Liesbet

Author: Liesbet (page 2 of 64)

Summer in Belgium – A Special Time

Where do I begin? This was the first time in 21 years that I returned to my home country for more than two weeks. It’s very different to “live” in Belgium instead of frantically seeing all my friends and relatives in a span of fourteen days every year or two. That method always felt like it was a dream; a whirlwind of activity that seemingly didn’t happen because it flew by so fast. I skipped last year.

Leaving for Belgium from Massachusetts after three and a half weeks with Mark’s family

Belgium, here we come!

Mark, Maya, and I made the decision to visit Belgium for two months straddling July, August, and September, to take an extensive break from our life on the road in South America and to enjoy quality time with my family and friends.

(As always, click on or hover over photos in galleries to read their captions.)

Our living room

Our patio and view of the narrow, rectangular house

Our dining area and work station

Our kitchen

Our bedroom

Our borrowed car

Our bathroom

My parents let us use their small vacation house nearby, so we had the privacy and comfort of a real home, while being in driving, biking, or walking distance of everything we needed and everyone we wanted to see, including them. I also had first dibs on their only car. Life was easy!

Posing with my brother, Robin, and his family in the little house.

Time for gifts!

Nephew Lenn is happy with his soccer shirt, straight from Argentina.

Visit to my friend Hilde in St. Niklaas

Incredible homemade quiche lunch at my friend Hilde’s place

A vending machine for fresh strawberries!

Meeting an aunt and uncle at my parents’ place

Posing with Kim, Eli, and their youngest son, Giel.

Snack time at my friend Kim’s place in Lokeren

The first two weeks, we got settled in “the little house” as we came to call it and worked a lot, while sprinkling in visits to family members and going for daily walks with Maya in the natural areas around us.

Which of the fifty rums shall we try tonight?

My cousin and her husband prepared a Belgian staple: mussels and fries.

The brewery in my cousin’s yard

Mark helped Wim brew a batch of beer, while the girls planned our upcoming 10-day trip to Germany.

Going for a walk in the neighborhood

My cousin, Griet, and her husband, Wim, live in Boom, famous for Tomorrowland. We had a look “behind the scenes” on our walk.

Tasting some special and funny rum in Boom

Being able to just walk outside and follow trails around the lake (Donk) any time we wanted was a big plus of this location!

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – August 2024 (Europe)

September 7, 2024 / Liesbet / 38 Comments

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups and extensive care, we return to the US East Coast. Other health issues are resolved locally and out of pocket where needed and possible.

While our truck camper Thirsty Bella is stored in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mark, Maya, and I are on a summer break from the road. Or is it a winter break? Last month, we lived in Belgium and traveled to Germany and Liechtenstein with my cousin, Griet, and her husband, Wim. More about that in a future post.

Reaction from the land owner where we stored our camper, when asked how Bella is doing

Maya is comfortable “at home” in Belgium

The Principality of Liechtenstein

Back and forth to Austria

It’s been ages since I sent a postcard!

Half-timbered houses in Cawl

One of the many cuckoo clocks in the Black Forest of Germany

Triberg Falls

Our August 2024 expense report is probably the most unusual one we’ve ever posted. Not because we didn’t spend any money – we just spent other people’s money! Kind of. My parents generously provided the funds for fuel and groceries in my home country, friends and family cooked meals when we visited, and I used Belgian savings for our ten-day European vacation.

Rosy is cooking an amazing Thai curry, which inspired us for our meals at home.

Extensive breakfast at Rosy and Peter’s place

Second dinner at Rosy and Peter’s place

Belgian fries from the fry shop with a big, homemade salad

Our wheels in Belgium

Going out for drinks with Sven and Mieke

Healthy dinner prepared by Griet, after Mark and I helped with the brewer Wim’s beer bottling

Sunday breakfasts like these are the best – Thank you, Griet and Wim!

Making our own version of Thai curry

Grocery run by bike in Berlare, Belgium

Dinner spread at my aunt’s place

Posing with friends An and Kristof, after they prepared an amazing BBQ for us

Croque madame = croque monsieur (grilled cheese and ham sandwich) topped with an egg

To be transparent and give you an idea, that trip cost us 943 euros or 1,046 US dollars; €565/$627 for ten nights of lodging (seven in the Black Forest and three in Austria) and €378/$419 for excursions, transportation, and food.

Ski lift to the top – hiking down

Wim drove us to and in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein

Black Forest cake

German beers for the boys

Ice cream cones and Peruvian sweaters for the nieces

Each day, we made our own lunches (sandwiches) and dinners were split 50/50 between eating out and cooking at our rented apartments.

Sandwich lunch in Malbun, Liechtenstein

Picnic lunch after a hike in the Black Forest

Mark cooks dinner at our first apartment in Germany.

When it was chilly, we ate inside.

Usually, it was warm enough to eat meals outside.

