It finally happened to me. The person who always advises visitors to watch out for pickpockets, got pickpocketed. I guess I was really right when I told people how good the pickpockets are in Europe. They are real pros. You won’t even feel them grab things. The Wrong Coat I usually go out with my …
I am so sick of dark skies and rain! If you’re like me and dislike the long, dark days of winter, you may want to find a way to fight winter blues. I found one: light therapy with a daylight lamp. My magical lamp has boosted my energy, diminished my sleep problems, enhanced my mood, …
Winter has been bearing down on much of the Northern Hemisphere. Record low temperatures and wind chills are plaguing people across the U.S. In New York City and Washington, D.C., the biggest storm in years reared its ugly head. Even here in Belgium, Mother Nature has sent some of the white stuff. We haven’t seen …
Walking in a Winter Wonderland: Wisconsin Ice Caves Read More »
People often ask me what I miss about living in the U.S. Well, there’s one thing I DON’T miss: Minnesota winters. As temperatures dip below zero Celsius here in Europe (in the 30s Celsius), people are whinging about the frost and cold. Ah, if they only knew what winter was like in Minnesota. First, it …
Europe is lighting up! Glowing holiday illuminations brighten up the dark winter skies as Christmas markets spring up across the continent. Millions of people are heading to the markets to capture the spirit of the season. Even the Grinch would get into the holiday spirit here. Vendors across Europe have settled into wooden chalets to …
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 …
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 »
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 …
Snow. It’s probably the four-letter word I hate the most. I’ve never been a skier or a great fan of winter. Growing up in the Midwest, where lake=effect snow made winters unbearable, seeded my hatred of snow. Undergraduate school in Ithaca, New York, and decades in Upstate New York cemented my opinion of the evil …
