Posts Tagged ‘Europe’
Visiting Brussels’ Atomium
Paris has the Eiffel Tower, Rome the Colosseum. In London it’s Big Ben, and outside of Beijing it’s the Great Wall. Brussels has – er, well – either (take your pick) a tiny statue of a urinating boy or a large model of an atom built 165 billion times its natural size. While I have…
Read MoreReason #5389 to love Rome: Golden Gala 2018
I’ve been going each year to this annual international track meet, a part of the Diamond League competitions, ever since my track-obsessed younger son began running at seven years old. This has become a tradition for us each May or June when this international meet arrives in the Eternal City – at the Olympic stadium…
Read MoreMarket day in Forcalquier, France
We loved visiting the medieval town of Forcalquier in France’s Provence region on its bustling market day. Forcalquier is in eastern Provence, to the north of the larger town of Manosque. We visited on market day, which is a busy and bustling time for what must otherwise be a sleepy town. Forcalquier’s heyday was back in…
Read MoreBooks and more in Banon, France
We loved discovering this pretty, medieval town in the French region of Alpes de Haute Provence, in eastern Provence. We had already discovered western Provence’s Luberon Valley on an earlier trip, but on our visit last summer we based ourselves in the eastern town of Reillane and explored the nearby region. There are still plenty…
Read MoreA birds’ eye view of Gent, Belgium
I’ve already written about the visit with my youngest son to visit the charming, medieval town of Ghent, in Belgium. It was my first time in that picture-perfect town, which was rendered even more beautiful by the warm spring sunshine. My son and I did what we always do when we visit a new town…
Read MoreBasking in the spring sunshine in Gent/Gand, Belgium
On a recent trip to Brussels with my younger son, we took advantage of the spectacular spring weather to make a day trip to a Flemish city I’d never visited – Gent in Flemish, Gand in French. It’s only a short train trip from Brussels’ Central Station. Of course, the advantage of tiny Belgium is…
Read MoreScaling Europe’s largest sand dune – in France
Last summer on holiday in France’s Aquitaine region, I couldn’t miss the chance to visit the Dune du Pyla. I’d long been curious to visit Europe’s highest sand dunes. I’d seen their spectacular images in photos often enough, but on various trips to France I’d never been close enough to merit a stop-by. This time…
Read MoreBruges by bike
My younger son and I enjoyed a long weekend in Brussels earlier this month, and while there we had a great time visiting the medieval city of Bruges. A Belgian colleague had told me about a bike trail leading from Gent/Gand to Bruges – a 45-kilometer bike towpath trail along a canal. With the benefit…
Read MoreEnjoying the ‘Sardine Festival’ in Guethary, France
I’ve already written about Guéthary, the Pays basque coastal town where my family and I vacationed last year. One of the last evenings staying in Guéthary, we stumbled onto a sardine festival being held on a panoramic point along the sea, so we decided to join in. We had a great time sitting on picnic…
Read MoreTurin’s art deco galleries
When you’re in Piedmont’s capital of Turin, you must be sure to visit the city’s wonderful shopping galleries. They are ideal for the less-than-perfect weather in northern Italy, and maintain their original art deco charm. The first gallery constructed in Turin was at the request of the Marquis Natta d’Alfano, and constructed by the architect…
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