Flammkuche at a restaurant in the Black Forest

The men are cooking a typical German dinner: bratwurst with sauerkraut and a potato pancake

Comfort food out: tagliatelle with cream sauce, ham, and cheese

Our last dinner together, at a restaurant in Austria

As far as our own US money is concerned (which our bookkeeping resembles), we only spent $125. Most of that went to gifts ($108), $9 bought two beers in Liechtenstein for Mark and Wim, and the remaining $8 was claimed by Amazon for a new pair of discounted shorts for Mark. It is safe to say that we finally earned more money than we consumed in August. ????

Biannual (every two years) open-air musical near us – we bought tickets for my parents, who’d never attended a musical before

Taking my niece and nephew mini-golfing on his birthday

Vaduz beer for the boys

This month, life is turning back to normal. We are ordering more items online for our return to Argentina and will soon stop over in Massachusetts (USA) again for our final week away from the camper. Mark, Maya, and I are scheduled to be reunited with a totally empty Thirsty Bella on September 21st. That is exactly two weeks from today. Time flies!

(It might be easier to read the table when turning your device in the horizontal position.)

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

If you are enjoying these posts, please consider donating to Roaming About in support of our website and our lifestyle. A big thank you to all our readers who have helped out in the past!

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad – July 2024 (USA & Belgium)

August 9, 2024 / Liesbet / 30 Comments

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups and extensive care, we return to the US East Coast. Other health issues are resolved locally and out of pocket where needed and possible.

While our truck camper Thirsty Bella is stored in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mark, Maya, and I are on a summer break. Or is it a winter break? The first week of July, we were still in Newburyport, Massachusetts, visiting friends and dentists, but the rest of the month, we lived comfortably in my home country of Belgium.

(As always, click on or hover over photos in galleries to read their captions.)

Wonderful evenings and meals with Don and Janet in Vermont

Lovely tajine meal in Vermont

Paella in Vermont

Mark hard at work – the WiFi in our little house is perfect!

A real bedroom with a real bed!

Maya is comfortable as well

This expense report is a bit unusual, since my parents are generously sponsoring us while we are “home.” This is mostly visible in the grocery, dog, and fuel categories!

Maya cost us the most for the second month in a row. We had to pay for overnight shipping of her health permit from the USDA, in order to receive it in time and take her with us to Belgium. We also ordered another annual dose of heartworm pills, while my parents paid for her salmon-based food.

The car came in second, but it wasn’t our truck. Storage fees for Thirsty Bella will appear once we return to Argentina. We used my mother-in-law’s car in Massachusetts, USA, to get around, so we filled it up again before we left. And, Mark ordered special grease for Thirsty.

Our wheels in Massachusetts

When Mark spots a deal for something we need, he snatches it up. This time, it was for an annual subscription (in 2025) of Quicken, the program we use for our bookkeeping and finances. Usually, this tool costs twice as much ($120).

Since I am having issues with my teeth and gums, we ordered more electric toothbrush heads and a water flosser. Has anyone ever used one? I’m hoping it’s a game changer regarding gum disease.

And, we keep ordering more items online for our camper: electrical wire, since Mark used our spare spools to install a Starlink unit in a friend’s camper, and new bed sheets and properly sized toilet bags.

The gifts from last month’s expense report have been delivered. 🙂

Gift unwrapping by my niece and nephew in Berlare

Gift for my nephew

Groceries came in at only $5. Not realistic in the long run; we have to thank our parents for this nice financial break. I also bought Mark a t-shirt in a thrift store, but it doesn’t quite fit and he doesn’t like it, so we see those $4 as charity. 🙂

Lunch consists of fresh whole wheat bread, cheese (for me), and vegetables

How about this? A salmon & Brie cheese sandwich!

This is why I come to Belgium: fresh and tasty pastries from the bakery.

We’ve been cooking wholesome meals at home and I’ve been enjoying the Belgian food and treats tremendously. From money I have put away in Belgium (not part of our accounting), I bought an oven for the little house we are staying in and beer for Mark.

Healthy meals at home

Mark makes his own granola in the second-hand oven I bought.

Mark tests the beer my cousin’s husband brews.

Our friends and family have been spoiling us as well with fantastic food and drinks!

Rum tasting, anyone? A choice of 80 (!) different rums…

Mussels and fries, a typical Belgian dish

Healthy fare at my cousin’s house in Boom

Group photo of us with Kim and part of her family

Lunch invite by my friend Hilde: she made three quiches from scratch!

Spread of amazing appetizers at my friend Kim’s place in Lokeren

My friend Hilde and I pick up fresh strawberries at this vending machine to top our ice cream dessert.

Aperitif at my friends Rosy and Peter in Merelbeke

Rosy makes a second dinner for us: Thai green curry. Delicious!

And another big spread for breakfast. Can you spot the fresh pastries?

Other than that, I bought an eBook about the writing craft (nope, I’m not working on another book, yet) and we went on a lot of walks with Maya. Low costs for entertainment in July. I also wanted to point out that we slept for free and paused our Starlink satellite internet subscription for the summer, which saves us $70 (usually split between business and personal expenses.)

