Ostend, Belgium

Ostend, a city on the Belgian coast, is just a short train ride from Bruges. While there isn’t a lot to see in the city, the sea itself is more than enough reason for me to visit any place. What initially caught my attention while researching Ostend, however, was its food stalls. They resemble a street food market but are mostly focused on seafood. The pictures of giant lobsters and shrimps were absolutely irresistible—it would almost feel like a sin to say no to them! So, with high expectations and mouths already watering, off we went.

Like many stories of expectations versus reality, this one ended in disappointment. It turns out those impressive-looking lobsters were mostly made of flour—probably about 98% flour, to be honest. 😛 Think of the crab sticks you find in sushi—exactly like that. Of course, in hindsight, I should have known better. Who in their right mind would sell real lobsters on the street for just €10? I mean, duh. Well, marketing and capitalism got the better of me this time.

Aside from the disappointing “lobsters,” we did enjoy strolling along the coast. The sights and sounds of the waves are one of life’s simple, free pleasures. While exploring, we even stumbled upon a Filipino restaurant! This was surprising, considering Ostend isn’t the kind of city you’d expect to compete for attention alongside Brussels, Ghent, or Bruges. Still, seeing a familiar place that reminds you of home is always refreshing. Unfortunately, it was closed that day, so we ended up settling for ramen instead.