This scene is in the Patershol neighbourhood of Gent, a few hundred metres from my apartment.

Last night it was pleasantly warm on the street.  Fifty steps above, in my apartment, I couldn’t get the temperature below 27 Celsius (80 Fahrenheit).

Actually I could have lowered it some … if I’d opened the windows.  The tradeoff is noise vs. warmth.  We’re beginning Gentse Feesten, a giant street party that attracts about 180,000 visitors every day.  In Gent centrum, where I live, it’s sometimes an all night thing.

Oh well.

As I’ve told many people, I signed up for Belgium 18 months ago.  I wanted to change countries, to call Gent home … and here I am.  No air conditioning.  But so much beauty.

My goal for the next week is to get six hours of sleep a night.  That may be elusive.  (Smile) 

I have a tiny electric cooler that spent last night about sixty centimetres (two feet) from my nose.  I also have a “white noise” machine that cuddled close when the decibels ran rampant.  They both helped.

On I go into tonight, tomorrow night and beyond.  Walking the streets and enjoying the music in the evenings.  Loving my pillow in the wee hours.