Joint COMBAR-ACSRPC meeting

The American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control held a joint meeting with COMBAR: Combating Anthelmintic Resistance in Ruminants (our European counterparts). The meeting was held in Ghent (Gent), Belgium. I had two presentations: one oral and one poster. 

Our consortium (top) and all attendees (bottom)

I had little knowledge of Belgium and Ghent before I went. Belgium is best known for being the headquarters for the EU and NATO. The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. The capitol is Brussels. Jean-Claude Van Damme is the "Muscles from Brussels." I flew into Brussels. It took a long time to get through the airport. I waited for my colleagues (friends) before traveling to Ghent via public transportation.

The venue was so hot. No A/C!

Where we stayed (Joan and I)

There was time to be tourists.

Dinner with friends/colleagues (Tom, me, Jim, Carole, and Joan)

Ghent, Belgium

Ghent, while important during the Middle Ages (second only to Paris), is now mostly a college town. We toured the castle, did a walking tour, took a canal ride, and went kayaking. We did a lot of walking.  It is a very walkable city. The historic district was closed off to cars. Throughout my stay in Belgium, my travel companions were Joan, Linda, Jim, and Carole. I roomed with Joan, as we have many times in the past at professional meetings. 

Ghent is built on canals and rivers.

Watching the boats go by.

We went kayaking.

Ghent is a college town.

Ghent has many historical buildings.

Clock tower, St. Nicholas church, and Belfry

Panoramic views

The Friday market is one of the oldest market squares in Ghent. It gets its name from the weekly tradition to hold a market on Friday mornings. The centerpiece of the plaza is the statue of Jacob van Artevelde (a Flemish leader and statesman) who was murdered on the site in 1345. One of the most unique buildings in Ghent is the "sheep shed (or barn)." The city pavilion was built in 2012 and provoked controversy because its design did not fit the historical landscape of Ghent.

Friday Market

Jacob

The Sheep Shed

Piano player

Sasha, a resident of Ghent

 Ghent has a sculpture of a giant roll of toilet paper. The Ghent Design Museum put the sculpture there when the city denied their expansion plans.

Who knew that Belgium, and specifically Ghent, would be such a wonderful place to visit. I highly recommend it to travelers. It is a hidden gem of Europe.

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Post created 16 June 2024

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Dairy goats in Belgium

August 29, 2019 -- After the COMPAR conference in Ghent, we/I visited two dairy goat farms. One had 1100 does and was organic. The other had about 200 and made and marketed their own cheese. The goats were kept indoors on both farms. The door was kept open at one of the farms so the goats could go outside (they didn't much).

Posing with some curious ladies

All Sannen

Indoor housing

Eating silage

Saying hello

Automatic waterer

Getting a back rub

Electronic ID (R)

Front and center

Access to outdoors

Cubicles for rearing kids

Read "Dairy Goats in the Land of Chocolate"

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Post created 10 May 2026

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Castle of the Count

Ghent has a castle: Gravensteen or the "Castle of the Count." It is a medieval fortress that dates to 1180. It is known for its dungeon and torture chambers. It was restored in the 19th century. Gravensteen was the residence of the Counts of Flanders until 1353. No one has lived there for centuries. It has been repurposed many times, having been a court, prison, mint, and even a cotton factory.

Gravensteen

Castle of the Count

The only time the castle has been occupied by someone other than its owners was in 1949 when students took over the castle to protest the price of beer. It was an enjoyable castle to tour and view from the canal.

The Royal Throne

The view from the clock tower

Windows

Glass window

Count and Countess

The lower chambers of the castle contained a dungeon.

Dungeon door

Tools of torture

Graffiti Alley

I like generally graffiti. I admit: sometimes it defaces places. Sometimes it's where it shouldn't be. But most of the time, I like it. It's a peaceful way to express one's feelings. To protest, sometimes. There was a graffiti alley (or street) in Ghent (Gent), Belgium. It was established in 1995 and is located in the historic center of Ghent. Here, artists can create spray-can art to their heart's delight. 

Graffiti Alley, c. 1995

If only it were true.

Who doesn't love a Teddy Bear?

The art is constantly changing. According to AI, sometimes the alley is painted white to give artists a fresh start. It's an unwritten rule that you're not supposed to cover up someone else's work, unless your art is better quality. Who decides that?

Penguin, since 2009

Street art:  no rules

The wall

    Not sure what this purpose thing is

See video walking down street

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Post created 18 May 2026

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