Wednesday, January 9, 2013

The Belgium North Sea











According to a lot of internet research I did before our trip, DeHaan is the most beautiful coastal town in Belgium. There are still a lot of old historic buildings and only a few modern hotels. Downtown has a few supermarkets, bakeries and other little shops that were even open on Sundays and holidays. During the holiday season they also have a tiny Christmas market and an ice-skating ring.

The North Sea in December was wild and stormy and crazy in a wonderful way. On Christmas Eve we even saw a seal resting on a sandbank. Of course, that was the one and only time I had left my camera at the house.
Around DeHaan are miles and miles of hiking trails one can take to explore the coast which is something I would like to do during another visit. 

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Christmas In Bruges


When husband told us that because of work, he wouldn't be able to spend Christmas with us, I knew one thing for sure: there was no way I would celebrate Christmas at home without him. Way too depressing.
And that is why the kids and I, along with Fairy Godmother, rented a little cottage in DeHaan, right on the Belgium coast, nearby Bruges.


I had been to Bruges for the first time in spring, when husband took us there for my birthday and I fell  in love with it.





Small cobblestone streets, beautiful houses, tiny shops and little unexpected surprises lurk around every corner.


The canals, the history of Brugge...I love walking around there, taking this place in...









...and then, of course, there is the Belgium specialty of waffles, stacked high with home make ice-cream, bananas, whip cream and/or chocolate sprinkles...


...chocolate shop, next to chocolate shop...




...and last but not least, our Christmas Eve lunch of Belgium frittes with Samurai sauce, ketchup/mayonnaise/fresh onion sauce and Bicky sauce.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Harvest

Awfully late but important nonetheless...here are pics of daughter's first harvest.
She planted, assisted by our sweet older neighbor, a tiny little garden. We were the happy recipients of a few flowers, some herbs and the tiniest radishes I have ever seen.