Belgium
Gent is a charming tourist town, big enough to have some real character, almost big enough to handle the crowds. Regrettably did not stay at Cafe Den Turk, as I was on a bit of a tight schedule-- as tempted as I was by an afternoon beer!
Bruges felt a good bit smaller, and while it may have been more scenic under the right conditions, today it felt a bit too overwhelmed by tourists. The waffles at Chez Albert were good, although it was hard to say if they were worth that kind of wait. And being Easter Sunday, a lot of restaurants were closed, leaving mostly disappointing tourist traps.
Both Gent and Bruges had more charm than Brussels, more original architecture, and both are a relatively easy train ride from Brussels. Well worth the visit, almost made me wish I'd stayed longer to visit Antwerp-- or maybe visited a few weeks later to see the tulip bloom nearby in the Netherlands.