To say Mark, Maya, and I were exhausted after three months of high-intensity sightseeing and traveling in Southwestern Europe is an understatement. When living in our past campers and sailboats, we’d usually do something “interesting” once a week, but during our time in Southwestern Europe this winter, our pace was much higher and we visited sites and attractions about every other day.
Entering Belgium from France
We arrived in Belgium on April 26th, but couldn’t rest yet. My generous cousin lent us her car for a week and after one day of settling into “the little house” of my parents, our trio set off for Germany. The idea had been to check out two empty 4×4 Vario vans, hopefully commit to one, and visit with a van builder. We’d been planning and anticipating this trip for weeks.
(As always, click on or hover over photos in galleries to read their captions.)
I’ll provide more details in the future, but suffice it to say that this effort was a disappointment. The first van (white) was too rusty and in poor shape, the owner of the second van (yellow) was abroad and couldn’t see us, and our chat with the builder was brief because he was super busy after a long weekend. Eventually, someone else beat us to the yellow Vario and bought it on the spot. We found out on our anniversary, which ruined the special evening I had planned.
When we returned to Belgium, it rained for two weeks straight and it felt like winter had come back. We even had to turn the heat on! We do have plenty of computer, admin, and research work to keep us busy, though. And the occasional translation job for me. Plus, as you might have noticed, I’m determined to catch up on all my blog writing.
A nice perk about living in this little house by the lake is our daily walks. Mark’s ankle has been sore and swollen, so I took Maya by myself every morning. We try to go for a steady, one-hour walk before breakfast, which is great exercise.
There are many routes to choose from and I mix it up every day. My favorites are the ones where we don’t see any cars – or bikes – and ideally not many other dogs. The dog culture here seems to be different than in the US. Walking a pet off leash is often frowned upon, most owners pull their dogs to the side and don’t let them socialize, many pups bark and intimidate, and almost every dog we meet has been bitten before. I guess they all lack training.
That being said, when a dog behaves upon our approach, I always ask the owner if their dog is friendly and, when the answer is affirmative, Maya gets to sniff, say hi, and wag her tail. After the brief interaction, we all go our own way again.
A grocery store is in walking distance as well, so I/we often take Maya there and tie her up outside when I don’t use the bike to go shopping.
Being back in my home country is always special, since most of my family and friends live close by and they are always super happy to see and host us. Since this visit to Belgium is very different for us than other times, because of its perceived open-endedness and because we have been quite Vario-consumed, upset, and stressed, we’ve been taking it easy and slow meeting others.
I managed to see my uncle and one of my two aunts early on. When Mark, Maya, and I walked to my aunt’s house to get a ride back to Berlare after returning my cousin’s car, our mouths dropped when we spotted a well-maintained Vario in front of her door! It was the older 2WD version from the neighbors’ daughter, but what’s the chance of that? It was a cool – and ironic – coincidence.
A surprise Vario (2WD) in front of my aunt’s yard
We had a lovely visit with my friends Rosy and Peter and their daughter Yanou, resulting in a fun neighborhood walk (they took their neighbor’s dog), the exchange of travel stories, and a wonderful meal and drinks.
On a beautiful day, we swung by my uncle before heading to my cousin Katrien and her family’s place. There, she, her husband, and their children spoiled us rotten with their generosity and kindness. They served us a super tasty mocktail and table grill dinner while we caught up on everyone’s life. Their children are incredible adults now. I can’t believe how fast time flies.
On that topic, it’s always great to see my niece and nephew as well. They are growing up fast! Between seeing the kids at my parents’ and going over there for an errand or two a week, I’m happy to catch up with Ma and Pa often. Since we don’t have a vehicle, I take the bike (20 minutes each way) or walk with Maya (50 minutes each way). My brother and his wife have made their appearances too.
After checking out another Vario in Holland – which is a story in itself – Mark, Maya, and I stopped in the town of Hulst near the border with Belgium. We spent a relaxing hour exploring this pretty town on the drive home with my mom’s car.
For three weeks, we took finicky showers because there was an issue with the hot water heater (boiler). One technician came by but didn’t fix it. Eventually, my parents had to replace the entire boiler and accessories. Reliable hot showers sure are nice!
After a month in Belgium, we are getting itchy feet already again and the weight of not finding our next home on wheels is burdening. We don’t like to plan, but not having any plan whatsoever is daunting. Time is pressing, since Mark can only be in Belgium for 90 days out of 180. We keep searching and researching, are starting to consider Plans B and C, remain busy, and try to recharge our batteries while enjoying a stable environment for now.
Mark and I at my cousin’s
Expenses for May 2026
Last month, we did really well with keeping our expenses under control. We had to, since the first part of the year had been excessive. Our grocery bill was high at over $400, despite us being careful and trying a few “Too Good To Go” boxes. When these work out, it’s great, but we received the wrong box a few times and that made us eat less healthily than usual. So we took a break from them.
