It’s always interesting to get an American’s take on Europe. This week’s topic is toilets. Seriously. Not everyone knows that we generally pay to use public toilets here. It was a shock to me at my first highway rest stop. I’d like to spare you the surprise. You may read my recent rave about guys […]
To Pee or Not To Pee, That Is The Question Read More »
Millions of wildflowers are blossoming across Belgium, and we’re going wild over the colors. Breathtaking purple blooms decorate forest floors, and brilliant yellow daffodils light up fields, meadows, and hillsides. Yes, it’s April and time for the annual display of bluebells and narcissi! You have to be lucky to catch both bluebells and daffodils at
Going Wild in Belgium Read More »
Spring is finally here, and Europe is exploding with color. In the Netherlands, that means it’s tulip time. There are some things you HAVE to see on your international travels. In Paris, it’s the Eiffel Tower. In Egypt, it’s the pyramids. And in the Netherlands, it’s the tulips, or more specifically, Keukenhof! Keukenhof has been
Tulip Time in the Netherlands Read More »
With COVID restrictions and lockdowns, I haven’t had international guests for more than two years. But that all ends next week when my brother and sister-in-law arrive from the U.S. Since it’s their first trip to Europe, I sent them a few travel tips. It may be old news for frequent flyers, but after two
Ten Tips for International Flights Read More »
I’ve always been a William Wordsworth fan. His “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” is one of my favorite poems. Maybe because I love daffodils. An image of tens of thousands of daffodils is conjured up in my head whenever I think of the poem. This week, Wordsworth’s poem came to life with a visit
Wandering through the Daffodils Read More »
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 »
