Day trips with GM and GP...

Here are just a few of the things we did with GM and GP during their recent visit here...

A trip to Namur, here in Belgium, where we took a walking tour through the old city. After a nice lunch in an outdoor cafe overlooking the Royal Theatre of Namur, we drove up to its Citadel. There we walked around and took a little train tour where we enjoyed spectacular birds-eye views of the city and the River Meuse.

A day trip to Tongeren, the oldest city in Belgium (founded in 15BC as a base and supply station for the Roman troops in the Rhine Region). After a walking tour through the city, we drove to Maastrict in the Netherlands, which was only 20 minutes away.

Ambiorix, leader of a Belgic tribe famous for his resistance against Julius Caesar (Tongeren)

Maastrict, Netherlands

A visit to Mechelen, also in Belgium. The girls and I have been here several times, but only to Technopolis (a children's science museum) located near the off-ramp. I was amazed when my parents and I visited the actual town. It was a beautiful city with great shops and restaurants to browse through!

A visit to the European Commission (EU) when they opened its door to the public. The girls had a great time collecting all the "freebies" and playing various childrens' games. We also enjoyed hanging out in the meeting rooms and watching the various entertainment provided during the day.

Aquatopia in Antwerp, an indoor aquarium with a great design and theme...

And of course, a trip to the Grand Place and restaurant Chez Leon for a lunch of "mussels in Brussels". This time, the Grand Place was hosting an interesting event -- a "scarecrow festival" where several different organizations built their version of a scarecrow which were subjected to a public vote during its display during the day.

Lastly, my mom and I visited the National Botanic Garden in Meise on the day of GP's departure. A 92 hectare park filled with flowers, plants, herb gardens, medicinal gardens, a castle, lakes, and an endless array of pathways to explore.

Reminded me of my grandma's coffee farm in Kona...

GP saying bye-bye to PS on departure day...

Back to Never-Netherland...

After finally posting our last blog entry of our Italian holiday, we have a lot of catching up to do!! We actually did quite a bit since we returned from Italy, so stay tuned for our latest adventures.

As you know, GM and GP came for a visit just two days after our return from Italy. We were quite busy while they were here.

Like most women, GM loves flowers. So, she came during the perfect time of year to see the most famous garden in the world -- Keukenhof. Grandma, Grandpa, the girls and I departed for a one-night get-away to Lisse in the Netherlands to visit Keukenhof, which coincidentally celebrated its 60th anniversary this year.

Last year, Ray and I took the girls there on probably one of its busiest days -- in April, on the Saturday of its annual flower parade. In an effort to avoid the insane traffic and Disneyland-type crowds, this time we went midweek while no special events were scheduled at the park. This turned out to be "oh-so-perfect" being able to experience the gardens with not so many people there. The gardens were again breathtakingly beautiful. And while we were there, we quickly understood why it is one of the most photographed places in the world (you must view our slide show!). I'll have to admit that the gardens were a bit nicer last year while the flowers were in its prime, in addition to the stunning carpets of flower fields exploding with color in all the surrounding areas (most were harvested by now). But even still, Keukenhof was magical... And minus the crowds meant we were able to see much more of the park than we did the previous year.

The girls had a blast exploring the park and its gardens, romping in the playgrounds, maze, petting zoo, and even climbing up a working windmill.

DS even got a little wet when she accidentally stepped into the water while crossing a stone path over a lake. Luckily, we had her slippers in the car!

After spending the day at Keukenhof, we decided to have dinner at Noordwijk, a beach resort located about 5 minutes from our hotel. Before dinner, the girls got to play on a lovely sandy beach (which kind of reminded me of California!) while my parents and I enjoyed a cocktail at one of the beach bars (so unlike California). I am really going to miss this European lifestyle!

The next day, the girls wanted more beach fun, so this time we headed for Scheveningen -- another seaside resort in the Netherlands. We walked through an enclosed pier to sample poffertjes (a traditional dutch batter treat -- think tiny pancakes, but much sweeter!), which we remembered to be so yummy when we first tried them in Amsterdam. These, too, were sinfully delish.

After walking around and stopping for lunch on the boardwalk, the girls wanted to play on the beach (as we had promised). By this time, however, it was getting VERY windy which makes playing in the sand not so much fun. So instead, they got to jump on trampolines right on the beach which was actually even more fun! By the time the girls (and mommy) finished jumping, the wind was becoming quite fierce, so we left and made it back to our car just before it started to rain. Talk about good timing!

Our little get-away turned out to be really wonderful. And, the best part was spending it with GM and GP...

It was just this time last year when we made our first trip to the Netherlands. We'll always remember DS' comment on how she really likes it here in "Neverland". From the mouths of babes...

Click here to see our first trip to Keukenhof...

Cruising in Brugge

The Thursday before last, I took my brother David and his friend Hope, who were visiting from L.A., to the town of Bruges (French) or Brugge (Dutch). It was not my first time here, as Ray and I went to Brugge during our housing trip last December. However, it was such a beautiful town that I did not mind visiting it again. Since Brugge is located near the coast about 1-1/2 hours drive from Tervuren, it was a treat that a friend of mine offered to watch PS after school, allowing us a whole day of sight-seeing!

The weather was much nicer (warmer with some sunshine) than my previous visit with Ray, which made for more comfortable sightseeing conditions. We walked through town and saw such sights as the Belfort, Cloth Hall, Markt, Burg Square, Town Hall, Basilica of the Holy Blood and Church of Our Lady, just to name a few.

I especially enjoyed walking through the Belfort while listening to the wonderful melodies played on a carillon of 47 bells pealing out from the bell tower.

And there was something about the small, intimate interior of the Basilica of the Holy Blood - I don't know how to explain it other than it felt "holy". As a matter of fact, I found out later that once a year (on Ascension Day) Brugge plays host to the Holy Blood Procession, which centers around a crystal phial, supposedly containing the blood of Christ. This precious religious relic is housed in the side chapel of the upper church.

We also discovered a charming shop called "The Chocolate Crown", which displayed large chocolate-covered krispies in its front window. They looked so yummy that of course, I had to try one. They reminded me of those sweet and addicting Clodhoppers that I used to buy at Costco during the holidays. Oh, so sinful!!

But, the highlight of the day was a canal boat ride through town. Although we had to wait an hour to board the boat, it was well worth it. One of the best ways to see the medieval beauty of this town is through its gorgeous canals. And if you look at the pictures in our slide show, you'll see how beautiful it truly is.

Just make sure to bring a warm coat during the winter!