Maya meets a sheep

On a walk in Berlare, where we are staying

Walking along the Donk lake, where we are staying

Walking around Lier with my cousin and her husband

Walking along the beach in Holland

Walk in Damme

Day trip to Damme with Rosy and her family

It’s hard to believe that our total for last month amounted to under $400 and I sure wish we could keep that up! We thank my mom and dad for this “all inclusive” stay in Belgium.

Maya is also getting spoiled!

Maya is not complaining

(It might be easier to read the table when turning your device in the horizontal position.)

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

If you are enjoying these posts, please consider donating to Roaming About in support of our website and our lifestyle. A big thank you to all our readers who have helped out in the past!

A Break from the Road – In Massachusetts (USA) and Belgium

July 24, 2024 / Liesbet / 45 Comments

Many of you know that I, Liesbet, was born, raised, and educated in Belgium. But, did you know that it has been 21 years since I actually lived there (July 2003)?

Goodbye party invitation front

Goodbye party invitation back

That’s right, I have officially been a nomad for over two decades now. During that time of sailing, RVing, house and pet sitting, and overlanding (a fancy term for roughing it internationally in a vehicle), I tried to return to my home country once a year or every other year. During Covid, it took three years before I was able to see my family and friends again. Too long!

For me, it comes easy to leave everything behind, because I have an adventurous streak and do just fine on my own (and with my husband and furry companions). If I were to get homesick easily, miss my loved ones too much, or crave familiarity and routine, this roaming lifestyle would not be a good match! That is not to say I don’t enjoy summer visits “back home,” usually for two or three weeks at a time.

(As always, click on or hover over photos in galleries to read their captions.)

Ready to fly to Belgium

Departing Boston

On the plane – we were the only ones wearing a mask!

Mark, Maya, and I are currently in Belgium. For two entire months! This is beyond exciting and special. For once, there is no need to rush, have an overfull schedule, and feel more tired when I leave than when I arrived. It’s not a vacation – Mark and I still perform our jobs – but to be living in comfort with a healthy dose of routine, convenience, and luxury is something we don’t take for granted and enjoy immensely.

It’s like Christmas! Opening the many packages we ordered while still in Argentina.

Two new pairs of jeans for Mark. Exciting!

One of the slow feeders we ordered for Maya in Massachusetts

Maya with one of her new toys, which holds frozen peanut butter

Most toys are boring to Maya

This new toy contains food nuggets that are dispensed when Maya moves the toy around.

Maya’s first real dog bed. She likes it!

At the dentist – many issues with my teeth

This visit to Belgium follows a hellishly busy three weeks in Massachusetts, USA, during which we combined tons of health visits and follow-ups (22 between Mark and me; two for Maya) with work, taking care of my mother-in-law, dealing with (extra) issues regarding her car, running errands, preparing for our trip to Belgium, buying gear for Thirsty Bella in Argentina, and squeezing in leisure time with friends.

Mark hard at work

Our new living quarters, since niece Jo and her husband moved in with grandma

Hanging out on the patio with Mark’s mom, Carol

Maya loves tight spots!

Maya and a neighbor’s dog, Wetzel

Mother-in-law Carol had a little fall, so 911 checked in on her and Jo, our in-home nurse practitioner family member, took care of her. Luckily, nothing serious…

Visit from the fire brigade

Cooking healthy meals every day

Quick visit to friends Joe and Elsa in Newton, MA, after a specialist’s health check-up

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad in South America – June 2024 (Argentina & USA)

July 16, 2024 / Liesbet / 20 Comments

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups and extensive care, we return to the US East Coast. Other health issues are resolved locally and out of pocket where needed and possible.

Mark, Maya, and I spent the first eleven days of June with our truck camper Thirsty Bella in Buenos Aires, Argentina. On that last evening, Julian, the owner of our storage spot, brought us to Ezeiza International Airport and we flew – via JFK – to Boston, Massachusetts, for the rest of the month and into July.

(As always, hover over or click on photos in galleries to read their captions.)

Time for a summer adventure

We flew from Argentina to the US with American Airlines

Our route for the first 11 hours

For once, the car category wasn’t the highest one. Maya received that honor. Before leaving Argentina, we needed a health certificate and export paperwork for her (about $40 in total). On our first day in the US, we had an appointment with a vet to administer another rabies shot (the three-year version as that would make things easier for returns to the US) for $45. In South America, we paid between $4 and $7 for this!

Another vet visit for Maya

Visit to the agriculture department at BA airport before leaving

We also obtained an international health certificate for Belgium that day, which cost $220 and was valid for one month. This document had to be endorsed and validated by the USDA within 10 days of our departure date and a hard copy with seals had to be mailed back to us (overnight) for another $80 (July expense). We picked it up before leaving the country and made another appointment for September to repeat this process for Argentina. In addition, we bought a bag of salmon-based dog food. I mentioned that Maya would be pricy this summer!

Mark ordered a spare propane regulator for the camper, as well as an improved DC-DC battery charger. The regulator will save us in South America (where it is not available) if the old one dies. Without this, we can’t use our propane tank. The new charger will allow us to put a higher amount of power into our Lithium battery when we run the car, which helps on weeks of little or weak sunshine.

