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Musée De La Vie Rurale En Wallonie

One of the more interesting museums I visited this past month was the open-air Musée de la vie rurale en Wallonie. It is a remarkable compound in Saint-Hubert, on a nature reserve, consisting of original and reproduced structures representing provincial, rural life in 18th and 19th century Belgium. This area is referred to as Fourneau St. Michel and there are …

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Japan In Belgium

I’ve probably seen more of the country of Belgium than many Belgians, and it’s starting to become a challenge to find new surprises there. But on this particular trip I stumbled across Japan in Belgium at Hasselt’s Japanese Garden, designed and constructed with the collaboration of Hasselt’s Japanese sister city, Itami. The design is based on the traditional Japanese tea …

Château de Franc-Waret

It’s tax day in the US today and while some of you are running around trying to beat the deadline, I’m also running around like a glutton for punishment. Because yes, to get to visit another castle–this time it’s the “working” castle, Château de Franc-Waret in Fernelmont, Belgium– I’d have to cross through lots of fields and gardens in all …

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Feather Factor

As some of you may already know by now, I’ve made it across the Atlantic. Spring is in full bloom in Europe and as beautiful as it is to be here at this time of the year, my allergies have me whipped. No, not whipped. Whooped. No signs of jet lag, but all the symptoms of allergies have been magnified …

Oostende

I’ve been invited to visit the beach towns along the North Sea so I pack a small overnighter and hop yet another train to the town of Oostende: The last time I was here, it was freezing cold and I had the entire boardwalk to myself. On this occasion, however, the entire country of Belgium is on the beach. It’s …