Europe’s second city, with a Yashica Mat 124G

We took the train for the 36 minute journey – a day trip would have been easy but we wanted to spend a few days away enjoying the food and local attractions. It was a pleasant 17degC (63 in old money) when we left and I hadn’t taken in my wife’s warnings that it was going to get colder. The next three days’ highs were in the 3-6deg (37-43) range so until I made an emergency trip to Primark to buy a pullover, hats, gloves and a scarf I was shivering, and even after donning that lot I was still cold having left my heavyweight coat behind.

I was carrying my Yashica Mat 124G, a roll of FP4+ and two rolls of Fomapan 100 and my Pixel phone as back-up or when my fingers (and very soul) were freezing. The film was later developed in PMK Pyro and scanned on my Sony A7Riii with a Sigma 105mm macro lens, post processing was no more than setting the black and white points with a straight line contrast curve.

After arriving we left our bags at the hotel and spent the afternoon doing a recce, starting to photograph in the evening when the freezing rain allowed. Lighting and weather generally over the three days was difficult, many rain showers, fleeting sunny periods but otherwise overcast and dull. The featured image (on FP4+) shows the St Michael’s Bridge in Gent/Ghent, Belgium. Gent was Europe’s second city during the 11th to 15th centuries (CE) after Paris, and was in the midst of the 80 years’ war (1568-1648) during which Catholics and Protestants fought and killed each other in the hundreds of thousands. Good old religion – I wonder in any were Christians. The city was a major inland port served by many canals and rivers running through the city – the bridge crosses the Leie canal and nearby the canal is surrounded by many impressive buildings including the Korenlei one side and the old post office (now shops and a very expensive hotel).

Looking east from the bridge we can see the St Nicholas’ Church, the Belfry and in the distance the St Bavo’s Cathedral which houses a famous medieval altarpiece the “Adoration of the Mystic Lamb”.

The Belfry, with the Cloth Hall in front, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Belfry was the main watchtower over the city – fire being one of the dangers – and housed the alarm bell. The Cloth Hall was the centre of the wool and cloth trade the source of much of Gent’s wealth.

Walking around the city I came across the following, at first sight a collection of body bags but filled with soil with a variety of flowering plants growing from them. Initially I assumed it was an Armistice Day exhibition but the nearby sign explained it was part of an exhibition from September drawing attention to the multiple wars (many religious) currently taking place around the world and the innocent deaths they cause.

The city has a superbly maintained virtually complete castle, Gravensteen (“The Castle of the Counts”), with the Leie canal forming a partial moat The most notable battle appears to have been the occupation on 16th November 1949 by students protesting against a new tax on beer. Public support ensured that none were prosecuted though the tax went ahead as planned.

Rabot is the site of fortified lock which controlled, and taxed, traffic entering the Leie canal. One side of the canal as now been filled in and the building remains as a monument to its former commercial and also military use.

Incidentally, on the first day and with freezing cold fingers I dived into WASBAR at Korenmarkt 37 for a hot coffee. There I was greeted by the Greek goddess of joy, Euphrosyne, one smile and winter turned to spring for a few moments. Recommended.

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