We needed improvements on the computer front as well and ordered two external keyboards and a bigger hard drive for our Surface laptops, a new tablet for the car (which we use for navigation and music), and a router for our home base in Massachusetts.

Testing the new tablet for our truck in Argentina

Our grocery bill was higher than it should have been, based on us finishing all the food in Bella’s fridge and cabinets and Mark’s mom sponsoring most of our shopping trips to Market Basket. We contributed to a family party and bought some goodies once in the US.

Family party – We provided the cheese and salami platter as an appetizer.

Gifts are usually in order whenever we return to our home countries. This time, I bought a few presents for my niece and nephew in Belgium (still to be delivered) and a wooden sign for a friend, we celebrated that friend’s birthday, and we treated one of Mark’s nieces and her husband to a delayed wedding dinner at a Thai restaurant.

Gift for Denise, who loves signs. By the way, this reads pee pee room.

Birthday balloons!

Birthday flowers and gifts

Floating in the pool with birthday girl Denise

Delayed wedding dinner at the Thai restaurant with Jo and Tom

Those friends splurged us on a weekend visit, that same niece organized a family party for us, and one of Mark’s nephews took Mark and me out to dinner.

Mark’s niece Jo took care of the family dinner.

Chinese take-out dinner at our friends Ryan and Denise’s place

Breakfast at our friends Ryan and Denise’s place

Look at that hard liquor smoothie at our sister-in-law’s restaurant, The Cormorant… It was super delicious!

Dinner out with nephew Randall and his wife Rebeccah

The car category consisted of fuel purchases in Argentina (we left Thirsty with a full tank so condensation – and therefore water – can’t build up) and Massachusetts, where we were fortunate to have the use of my mother-in-law’s car. Parking had to be paid at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires. We reimbursed Julian for the tolls to the airport.

We used the car from Mark’s mom to get around Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Our annual Chase credit card fee was due ($95), we spent around $50 on alcohol (beer and rum) during our stay and visits in the US, and we managed to order two dinners in Buenos Aires for $35 in total: a pizza and sushi. Both were delivered to our doorstep in one of Palermo’s parks, where we slept.

Interesting, spongy pie that is eaten with pizza in Argentina. Don’t ask me why…

A pizza for two – We made a mistake ordering. We usually never eat salami/pepperoni on pizza.

Splurging on heaps of sushi

Mark is picking out all the cream cheese that rolls in Argentina come with.

Our camping spot in Palermo, Buenos Aires, for two weeks.

An Uber brought us and our Dutch friends to San Telmo in Argentina’s capital one day and another one brought us back. We paid Julian the equivalent of $20 for bringing us to the airport, half an hour away.

Weekend fair in San Telmo

Artisanal goods in San Telmo

Moving on to Health & Fitness. I inquired at two hair dressers in Palermo, BA, how much it would cost to get a haircut, since I was convinced it would be cheaper than in our western countries and I wanted to start the summer with a short hairdo. Mission accomplished for $11. The other $13 went to electric toothbrush heads on Amazon.

New haircut

The laundry place that took care of our dirty clothes and linen

Of course, I shopped around before deciding on a laundromat. I took photos of each as a visual reminder of the choices.

Our $9 laundry expense was manageable in June and I visited La Recoleta cemetery for another $7, while Mark and Maya waited outside. It was pricey, but I don’t want to miss out on too many things anymore while on this South American journey. The Museum of Fine Art was free.

Entrance to La Recoleta Cemetery

Graves and mausoleums in the famous cemetery

A city of the dead

Paul Gauguin

Auguste Rodin

Household goods we purchased when prepping our camper to be left for multiple months were bleach to attack mold on our walls due to all the condensation and cold weather, and anti-moisture products to keep this issue at bay during our absence.

Apart from one night at Julian’s place for $7, our camping in June was free. We boondocked in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires. Once in Massachusetts, we stayed in the guest room of my mother-in-law’s condo.

Bella is prepped, winterized, and stored on Julian’s property.

Our current abode in Newburyport, Massachusetts

Being Amazon Vine members allows us to order a selection of items for free in return for product reviews. Since we have to be in the US to partake, we took advantage of that by ordering as much as we needed this way, which saved us hundreds of dollars.

Many Vine goods to sort through. Because of the poor quality of some items, we never keep all the orders.

Maya’s first real dog bed… She loves it!

New food and water bowl for Maya

Maya looses interest in toys quickly.

Frozen peanut butter is the best!

We ordered a lot of toys and goodies for Maya via our Vine account.

Mark paused our Starlink satellite internet connection for three months, so that’s less money spent. And, we still have a donation from long-time supporter Marian to use this summer. Speaking of summer, we sure feel like cheating by taking a plane from a chilly winter in the Southern Hemisphere to a hot and humid summer in the US! ????

While June wasn’t a cheap month, the damage was manageable, knowing how much “stuff” we needed for our return to the camper.

