Antwerp, Belgium – Day 5

This day found us in Antwerp. We started our morning with some fantastic coffee at the Oasis. We chose Oasis because our friends in Brussels shared that this company was intentionally created as an extension of Breaking Chains, a nonprofit anti human trafficking ministry with the purpose of reaching out to those trapped in prostitution. And their coffee is outstanding, being direct trade and locally sourced as well. If you find yourself in Antwerp, please be sure to stop in. Although we arrived via river cruise ship, we made our way to… Read More

Exploring Nijmegan – Day 3

We were introduced to the town of Nijmegan today, a picturesque city nestled on the banks of the Waal River in the Netherlands. I had literally never heard of this town before seeing it on our river cruise itinerary, so I was very excited to visit. We ended up skipping all offered tours, and instead spent the day exploring the city by foot on our own, which ended up being a great plan. We loved all of the narrow paths, steep stairs, and cobblestoned walkways. Nijmegan is a attractive town, filled with… Read More

Breathtaking Bruges – Days 4 and5

After several days of exploring Bruges, we can confidently say it is one of the loveliest European cities we have ever visited. The medieval architecture, brick and cobblestoned walkways, and the meandering canals weaving through the city really make a beautiful impression and leave you feeling like you were back in time. Even in the rain, Bruges has a fairytale-like quality that is endearing. With 2000 chocolate shops in Belgium, Bruges certainly has its share, which doesn’t hurt when you want to stay warm and dry on a cold or blistery day…. Read More

Ghent, Belgium – Day 3

After a few days spent exploring the fairytale medieval city of Bruges, we decided to visit a different Belgian City. We hopped on the train for a day trip this morning from Bruges to the lesser known university town of Ghent, a short 22 – 27 minute trip. Ghent is the smaller but equally beautiful sister city of Bruges. Gorgeous Ghent. Even on a cloudy rainy day, it is gorgeous! As we were planning our trip to Belgium, we were really split on the decision of where to stay, as both Bruges… Read More

Bruges Chocolate Making Experience – Day 2

Bruges Chocolate Making Experience: For someone who loves chocolate as much as I do, this afternoon was the very best. We had the opportunity to do a delicious 2 1/2 hour chocolate making workshop with our daughter, Mikayla. This is a must do if you’re in Belgium and you love this incredible treat. First Step? Use high quality chocolate. We used Callebaut with 54.5% Cocao. Next, we tempered the chocolate to get a beautiful, professional chocolate coating on it without adding additional ingredients. This is the process of melting the chocolate in… Read More