The contents of a vegetarian box ($6) from the nearby grocery store and a bread box ($5) from the bakery
As always, we cooked pretty much all our meals at home.
Mark and I bought a few “accessories” for ourselves and the house we are staying in ($169). We invested in a good toolbox and purchased an electric kettle (water cooker as I call them), big bowls for cereal, a meat thermometer, and mosquito netting. These items have increased our comfort.
We bought gifts for Mother’s Day and to say thank you to Griet for lending us her car in April ($100). Our fuel expense was low at $87. I think we topped up my mom’s car only once. It was also time for our annual Quicken subscription ($80), our bookkeeping program.
The alcohol expense was average at $70. We’ve only been buying beer and wine and have managed to pass on the rum, our favorite hard liquor. We don’t have the means to make ice cubes anyway. Maya required a few accessories as well ($55), like her next Seresto collar, treats and bones, a new tag (she lost her old one on a walk), and poop bags.
I urgently needed a pair of jeans ($47), which were also more expensive in Europe than ever in the States. I invested in a bus card ($25) for when we wouldn’t be able to borrow my parents’ car, and Mark’s sore and swollen ankle required some meds and a sports wrap ($11).
Relaxing on the couch – We love having a couch!!!
Can you believe we only spent $21 on dining out in May? All this went to French fries and a meal at the fry shop. Utility costs were low as well: just $5 for a month of internet on a Portuguese plan. We have WiFi at home.
Dinner at the Belgian fries’ shop – Unhealthy, but you have to do this once!
I do laundry at my parents’ place. But since they only have a washing machine, I use the dryer in the laundromat downstairs, which costs €2 a load. Whenever the sun appears, I air-dry my clothes.
The laundry room in my parents’ condo building
Our grand total for May 2026 came in at under $1,100, which is not bad at all for living in Europe. We are grateful for our free lodging at the moment.
Here is the breakdown:
– Groceries: $413
– Household supplies (tools, kitchen gear, mosquito netting): $169
– Gifts (Mother’s Day & car use): $100
– Car (fuel): $87
– Computer software (Quicken): $80
– Alcohol: $70
– Pet Supplies (Seresto collar, treats, poop bags, tag): $55
– Clothing (jeans Liesbet): $47
– Transportation (bus card): $25
– Dining out: $21
– Medical (ankle issues Mark): $11
– Utilities (internet): $5
– Laundry: $5
TOTAL: $1,088
Next up: What’s going on with our 4×4 Mercedes Vario search?
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June 11, 2026 at 7:47 am
I’m so sorry to hear that your continued search for the pawfect vehicle is so burdensome. I’m keeping my ear to the ground, but nice 4×4 Varios are a rare beast indeed. We’re at a show again this weekend, so I shall make enquiries.
We have noticed that dogs tend to be untrained on the Continent. More often than not, we see large, frustrated dogs being walked on the lead by nervous owners who pull them away and transfer their anxiety to their grossly under-exercised dogs!
June 11, 2026 at 10:58 am
Jackie, I thank you as always for your supportive and keen help from afar. Enjoy the UK overland show this weekend. I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun and super rewarding. And I’m glad (this might not be the right word) that you’ve had similar experiences with dogs and dog owners on the European mainland.
June 11, 2026 at 8:02 am
Those meals to go are a bargain compared to how much you would pay here in the states.
Glad you have a chance to recharge a bit. Sorry the one van fell through.
June 11, 2026 at 11:00 am
Hi Alex,
The “Too good to go” boxes are prominent in the US as well. It pays – literally – to see which stores in your area participate in this program. We’ve used it while in Massachusetts before. The bagel shop in our town there provides a baker’s dozen of bagels for 1/3 of the usual price with Too Good To Go. We love it!
June 11, 2026 at 10:20 am
I see why you like that Vario Van. It is nice.
June 11, 2026 at 11:01 am
You are so right, Jacqui. Vario vans look super cool. And they are more spacious inside than Sprinter vans. One day…
June 11, 2026 at 10:22 am
Liesbet, I seldom see “rest” in the title or your post, so that’s very good! It looked as though Maya got in on the relaxation as well.
Sending healing thoughts to Mark too.
Here’s too more air-drying clothes and recharging a bit longer!
June 11, 2026 at 11:04 am
Hi Marian,
Maya is super happy here. She has space, three different cushy beds, lots of love, decent walks every day, and few car rides. She has come to hate being in the car, which might become a problem.
Mark’s ankle is doing a bit better now, but not healed yet. Next week, the sun should make a reappearance.
