Across the Normandy Countryside to Vimy
We start our drive out of France, our longest stay in one country since Australia, by heading to Dieppe (pronounced, we learned last night, as “deep” in Kiwi) and onwards towards the beaches of Normandy and, ultimately Vimy....
The Day Before All Souls
It is the day before All Souls Day, and it seems appropriate today that we join friends and family as they visit the graves of their loved ones, for we will visit a couple of the many WWI cemeteries that dot this part of the...
The Sylvan Dutch Landscape: A Lovely Childhood Memory
We stayed up later than we had expected last night, sharing a nightcap and talking with our hosts Stephane and Michael, so we all sleep in a bit. After breakfast, we have time only to walk into town and turn back around before we...
The Long History of Le Mont-St-Michel
Mont St Michel's ramparts and fortifications resisted the English assaults 3 times during the 100 Years War, but today they succumb to the thousands of tourists who assault Le Mount Saint Michel and storm the many stairs to the...
A Foggy Drive to Brussels
Ugh, my head! We try not to wake Fred and Michiel this morning as we tiptoe around the apartment and grab a coffee before we head out the door. They are awake anyway and wish us well and we say our final goodbyes and head to...
In Ghent and Antwerpen: Following Where Our Eyes Lead Us
After a wonderful breakfast at which we toasted Yves’ birthday, we walk back into old Ghent, and find that the centre is much larger than we had anticipated – and all of it has kept its look and feel.
A Quick Day Trip to Bruges
from the followsummer archive Today is All Souls Day and a holiday in Belgium and indeed much of Europe. It is also our last day in Europe and we must do our final repack and organize the return of the car when we arrive for our...
Heading Down Argentine Way
Kilometres driven in Europe since June 16: 19,796! It is a sad day today as we leave the comfort of Yves and Marc’s great home, and Europe, to continue our journey to Argentina and the last leg of this year-long journey. Our time...
An Entire Year of Following Summer.
A day of travel and time for contemplation. The beginning of a year of living in the moment, following an intense period of planning, when it often seemed that we spent all our time living in the future as we laid the groundwork...
Traveling in the Land of Charlemagne
N 51° E 003° Köln via Aachen to Gent: 303 kilometres Charlemagne is in evidence everywhere through these parts: his name, in its Latin, German, Dutch and Flemish forms appears on road signs schools, and bars as we drive through...