Lately, I feel as if the world is traveling back in time. Sometimes that can be good, like when your time machine takes you to the Belgian province of Limburg. Turn your clock back and see what rural life looked like in Flanders hundreds of years ago. If you are a history buff or just […]
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I’ve been to hundreds of offbeat places, but Baarle may be one of the most unique. Just try to figure out what country you are in at any given time. Color me confused. This tiny village, which straddles the Belgium/Netherlands border, is a crazy collection of Belgian enclaves that lie within Dutch territory. And those
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Europeans are so open about sexuality and nudity. That still surprises me as an American. Nude beaches are scattered across France and Spain, where even the grannies and grandpas are free of tan lines. Mixed sexes mingle in German health spas — clad only in their birthday suits. Iceland has a quirky penis museum in
What I’ve Learned about European Attitudes Read More »
It’s always interesting to get an American’s take on Europe. This week’s topic is toilets. Seriously. Not everyone knows that we generally pay to use public toilets here. It was a shock to me at my first highway rest stop. I’d like to spare you the surprise. You may read my recent rave about guys
To Pee or Not To Pee, That Is The Question Read More »
Millions of wildflowers are blossoming across Belgium, and we’re going wild over the colors. Breathtaking purple blooms decorate forest floors, and brilliant yellow daffodils light up fields, meadows, and hillsides. Yes, it’s April and time for the annual display of bluebells and narcissi! You have to be lucky to catch both bluebells and daffodils at
Going Wild in Belgium Read More »
Spring is finally here, and Europe is exploding with color. In the Netherlands, that means it’s tulip time. There are some things you HAVE to see on your international travels. In Paris, it’s the Eiffel Tower. In Egypt, it’s the pyramids. And in the Netherlands, it’s the tulips, or more specifically, Keukenhof! Keukenhof has been
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I’ve always been puzzled by the fascination with Mannekin Pis. Why do people flock to see a bronze statue of a young boy urinating into a fountain? In grade school, I first learned about Mannekin Pis when a neighborhood boy showed a miniature statue to a giggling group of girls. I had no idea that
Mannekin Pis: A Little Statue with a Big Following Read More »
With COVID restrictions and lockdowns, I haven’t had international guests for more than two years. But that all ends next week when my brother and sister-in-law arrive from the U.S. Since it’s their first trip to Europe, I sent them a few travel tips. It may be old news for frequent flyers, but after two
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I’ve always been a William Wordsworth fan. His “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” is one of my favorite poems. Maybe because I love daffodils. An image of tens of thousands of daffodils is conjured up in my head whenever I think of the poem. This week, Wordsworth’s poem came to life with a visit
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There are few places in France as magical as Giverny, a quaint village that lies just 50 miles from Paris. Claude Monet, the father of Impressionism, discovered this gateway to Normandy as he glanced out of a train window back in 1883. I was lucky to discover it, too. Drive from Paris, and the rolling
Magical Monet: Discover The Giverny Inspiration Read More »