June 11, 2026 at 11:06 am
I’m glad that you’re recharging for a bit. Being on the go constantly isn’t physically or emotionally sustainable. The first thing I look for in each of your posts is whether you have found your dream vehicle yet. I’m sure that’s weighing on both your minds.
June 11, 2026 at 11:16 am
Thanks for thinking about us and keeping your fingers crossed regarding our “dream” camper, Pete. I think it’ll be the title of the post if and when we find it! 🙂 And, yes, it has been weighing on us, but mostly because we have had to deal with a few disappointments. And there have been some ironic twists lately as well. Mark is getting tired of spending an hour a day on this search (for almost a year) in addition to all his other computer tasks and research. We have added pressure with Mark needing to leave my country for 90 days out of every 180 days. But we shall prevail! 🙂
June 11, 2026 at 12:00 pm
glad you’re giving yourselves a break and glad you can meet up with family. the van search is disappointing but something will pop up. in the meantime, you can enjoy your little house and the pretty setting and hopefully mark’s ankle gets better soon.
June 12, 2026 at 3:07 pm
Hi Beth,
We surely are enjoying our time in the little house. May was nice enough, weatherwise and taking it easy. June is another beast all together. We can never live long before the challenges and complications find us again, haha.
June 11, 2026 at 12:12 pm
Your little house looks lovely! I thought at first you were living with your ;a rents, then realised it was separate. Good luck with the van hunt.
June 12, 2026 at 3:12 pm
Hi Anabel,
For many years, I stayed with my parents during my bi-annual visits to Belgium (that was before Maya). Then, they sold my childhood home about nine years ago. They moved into a one-bedroom service flat. One summer, I slept on a mattress on the floor there. Two years later, Mark joined me to Belgium and we hopped between family members and friends for two weeks.
A few years ago, my parents bought this little house and our time back in Belgium became much more comfortable and settled! That’s the good part. 🙂
June 12, 2026 at 5:39 pm
It’s nice to be settled and have your own place for your stay.
June 14, 2026 at 8:52 am
Yes! One could get used to that…
June 11, 2026 at 12:13 pm
Doh, parents!
June 12, 2026 at 3:12 pm
🙂 I figured that’s what you meant.
June 11, 2026 at 1:05 pm
I agree, your pace in southwestern Europe was a bit dizzying. Belgium must be a nice rest, but I know how it is to get itchy when staying in one place too long. It’s so great that you can take nice walks right from your house. We had two house sits last month that had the vacuum/mop combo robots. The one place had the thing on a schedule to vacuum every day and mop once a week. It was so pleasant to have really clean floors. The other place wasn’t on a schedule, but we tried to use it the last day. It was just set up to mop, and I didn’t know how to change it to vacuum. It was still nice because it was a fairly large space. I just used one of those big old canister vacuums while the robot mopped.
I hope you don’t have to go to plan B or C and that you find a good rig. But, who knows, you may fall into an interesting alternative situation.
June 12, 2026 at 3:17 pm
Those combi cleaning machines are pretty cool and advanced, aren’t they? I didn’t know if they existed in the US already. Lucky you with those fancy house sits. 🙂
I really love to be able to just walk out the gate (and through another one of which only the residents have a key) and be alongside the lake for a nice walk. Well, these days, the walks have been wet and messy. And Maya too!!
Oh Duwan, you would not believe the situation we’ve found ourselves in at this moment. Interesting for sure, but irony has hit us again. I’ll reply to your email soon. You won’t believe it… But then again, all our stories and life experiences seem to be insane.
June 12, 2026 at 9:07 am
Hi Liesbet, It’s great to have time to rest and recharge, especially at your parents’ house by the lake. I hope Mark is feeling better and you find your new home on wheels soon. To reset the 90 day limit in Schengen area without leaving Europe, I’d consider going to a non-Schengen country. Thank you for linking up with my #MonthlyWrapUp.
June 12, 2026 at 3:20 pm
Hi Natalie,
Thanks for your comment and insight. June has brought much less rest than May so far.
Mark’s situation regarding his limits to stay in Belgium are a bit complicated and different from the normal Schengen rules that Americans face. It deserves an entire post one day, if I’m up for explaining it.
June 14, 2026 at 9:47 am
It must be great to be at home around family and friends. I hope it takes the pressure off not being able to find a new home-on-wheels yet.
I was surprised by what you said about it being frowned upon to walk dogs off-lead. Here in the UK, that’s not the case, unless, of course, you’re walking a dog off-lead in an area where they must be on a lead.
Sounds like you are getting plenty of exercise what with walking and cycling, Liesbet. Hope Marks’ ankle is better.
