653 restaurants, 620 cafes, and 250 different kinds of beer.

13. Ghent is known for purple cone-shaped, jelly-filled candies called cuberdons or neuzekes (‘noses’). You can buy Ghent noses (Ghentse neuzen)at street stalls that specialize in these overly-sweet candies.

The Ghent Festival in 2014. Photo by Gordito1869.

14. Two million visitors attend the 10-day-long “Ghent Festival” (Gentse Feesten in Dutch) every year.

15. The Gent Jazz Festival is held each summer. On July 12, 2015 legendary jazz crooner Tony Bennett and pop signer Lady Gaga will perform together at the Jazz Festival in Ghent.

16. The city of Ghent promotes a meat-free day every Thursday called Donderdag Veggiedag. Vegetarian food is promoted in dining rooms for civil servants, elected officials, and in public schools.

17. Ghent is said to have the world’s largest number of vegetarian restaurants per capita.

What fun fact can you add about Ghent, Belgium? Please share in comments below.

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A New “Behind the Scenes” Video from Carnival on Its Vista Ship Construction

by Janis on June 19, 2015

The Carnival Vista, the newest cruise ship from Carnival Cruise Line slated to begin guest service on May 1, 2016, is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.

The Skyride at Sports Square on Carnival Vista — The SkyRide at Sports Square on the Carnival Vista. Photo copyright by Carnival Cruise Line.

Carnival claims that its new 1,055-foot-long vessel will not only be the largest in the Carnival fleet, it will also be the most innovative.

We are intrigued by the “SkyRide” – which appears to be a personal seat on a cable-car-like ride around the ship. The SkyRide has been described as “allowing guests to zip around a bike course high above the deck (See the prototype in the photo above.)

Carnival Cruise Line has released the first video in a new monthly behind-the-scenes video series to track the shipbuilding process of the Carnival Vista.

The first video, titled “Birds’ Eye View” features host Peter Gonzalez as he takes you on his 5,132-mile journey from Miami to Monfalcone, Italy, to document Carnival Vista’s 26-month construction.

In this first impressive video, Peter ventures high above the Fincantieri shipyard to demonstrate the incredible size of Carnival Vista while highlighting the painstaking process for cutting and assembling the 150,000 tons of steel needed to build the massive 1,055-foot-long vessel.

Future segments in the video series include preparations, both on board and ashore, to create the line’s first on-board brewery, a below-deck look at the ship’s technical spaces, and the logistics of installing the three-deck-high IMAX Theater.

Another video gives a virtual tour of the exciting features of the new Carnival Vista.

The Carnival Vista is scheduled to sail on 8-13 days Mediterranean beginning on May 1, 2016. The ship will then transition to New York via a 13-day Transatlantic cruise scheduled for October 21, 2016, before it begins 5-8 day Caribbean cruises from Miami year-round.

Will you consider a cruise on the new Carnival Vista? Would you prefer to sail the ship in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean? Please share in comments below.

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A Peek Inside the Hilton Antwerp Old Town Hotel

by Janis on June 17, 2015

During our late-May trip to Belgium, we enjoyed a three-night stay at the Hilton Antwerp Old Town hotel.

The hotel has a perfect location for discovering Antwerp’s historical center. The City Hall and main square is less than a five minute walk.

The five-story hotel is quite large, with long, twisting hallways. We stayed in room 547 on the Executive Floors.

As Hilton Diamonds members, we had access to the Executive Lounge which is open daily from 0600 to 2300. While breakfast was served in the Executive Lounge, we were given the option of having breakfast in the first-floor restaurant, which offered a full buffet of European breakfast specialties.

The rooms are a little dated but still very comfortable. There were plenty of plugs (after a bit of searching) and a nice working desk.

Room 547 features a built-in closet and refrigerator.

We appreciated the beer the complimentary beer in our room from the hotel manager, but since the refrigerator was an automatic mini-bar, so you could not chill the beer in it.

The bathroom was spacious, with decent lighting.

The tub featured an adjustable shower head. The towels were sparse.

Our bottom line on the Hilton Antwerp Old Town Hotel:

We found the staff to be professional, and engaging.
The location of this hotel is stellar for being in the center of Antwerp’s stunning Old Town historic center.
The hotel is a Hilton HHonors Reward Category 6, and we considered it a good use of points.
The executive lounge, and the breakfast in the restaurant offered to Hilton Diamond members is outstanding.
If visiting Antwerp again, we would return to the Hilton Antwerp.

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