The Northern Lights had been on my bucket list for years. A few years ago, for my birthday ending in zero, I traveled to Iceland with two of my closest friends. People told me don’t expect to see the lights; it will be a pleasant surprise if you do. We planned a fun itinerary so […]
Chasing the Northern Lights in Norway Read More »
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
Snow: The Four-Letter Word I Hate Read More »
Do you feel like you are living Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day adventure? I do. The coronavirus lockdowns in Belgium actually started on my birthday two years ago. Now, we are just two months away from our three-year mark. Each month, I think this COVID-19 insanity will go away or at least diminish. Yet, with the
It’s Not Over – Fifth Wave of COVID Hits Belgium Read More »
I thought I knew the regions of France fairly well, but the Opal Coast was new to me. I had never heard of it. Well, I’d heard of Dunkirk and Calais, but knew little about them and nothing about the two cliffs that make the area famous. The Opal Coast, or Côte d’Opale, extends over
The Opal Coast – One of France’s Lesser-Known Jewels Read More »
With more than 10 million visitors a year, the Louvre in Paris is the world’s most visited museum. It’s also the world’s largest, so it’s not surprising that it can be a bit overwhelming. I could spend a week there and still feel like I haven’t seen everything. I’d probably be right, too. But if
Compact Louvre-Lens Brings Masterpieces to the Masses Read More »
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Turkey roasting in the oven, the smell of fresh pies baking (especially my friend Anne’s masterpieces), mounds of mashed potatoes, and sweet potato casserole. And family and friends. Each year, we travel from places near and far to be together for an annual feast and day of gratitude.
COVID Canceled Thanksgiving Read More »
COVID-19 may be on the rise in much of Europe, but pent-up travel desires seem to be exploding. Airports and rail stations are seeing travelers return, which makes airlines and rail companies optimistic about the future. Brussels-Midi station is busy again! Of course, all of this travel is being done with vaccinations required, masks being
Plane, Train or Automobile? Brussels-Midi May Be The Answer, Read More »
Business or pleasure? Are you among those who mix business travel with pleasure travel? Take a business trip and take the family along? Count yourself among the lucky ones who have discovered bleisure travel. Instead of quickly jetting in and out midweek, why not plan meetings for Mondays or Fridays and take advantage of free
Are You a Bleisure Traveler? Read More »
Cultural immersion! That’s been one phrase that best describes my experience in Belgium. When I moved to Flanders in 2016, I didn’t speak a word of Dutch or Flemish. So, what’s the difference between the two languages? My American friends always ask me this question. Hmm. What’s the best explanation? The difference is kind of
Cultural Immersion at the Schlagerfestival Read More »
After five years in Europe, you’d think I would have figured out this whole metric system. Ah, no. That has not happened. I still have no idea about my height in centimeters, my weight in kilos or my body temperature in Celsius. And European sizes? Good luck figuring that out. When I wake up in
Size Matters – The Mysterious Numbers in Europe Read More »