June 15, 2026 at 2:19 am
Hi Hugh,
It’s been nice to be around friends and family, but the stress remains. Mostly because of our deadlines regarding Mark’s immigration status and the fact that we still don’t have a vehicle or home on wheels. But a solution is being worked on. 🙂
In Belgium, dogs have to be on a leash everywhere but in off-leash parks, which there are few of. When it’s not busy on the nature trails, we take Maya’s lead off and we put it back on when bikers, runners, or walkers pass. I feel if you’re respectful and your dog listens well, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Some people walk their dogs on extremely long leashes, while Maya is closer to us but only under voice control. Other dogs – mostly the small ones – bark when they meet or see other dogs. Maya never barks… I know rules are rules, but they aren’t always fair and a lot should depend on the kind of dog and owner. But that’s not the case and would be hard to enforce.
June 17, 2026 at 5:58 am
Oh, I agree. Often it’s the owner that is fault rather than the dog, Liesbet. I’ve encountered that many times, especially when it comes to not picking up your dog’s mess. Those few owners give all dog owners such a bad name.
June 17, 2026 at 6:06 am
Ooh, I hate that. And I have confronted people about not picking up their dog’s poop. They ruin it for everyone else, especially for responsible dog owners. It’s the reason why many places don’t allow dogs anymore. I’ve also stepped in poop more than I can count, because of other owners’ bad behavior. Sigh.
June 14, 2026 at 4:01 pm
It must be relief for you to have your budget temporarily back to “normal”, (even though some of your usual expenses weren’t part of it). You’ve certainly found a lot to see and do regardless of the budget!
It’s interesting that you mention dog-walking customs are different there than in the U.S. I didn’t realize it was common for dogs to be off-leash in the U.S. Here in Western Canada, dogs are almost always leashed unless it’s a designated off-leash area. It’s actually considered rather rude for people to let their off-leash dog come up and interact with someone else’s leashed dog. So many subtle differences between the norms of such closely neighbouring countries!
June 15, 2026 at 5:38 am
Hi Diane,
It’s nice to take it a bit easier these days. But in true Liesbet and Mark fashion, irony and obstacles keep following us. It’s just part of life now. We’re trying hard to save some money as we will have to invest in an entire new “camper wardrobe” once that moment arrives. Mark already bought a bunch of tools and other gear to get ahead.
In the US, there are actually many cities where dogs are not obliged to be on leash but they have to be under voice control. Our dogs have always been very well trained and it’s a practice that we keep up pretty much every day. In forests and on nature trails, we often encounter off leash dogs in the US (like ours), assuming that only good dogs are off leash. But never in Belgium. The rules are stricter here as well, where officially, dogs always have to be on leash except in off-leash dog parks. I guess that’s similar to Canada.
Maya listens really well and we like to walk her off leash when nobody is around or could be bothered by her. When there are bikers, runners, or hikers, we call her back and put her on leash again or have her “heel” next to us. When we approach another dog (she’s always back on leash by then), I ask the owner if their dog is friendly. More often than in the US – where owners and dogs seem to always say hi – the owner says “sometimes” or “not really” or “it depends.” Or they pull their dog very far away from us.
In the US, when we had our dogs off leash and they greeted dogs on leash, it never seemed to be a problem. On trails anyway. Of course, we would always assure the other dog walker that our dog was/is friendly. In cities, we always have our dogs on leash. Despite being trained to sit on the curb and waiting for a command before crossing a road, you never know.
June 15, 2026 at 9:03 am
Liesbet, sorry to hear both Varios did not work out. I know how much you two are looking forward to finding just the right one. Maya looks so happy walking around the lake. Here is my favorite line in your post “We don’t like to plan, but not having any plan whatsoever is daunting.” And as always, it amazing me how you three live on so little expenses. Stay safe out there and thank you for sharing. Jim
June 17, 2026 at 4:38 am
Hi Jim,
Many people are probably wondering why we are doing so much effort to find this particular 4×4 van that is old as well. Of course, there are many reasons, some of which I have reported on before. But the main reason is that we feel this Vario van, whenever we find it, will be our “forever” camper as opposed to every other camper (and sailboat) we have owned. Those all served their multiple-year purpose after which we sold them.
We always had the incentive to sell our previous vehicles, which meant we had to be careful with them to retain a decent resale value. The Vario camper will become our cozy home for the time being, since we can reach the rest of the world (apart from down under and certain islands) over land and won’t have to ship the vehicle anymore.
June 17, 2026 at 8:17 pm
Well, you guys did very well with the budget – it helps when you’re ‘at home’. 🙂 And so funny, I love pasta with smoked salmon! I do hope by your next post you get closer to finding your next ride! 🥰
June 19, 2026 at 8:41 am
Hi Debby,
I love pasta and I love (smoked) salmon, so with a combination like that, it’s certainly a winner. I have a little surprise for the next blog (I think), since we had to keep moving with plan B…