On a side note, Mark and I had a little issue with some crisp US dollar bills we had hidden under the toilet, when our pee container overflew, because the sensor got stuck. The Ziploc bag that held the cash, leaked. We had to rinse each bill and hang it to dry! I guess we need a different hiding spot…

Our precious, rinsed and wet, money

Money laundering 🙂

Mark dries some of the bills in front of the heater vent.

(It might be easier to read the table when turning your device in the horizontal position.)

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

If you are enjoying these posts, please consider donating to Roaming About in support of our website and our lifestyle. A big thank you to all our readers who have helped out in the past!

Reaching Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Capital

June 26, 2024 / Liesbet / 23 Comments

Mark, Maya, and I had plenty of time to reach Buenos Aires when we left San Rafael earlier than planned, as we bid farewell to our friends, who needed to prepare for their departure from South America as well. Our flights to the US wouldn’t leave from Argentina’s capital until June 11^th and it was only May 22^nd when we began our boring three-day ride east, across the continent and country.

Our route in Central Argentina

Buenos Aires and surroundings

Realico

Our first driving day consisted of five uninspiring hours in the car on this flat stretch of Central Argentina. Because of the decent, straight roads, we could let our “pothole guard” down, listened to Spotify music through our Starlink antenna, and clocked decent fuel mileage.

Play on words in the province La Pampa

In grey, rainy, and cold Realico, we found many mosquitoes, a free municipal campground where we spent two nights, and the cheapest gasoline in months. Especially since the exchange rate for the peso had finally gone up. Three weeks out from temporarily leaving our life on the road behind, we started to plan meals around getting rid of all our food – dry and fresh.

Free Municipal Campground in Realico

Junin

As I mentioned before, Mark and I never know what to expect when we pick a potential campsite in our iOverlander app. We usually have a back-up in mind, when things don’t turn out upon arrival. Well, after another boring drive east, Laguna de Gomez in Junin offered extensive areas of green grass, level spots, and a peaceful atmosphere. We loved it from the moment we arrived, took Maya for a walk, and settled in for a few days.

Colorful town sign of Junin

Except, this was the night I described in my expense report of May 2024; when the temperature dropped well below freezing, the butane in our propane tank failed to produce gas, and we couldn’t cook or heat our camper anymore. Mark poured warmish water over the tank after heating that up on the struggling pilot-size flame of our stove, which saved us from shivering more. We needed a better solution!

(As always, click on or hover over the photos in galleries to read their captions.)

The coldest night we’ve had so far!

Even the windshield was frozen!

Opening and airing out all our cabinets to fight condensation and mold

Our options: top up the now half-empty butane tank with propane, which would make everything function again in cold weather or move to a location where it wouldn’t freeze. Since it was a holiday Saturday, nobody would be able to sell us propane. So, after a nice walk with Maya and the discovery that our electric lock had a problem, we left our wonderful spot by the lagoon.

Cold but spacious Junin

Soaking up the sunrays by the reservoir in Junin

Funny bathroom symbols in Junin

Taking our electric lock apart

San Antonio de Areco

After another three hours of driving, we reached San Antonio de Areco, an attractive town not too far from Buenos Aires. Due to a parking ban, there is really only one decent place to wild camp, near the museum on the edge of town. The weather forecast promised above-freezing temperatures here and we would top up our propane tank first thing on Monday. Due to all the cold weather, condensation had become a problem and mold was growing in the seams of Bella’s walls. We attacked it with a bleach-water mixture and lifted the mattress with a fan blowing underneath.

A new friend for Maya

Airing out the mattress

The center of town was relatively attractive as far as Argentina goes (but still nowhere near as cute as its Colombians counterparts) and within walking distance of our camper. The nearby park was great for dog walks as well. A restaurant in the neighborhood threw awesome Sunday asados (grilled meat fests). While appealing, we passed due to the frigid weather. We hope to return for this meal in the future.

Cute historic bridge and river in Areco

Historic center of San Antonio de Areco

Church at the town square

San Antonio de Areco is a nice town to stroll around in.

Sunday asado at a local restaurant

Mendoza Province, Argentina, Part Two – Atuel Canyon & San Rafael

June 14, 2024 / Liesbet / 27 Comments

Mark, Maya, and I would meet our Vermonster friends Heather and Jon in Tupungato, where we’d spent a few chilly nights previously, and travel together through Atuel Canyon and San Rafael for a week or two. If I complained about the cold in a previous blog post, well, winter seemed to have arrived early. That’s when living in a poorly insulated, solar-powered camper becomes less enjoyable.

(As always, hover over or click on photos in galleries to read their captions.)

Winter arrived in Central Argentina

Snow!

It is freezing outside

Tupungato

After hugging our friends from Meat Around The World goodbye in Mendoza, our trio drove back south to Tupungato. We would have loved to meet Heather and Jon at Bodega Giaquinta to buy more wine, but the new, restricted opening times didn’t fit our schedule, so we returned to the municipal campground. Our friends would buy extra wine and meet us there.

