Life is good, but I am taking a wee break to whine about wine — or the lack of a 2021 vintage from Chez Deb. My pathetic vegetable and herb garden should have been a clue that my grape crop was doomed. We had a very early frost this year, forcing buds to appear earlier …
Sip a German beer at a cafe high in the sky, explore a centuries-old town and take a step back into earlier monastic times at an ancient library. Mark these three places on your travel map: Ebenalp, Appenzell and St. Gallen. What do you think of when you think of Switzerland? Snow-capped mountains, world class …
On June 18, the French put the U.S. on its list of green countries. Hurray! With France opening its doors to Americans again, it’s time to celebrate. And why not do it with a glass of champagne — in the region of its birth? Champagne: The Universal Beverage of Celebration The Champagne Region is located …
I’ve never seen such strong, unrelenting rain as that which I witnessed last Thursday. Each week, I look at the weather forecast to determine my biking days. If rain is scheduled for the afternoon, I cycle in the morning. Last week, I had no idea that a once-in-a century weather event was about to hit. …
It’s nearly Bastille Day, and now that France has opened its borders to American travellers, it’s time to think about some cool places to go. Nowhere is the sheer opulence of French life in centuries past more apparent than in the chateaux of the Loire Valley. Think of them as luxurious country castles. Plan a …
Sanity is a disappearing commodity when it comes to travel. Yep, that’s what I’ve decided. Just think about travel today. Then, think about travel 20, 30 or 40 years ago. Kind of different, right? With lockdown restrictions relaxing, more and more people are returning to public transport. They’re jumping on buses and hopping onto airplanes. But …
Wanderlust. It’s an “affliction” I’ve had since my youth, the desire to explore new places and discover new things. In my late teens, I traveled all over Europe visiting capital cities and countries. There was Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, to name a few. But Belgium wasn’t …
Wanderlust & The Best of Europe – Why Not Belgium? Read More »
Want to feel like a royal? For three weeks each year, the Royal Greenhouses in Laeken are open to mere mortals, providing a peek at the spectacular parkland, floral and plant displays enjoyed by the royals year-round. This Belgian tradition has carried on for more than a century. Unfortunately, the gardens were closed during 2020 …
Am I what, you ask? Are you needle phobic and avoiding vaccination? Well, then you may have trypanophobia. It’s more common than you think. And that fright can negatively impact your life. Want To Travel? Vaccinations are important in the fight against disease, and some countries require them to enter. They include inoculations for meningococcal …
There are five things you HAVE to try when traveling to Belgium. We’ll keep it short and sweet. CHOCOLATE: Okay, if you’re like me, when you think of Belgium, you think of chocolate. After nearly five years of living here, I may never be able to eat American chocolate again. And that’s not a bad …
