Since Belgium doesn't celebrate Mother's Day, Ray and the girls could have just let May 11th pass like any other day, but instead, they were sweet enough to indulge me... So, we spent the day in a small town called Durbuy. Durbuy is not just any small town - it was once known as the smallest city in the world until 1977, when it fused its borders with neighboring villages.
A 1-1/2 hour drive from Tervuren and located in the Belgium province of Luxembourg, this charming town had lots of old houses, cobblestone streets and a beautiful setting next to a steep cliff rock (La Falize) on the banks of the Ourthe River. It was founded during the 11th century around a castle constructed by the Count of Luxembourg.
We arrived right around lunch time, so first on our agenda was to grab a bite to eat. We walked to a large courtyard filled with brasseries, cafes, chocolatiers, and quaint shops. Due to the beautiful warm sunny day, all the outdoor tables of almost every restaurant were filled with people enjoying their meals and just soaking up the sun. So, we joined the crowd and decided to eat at La Brasserie Ardennaise. My scampi and fresh rasberry salad accompanied by a glass of red wine was the perfect mother's day lunch.
After lunch we decided to take a trolley bus tour which took us to a spot high enough to give us a great panorama view of the city.
We then took a stroll to the castle and crossed the bridge overlooking the Ourthe River. Several kayaks were coming down fast under the bridge -- all occupants having a great time. Hoping to join in on the fun, Ray went to see about renting a kayak. Unfortunately, the line was at least a 2-hour wait. So instead, we proceeded to take a leisurely walk down the backside of the town alongside the river and back to our car -- just in time before the time on our parking ticket ran out.
Thank you Ray, DS, and PS for a wonderful mother's day!! And, Happy Mother's Day to you, GM!
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