It might be cold, but it is pretty!

Fall walk in the campground with Heather and Jon

Maya making a new friend

This cute girl loved Maya!

We parked in the same spot, were accompanied by the same, wagging dogs, and enjoyed more walks among the fall colors. But, by now, it was way too cold and cloudy to sit outside or walk to the shower block. We used our own amenities, filled up with drinking water afterwards, and managed to plug into the electric system of our friends. This allowed our Lithium battery to finally charge to 100% – a huge help – which hadn’t happened in six months or so!

And, another campground dog enjoying Maya’s company

Our battery is 100% full; an anomaly in our camper this season!

It was wonderful to see our friends again and spend more time together. On this first evening, Mark made ossobuco and squash risotto for the group. Delicious!

Ossobuco dinner in Bella with friends

Mark cooked ossobuco with a tomato-parsley sauce and squash risotto

Manzano Historico

It was grey and it was cold, so we weren’t in a rush to explore the canyon yet. On the drive to Manzano Historico, we made a brief stop at Bodega Azul. We managed a little wine tasting and bought a couple of bottles of wine (Mark and I really like their Chardonnay), but the place was expensive and fully booked for lunch, so the atmosphere wasn’t ideal. We moved on early afternoon.

Brief wine tasting session at acclaimed Bodega La Azul

Wine selection at La Azul

Little did we realize our next destination was even higher up… That dawned on us when I saw all the roofs in town were white and wondered why. Snow! To our horror, the picnic tables were covered with the white stuff when we pulled into the municipal campground. We needed the heater here during the day as well.

The roofs have snow on them

Driving through the vineyards of Central Argentina – The background shows snowy Andes mountains on a clear day

Camped in Manzano Historico and plugged into our friends electricity set-up

Heather and Liesbet dressed up for winter!

It has been ages since I made a snowman!

Monthly Expenses of a Nomad in South America – May 2024 (Argentina)

June 5, 2024 / Liesbet / 26 Comments

Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂

This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups and extensive care, we return to the US East Coast. Other health issues are resolved locally and out of pocket where needed and possible.

In May 2024, Mark, Maya, and I (Liesbet) traveled around Central Argentina in our truck camper Thirsty Bella. Despite driving across the continent from west to east, we had a decent expense month, thanks to being careful with our budget, shopping for cheaper produce, donations we’d saved up, and emptying our cupboards and fridge.

(As always, hover over or click on photos in galleries to read their captions.)

Dinner @ home – squash soup, veggie burgers, potato salad, and bread from our favorite bakery in Mendoza

A wonderful and simple dinner of pasta, tomatoes, and arugula with bread

Vegetarian spaghetti – with a little bit of pancetta – dinner at home

Veggie burgers with eggplant and pasta

Another homecooked meal – rice and chicken breast with a vegetable sauce and breaded eggplant. Yum!

As often, the car cost was the highest with fuel being the ultimate winner and us ordering spare parts in the US, like new brake pads for the front and oil filters. In the middle of the country, namely in the province of La Pampa, we encountered a nice surprise: gasoline was much cheaper than elsewhere in Argentina. That, combined with a better exchange rate for the dollar, had us fill up our tank for about $2.50 a gallon! Unfortunately, that joy didn’t last long as from the moment we entered the province of Buenos Aires, prices skyrocketed again. So, we are back to $4 a gallon ($1/liter). We only paid for tolls once.

Topping up with fuel in San Rafael

YPF fuel stations appear to be the cheapest option in Argentina.

Filling up with fuel again in La Pampa

Play on words in La Pampa

Toll booth nearing Buenos Aires

Our grocery cost for May was average. We bought some special ingredients for nice homecooked meals and appetizers with friends (like they did for us), but this was offset the last two weeks, as we started eating our stores. We want to leave as little food as possible in Bella during our impending absence.

We camped in the center of Mendoza to walk to this grocery store.

This bakery in Mendoza had decent pastries for decent prices!

Pancake breakfast in Mendoza

Popcorn makes for the cheapest snack!

Appetizer in Bella

Awesome and affordable whole wheat bread from a bakery in Mendoza

Amazing dinner Mark cooked for our friends: ossobuco with squash risotto

Incredible appetizer in Heather and Jon’s camper

Sharing a meal with friends in Bella: chicken-noodle soup with corn bread and salad & chicken as a second course

Incredible appetizer of assorted cheeses and meat in Vermonster RV

Recently, Mark and I have been ordering clothes, dog items, and other gear on Amazon for when we visit the US. It’s like everything we own has been ripped or irrevocably damaged. I guess we are going back at the right time! For more than a few reasons…

I think these jeans are done!

We paid the usual $35 for Starlink (our business takes care of the other half) and I added $5 to my Skype account, which allows me to call my parents on their landline if WhatsApp doesn’t work (or they don’t hear the ringtone). And, we spent much more money on “propane” again, which is a story in itself. Drinking water didn’t cost us anything in May.

