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 […]
Want to Feel Like A King Or Queen For A Day? Read More »
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
Feeling Frightened? Are You Trypanophobic? Read More »
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
Five things you have to try in Belgium Read More »
Longing for a trip to Europe? Well, the wait may soon be over, fingers crossed. On Wednesday, the European Commission recommended reducing entry restrictions for people who have been vaccinated with one of four approved COVID-19 vaccines. The news broke on the European Commission’s Twitter feed: “We welcome the @EUCouncil agreement on updating the approach
The Buzz from Belgium Read More »
What’s that old saying? April showers bring May flowers? Well, April was not a typical month in Europe. The weather has been wacky! We started the month with a surprise snowfall. Really? And it seemed so much drier than last April, but unseasonably cold. In fact, it was the coldest spring in 35 years! Yes,
A Castle and Flowers Spells heaven Read More »
Do you have a secret place, a spot where you find peace and tranquility? A place that calls you back at the same time every year? For me, that place is a Flanders forest that explodes with color each spring. Find it in Flanders Each April, Hallerbos springs to life as wild hyacinths (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
Fairies Frolic in Flanders Forest Read More »
I am one of those crazy people who loves to visit grocery stores when traveling abroad. Yes, I love the museums, historic sites and natural attractions, but I often slip in a side trip to the supermarket. France, Germany, Kenya, Japan or the Philippines, you never know what kind of interesting local cuisine you’ll find.
Confessions of a Traveling Supermarket Nerd Read More »
Spring is a glorious time in Europe. From the world-famous Keukenhof tulips to Floralia 2021 Brussels at Kasteel van Groot Bijgaarden, western Europe seems to explode in color. Have you seen pictures of Keukenhof in the Netherlands, the world-famous park with millions of tulips blooming from March through April? It’s breathtaking. More than a million
Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Read More »
My Babymaker has arrived. No, it’s not some kind of IVF treatment. It’s a bicycle. Kind of a crazy name for an electric bike, right? If I was 20 years younger, I’d probably find it offensive, but I have to admit it is a conversation starter. The designers thought it would make people chuckle. Really?
I LOVE my New Baby Read More »
New words, crazy sex parties and cheap champagne. It’s a mad, mad world. We’re tired of all the COVID-19 restrictions and horrified by the rising death toll. Belgian borders are completely closed, and we can’t even go to another Schengen country! (That’s the area of 26 European countries where passport and border controls were abolished
News from Belgium: Surprising Pandemic Trends Read More »
