It’s my one of my favorite times of year: Christmas market season! It’s an ideal time to visit Europe and immerse yourself in ancient traditions and festivities. From town squares dating back to the Middle Ages to fairytale German villages, you’ll be entranced by the settings for this seasonal merriment, which begins in November and …
I’m talking turkey, but no one is listening! It’s November, the month of my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving. Here in Europe, it’s just another day on the calendar. Color me blue. I miss family and friends and the camaraderie that comes with the holiday. And, of course, I miss my Butterball turkey! Some Americans living abroad …
When it comes to advance travel plans, I just can’t seem to get it right. For the third time in a row, it looks like another bucket list travel plan is foiled. Political unrest, wars, earthquakes, bad weather. There is so much that can go wrong. With more than 50 countries under my belt, my …
When my company relocated me to Belgium in 2016, I was clueless about this amazing country. Or, more accurately, I was totally clueless. So were many of my fellow Americans. In fact, I think only a handful of my friends and family (travel industry buddies excluded) could correctly mark Belgium on an unlabelled map. “Good …
Where should I make my forever home? I always thought it would be in the U.K. or Virginia. I could have moved to Mexico, Panama, or Portugal. My friends are enjoying inexpensive lives there. Some have retired and are living luxuriously for less than $1,000 a month! But no, I decided to move to Belgium. …
It’s almost Easter, the time of year when Belgians go a bit mad — with color, festivity, and, of course, beer. It’s carnival week. People let their hair down and don colorful wigs and crazy costumes for three days of revelry. It’s been a tradition since the Middle Ages! There are parades, music, and merriment. …
Planning a trip to Europe? If you are a shopaholic, mark your calendars for January and July. It’s the perfect time to do your European shopping, and with the dollar’s current strength against the euro, it’s time to grab your credit card and hop across the pond for the big, seasonal sales. While they aren’t …
The ball dropped in New York City’s Times Square, and fireworks blazed across the skies across the world. Yeah, it’s 2023. Hallelujah. It’s hard to believe that we could celebrate again after COVID forced so many festivities to be canceled for so long. In Europe, even the Christmas markets returned this season. Boy, I’d missed …
Experiencing The Best of Belgium During the Holidays Read More »
COVID-19 has been a nightmare for nearly three years, a nightmare I thought I’d avoided. I had four vaccinations and no infection, and even dated someone infected with the virus. Yet, I escaped it. Okay, I admit it. I was feeling a bit cocky. I dodged a bullet, or so I thought. And then, just …
Every four years, the world goes mad. Why? World Cup football, or soccer as we Yanks say, returns, pitting 32 teams against each other in a race for bragging rights — and $42 million in prize money. The runner-up gets $30 million. Just by qualifying for the competition, the players’ wallets get a bit thicker …