Getting water in Tupungato

Getting free drinking water on a crisp morning in Realico

We try to filter our water when possible (when space and treads allow our filter to be attached)

Because of the freezing fall weather (yes, it’s been cold and uncomfortable for weeks now) in Central Argentina, we needed to run our propane heater a lot. Usually, one 20-pound (10kg) tank lasts us three months. Not now. After a ridiculous cold spell, our gauge showed empty and we needed to make a detour to get the tank filled. Except, unbeknownst to us, the owner of the shop only had butane, so put that into our tank – and overcharged us. In tropical climates (like when we sailed), this is not an issue. In icy temperatures, however, butane is not the right choice, which we learned the hard way.

And then, there was snow!

We camped with snowy picnic tables!

Snow on the bushes

A few mornings in a row, we woke up to this temperature – We only turn our heater on to prevent water pipes from freezing.

Bracing the cold – and a deep ditch – to fill our empty propane tank… with butane!

Our tank was chockfull – overfilled and overpriced – with butane. To top it off, can you see what this man is holding in between his fingers?

We had finally arrived in an attractive and peaceful spot by a lake. By 6am the following morning, the temperature had dropped so much that the butane – and therefore our heater – didn’t work. The only way to get the liquid gas flowing and evaporating (“boiling”) again was to pour warm water over the tank in an outdoor cabinet. Luckily, the flame of our stove was big enough to produce lukewarm fluids.

We found an awesome – yet cold – camping spot!

Soaking up the rare sunrays

We had two options: top up the tank with “real” propane (since it was a holiday and the weekend, no store was open) or move to a town where above-freezing temps were predicted. That’s what we did. Of course, the weather forecast was wrong and, this time at 3am, we were out of luck and heat!

Frozen grass

We needed a scraper for the window if we wanted to leave this morning!

We saw our breath inside and shivered, as Mark put many clothes on, warmed up some water on a struggling flame, poured it over the gas tank, used the then properly working stove to heat up a massive pot of water, and repeated the process. Our heater worked!

When the heater stopped working again (meaning the butane had gotten too cold), he went outside to pour more warmish water over the tank. Eventually, he wrapped Maya’s dog towel around the tank, so, when wet, that kept the gas in operating condition a bit longer. It was a long night!

Trying to keep the butane gas from “freezing”!

We found a new propane filling station (triple checking it wasn’t butane) as soon as possible. They charged us for a full tank, despite it only being half empty. It didn’t matter!

Filling our tank again, this time with propane in San Antonio de Areco

The cold weather brings other issues with it, like heaps of condensation, turning into mold. We need to open hatches and drafty cabinets and wipe up water constantly, which keeps us shivering and uncomfortable. Because of our upcoming trip to Massachusetts and Belgium, out of Buenos Aires, we cannot leave the area and escape what feels like winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

Airing out the cabinets – so much condensation!

Airing out the mattress – everything is wet from condensation when it is this cold!

Airing out our bedding and towels on a decent day

Eating lunch in Bella – We are cold outside and inside!

Maya snuggles in bed – we love our flannel sheets!

Other items we ordered online to bring back to the camper in September are a new keyboard and cover for Mark’s laptop, strong Velcro, water filters, and a gasket for Bella, and three types of batteries.

And now is when I want to thank our dear followers and readers who donated money towards our “enjoyment” level the past months. We’d saved some of that up and received new contributions, allowing us to go out for dinner a few times (or order take-out pizzas to make the funds last longer ????) in May. One time, we picked up cheap, basic crusts at a restaurant and added our own toppings.

Pizza dinner out with our friends Abigail, Richie, and Zoe

Amazing pizza out – but pricey

Dinner out in San Rafael, for Heather and Jon’s 30th anniversary

Tomahawk steak with two side dishes

Pizza from a take-out place upon arrival

The same pizza slice “dressed up” at home

Your generosity also let us enjoy some good wines, which we bought in stores and vineyards (at an average of $3.50 a bottle), and it allowed Mark and me to savor a couple of tastings at Bodegas. To us, the wonderful yet affordable wine of Argentina is one of this country’s highlights so far!

Wine tasting in Maipu

List of available wines in Bodega Tempus Alma in Maipu

Wine tasting – and buying – at Bodega Giaquinta, our all-time favorite in Argentina

Wine tasting at Bodega La Azul

We both love the Dada brand of wine, which is affordable and flavorful.

Out of character, we did pay for camping last month. We spent a few nights ($3 x 4) at municipal campgrounds with American friends, who allowed us to plug into their rig (our system is not set up for the local 220V outlets) and – for the first time in six months – have a 100% full camper battery! For two nights and days, we did not have to struggle with our power supply and usage.

Our camping spot in the Municipal Campground of Tupungato allowed for sunshine on our solar panels

Camped at the cold and quiet Manzano Historico Municipal Campground

And we are full!!! Super awesome.

When checking options to store our camper during our absence, we stayed one night ($7) at Zaparancho near Buenos Aires. More about that in a future post.

