Did you know that you can see from a tram in a day the entire Belgian coastline of the North Sea from the border with the Netherlands until reaching the dunes of sand near France? C’est posible!
Continue reading “The Belgian Coast & De Kusttram”
Memories, emotions and also less happy events from 2022 unfold in my mind. I browse through all to remember the sunset in Portugal, a reunion in Sweden, days in nature and time spend on a Greek island.
I traveled more than I expected. I remember spring days in Brussels and nights in Berlin. The midsummer light in Paris after work and the streets of Vienna before German classes.
Continue reading “2022 Wanderlust Diary”
Similar to Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, the spirit of Christmas pasts in Brussels visited me – from a time when I used to be in the holiday frame of mind, unlike this year. Although is never too late.
The markets in Brussels were festive and even magical, but most important, also gourmet. After all, Belgium is the country of chocolate, waffles, bier and fries.
Continue reading “Christmas Past – Bruxelles”
Briefing from the European capital – a promenade bruxelloise and Belgian days, years later, on memory lane, thinking in French. I could walk for hours in Bruxelles, among paths imprinted in my heart, in a city that felt like home from day one. Beautiful corners in places I’ve been with details I’ve never noticed, and moments I remember.
And a thought – no matter the choice, if we leave or return, we’ll always miss something.
Continue reading “Brussels briefing”
October flashbacks, as one fall in Brussels was unforgettable because was all about Art Nouveau. Inoubliable. And very Bruxelloise! Made many notes and photos so I don’t forget. Art Nouveau and Art Deco Biennale was a celebration of Architecture and design variety of buildings in Brussels.
Where to begin?
Continue reading “Bruxelles ~ Art Nouveau & Art Deco Marathon”
There is something about European train stations and time. The most beautiful train station I ever saw with magnificent details was in Antwerp. The classic central station was first used in 1905 (yes, really). The city, known as Anvers by French speakers, is one I feel connected by many memories, and must be the third most visited Belgian city in the years I lived in this country, after Brussels and Bruges.
Continue reading “Antwerpen Central Station”
Le Tapis de Fleurs de Bruxelles or Brussels Flower Carpet, build in Grand Place, takes place every 2 years in August. This was one of my favorite events ever and a precious memory. What an extraordinary feeling to be in that UNESCO heritage site – a beautiful square filled with flowers, and to notice a smell of begonias mixed with waffles and chocolate. The scent I associate with Brussels ever since.
Continue reading “Brussels Flower Carpet”
Revisiting past memories is an opportunity for closure and to look at things from a different light. With clichés and all. In my Belgian years I tried to travel often inside the country and understand Belgium as much as possible. What I remember about Bruges is the vintage atmosphere and smell of gingerbread mixed with melancholy, where I felt like Gretel.
Continue reading “In Bruges / Brügge”
As we are wrapping the year 2019 and a decade, I was reflecting these days at what I have achieved & what I have learned. In 2019, this online travel journal was opened. And I had a new start in Berlin.
Continue reading “My Year 2019”
Besides to much information about chocolate, living in Brussels I got to know the city very well while attending events, working, learning French and discovering places. I was what people call a “social butterfly”.
So when you have a limited amount of time in the city of Brussels, let’s say just a weekend, you should put on your list the following 7 locations and events.
The neighbourhood with the European institutions in Brussels is a piece of Europe within Europe. Initially, I wanted to write about places to visit in Brussels and a small paragraph about the European institutions and the elections today, and in the end, the following piece turned out. It became o plea for being critical, optimist, base everything on facts. How my mind works while thinking … Continue reading Heart of Europe
Chocolate museums, chocolate fair, caffeine fix in Brussels and final thoughts. Conclusion – balanced diet is having chocolate in both hands.
Time for more chocolate. If you travel to Brussels or live there and you like chocolate, you can call yourself lucky!
In this second part we will cover Royal chocolate, the rebel Pierre Marcolini and 3 Brussels based places, just for chocolate ‘connoisseurs’.
This story was written after my chocolate trail during my last month in a place I called home for almost 4 years.
Thus, it was my way of honoring Brussels, my adoptive city. Continue reading “From Brussels with chocolate. Part I”
Brussels, Belgium
~ “We only have two hours, can we make it?” We have to discuss two proposals today: one to implant microchips into European citizens and one for a new water directive. Members of the Parliament (MEPs) and Council negotiators must strike a deal.” ~
I was playing with the option of building my own website since January 2014, during the time his picture was taken in Brussels, just an idea how much it took me to get started.
And 5 years later, here I am, writing finally my first post.
Thanks for joining me!
Travel Journal 