"A guild is an association of artisans or merchants who oversee the practice of their craft in a particular town. They were organized in a manner something between a professional association, a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society. A lasting legacy of traditional guilds are the guildhalls constructed and used as meeting places."
We had no idea that mussels is a traditional Belgium specialty food - but they were excellent. Gerri had hers steamed in white wine, mine in Chimay beer. And Belgian fries - not sure what to say about them, they were just regular fries anywhere we tried them - maybe it's the lack of skins, but I've had far superior fries in the New World (after all the potato came from there originally).
Ghent
It's like we're back in Venice, but without the gondoliers - as we now get into the lowlands of those parts of Belgium and the Netherlands, the canals are everywhere.
Bruges
More canals, more great beer.
On the right, Tim ahead of Gerri leaving Bruges, among our favorite locales in recent times.
Flanders
And then, while still in Flanders, we had a quest - to acquire what some beer lovers claim is the best beer ever brewed - Westvleteren 12. Trappist monks brew it within their abbey here. Across their three beers, the "8,10, and 12" they make 60,000 cases/year, or 1.44 million bottles a year. Sounds like a lot doesn't it, but by typical craft brewery standards that's not. Their distribution process - it's simple - you go to the abbey and either buy it by the 6-pack at the tavern across the street, or you make an appointment to buy a limit of two cases per month directly from the abbey. The tavern is open 5 days/week.
We picked the right day and made our attempt to buy the vaunted Westvleteren 12 - success! The aerial photo below is not ours, but that's the abbey. The photo of the boxed beer is ours - we bought our limit of two per car - 50 Euro total - we didn't want the two glasses in each box, but that's how it comes.
We also tried the "12" and the "8" on site - they are awesome Belgian beers. "The best beer in the world" - that's hard to claim - it's like what's the best car in the world, it depends on what you want in a car, and opinions can be unlimited. But the quest was complete, and that's all that matters.
On the right photo, and the wide view below it, this yacht can be rented for trips.