Quick stop at Zapparancho in Villars, near Buenos Aires

Most of the nights, we camped for free; sometimes in nature and sometimes in bustling towns. Guess what’s our favorite?

Free camping spot near Portrerillo Reservoir on May 1st

Our favorite – and quietest – boondocking spot in San Martin Park, Mendoza

Boondocked by El Nihuil Reservoir

Nice and quiet camping spot in Canyon del Atuel

Another quiet night with friends in a side canyon towards San Rafael

Free – and noisy – camping in San Rafael

Free Municipal Campground in Realico

Free camping in Torres

I am currently buying a couple of small gifts for my niece and nephew in Belgium and, lastly, dropping off dirty clothes set us back $10. We can’t wait to do our own laundry soon! As a matter of fact, Mark and I are really looking forward to a multiple-month break from the road as this lifestyle has recently become much more challenging due to the lack of sunlight (power issues) and warmth (discomfort).

Having laundry done in San Rafael

Our first night in loud and hectic Buenos Aires (Puerto Madero)

We are both pleased with May’s expenses totaling around $1,000, especially since this amount includes a bunch of gear that is waiting for us in the US.

(It might be easier to read the table when turning your device in the horizontal position.)

Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.

Next up: Atuel Canyon & San Rafael in Mendoza Province

If you are enjoying these posts, please consider donating to Roaming About in support of our website and our lifestyle. A big thank you to all our readers who have helped out in the past!

Mendoza Province, Argentina, Part One – Mendoza City & Surroundings

May 28, 2024 / Liesbet / 39 Comments

After spending two weeks in Santiago, the capital of Chile, Mark, Maya, and I headed towards Argentina again.

Mendoza Province in Argentina

Visited places in the north of Mendoza Province

Since we wanted an early start for the border procedure, we slept our last night at an extremely loud and busy fuel station, still in Chile, forgetting that we could have returned to a better spot in Argentina, before crossing the actual border.

Parked by a loud fuel station

You see, official formalities take place in one building for each country and these buildings are 16 miles (25 km) apart! When you leave Chile, you don’t have to stop at the Chilean border facilities and vice versa. So, you can drive into Argentina and camp, before checking into the country. As a matter of fact, the actual border is located in the Christ The Redeemer Tunnel, which cuts through the Andes.

The actual border between Chile and Argentina is in this tunnel

And, a provincial park that contains the tallest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemisphere, Aconcagua, is also located in Argentina before crossing the border. Confusing?

Aconcagua Provincial Park

Our “early start” actually didn’t help, because we still needed to drive an hour to the border, navigating the tight and plentiful switchbacks called Los Caracoles to reach the Los Libertadores pass.

(As always, click on or hover over photos in galleries to read their captions.)

The switchbacks of Los Caracoles

Ready to climb Los Caracoles

Following truck uphill on a nice day

This area, including the border, frequently closes in the winter months due to heavy snowfall and rock slides. As the busiest and most popular commercial border crossing between Chile and Argentina, you can imagine the delays this might cause. Luckily, all was fine when we passed through in late April, but a week later, the pass closed for the first time this winter season.

Looking down over the switchbacks, where road construction often causes big delays

Leaving Chile

On our drive, we also realized Aconcagua had to be seen and stopped at before the border formalities. I had hoped to do a hike here, but dogs weren’t allowed, you had to book ahead of time, it was freezing and super windy outside, and we had no idea how long the crossing would take. So, we briefly stopped for a free viewpoint and overlook of this majestic mountain.

The scenery in this part of Argentina is stunning!

Sign for the tallest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemisphere

A glimpse of Aconcagua

Los Libertadores crossing into Argentina

Valparaiso in Chile – A Colorful Day Trip from Santiago

May 10, 2024 / Liesbet / 26 Comments

I had it all figured out: I’d walk to the closest metro station from our wonderful free camping spot in Santiago, ride the line to the bus station, take a two-hour bus trip west to Valparaiso, explore the town during the day, and return home the same way.

Valparaiso in Chile

Valparaiso and Santiago de Chile

Then, our friends Abigail, Richie, and Zoe from Meat Around The World were interested in joining me. Great! Last minute, we realized that if we rented a car for the day, Mark and Maya would be able to come as well, plus this would give everyone more freedom and comfort than a return journey by public transportation.

Part of our group in Valparaiso
(Photo courtesy of Richie Gubler)

The reason we didn’t want to take our own campers was the bad reputation Valparaiso has regarding petty crime, car beak-ins, and tire slashings of foreign-plated vehicles. All of us had just installed new tires in Santiago, so now was definitely not a good time to take extra risks. There certainly is a grimy side to this port city.

Screenshot of Valparaiso in iOverlander – all the red and white warning signs mark robberies, break-ins, or tire slashings!

After a late start, a two-hour drive on fantastic toll roads, and finding a safe and covered parking spot for the rental car, the six of us set off on foot to discover the colors, murals, and old ascensores (elevators) of Valparaiso during the afternoon. Here is a photo gallery of our day as full-blown tourists.

(As always, hover over or click on photos in galleries to read their captions.)