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!
A cloudy day at the Donk
Swans frequent this rest area
Maya meets a sheep at the petting zoo, fifteen minutes from our doorstep.
Old home of a duck farmer
Water lily on the Donk
The Donk lake was poisoned by algae this summer.
Completing our dog walk around the Donk
Hidden “smoke station” on recreational grounds
Maya had many comfortable spots and was adored by friends and family!
It was nice to have a couch.
Comfy Maya on the couch
Comfy Maya on her new bed in the bedroom
Butt rubs on our patio
Another rest area for Maya
Maya is well loved by our friends as well.
Maya is well loved in my family!
I usually only see photos on Facebook of the amazing parties our friends Davy and Ellen throw at their farm-turned-home and yard-turned-tropical paradise in Zwalm, so I was happy to finally attend an event on their property, which Mark and I visited in the past. The occasion this summer? Ellen’s 50th birthday party!
Summer party in Zwalm
My childhood friend Davy grills the meat
On Ellen’s 50th birthday party, she performed with the band of her mom, dad, and brother on a stage in her own yard. It was so cool!
Meeting new people at this birthday party
And I managed to move my boxes of photo albums, diaries, and souvenirs from my cousin’s attic to the one in the little house.
Since I had time, I moved my boxes with photo albums, diaries, and souvenirs from the attic of my cousin to the one of the little house.
All my boxes packed up on the attic of the little house.
Mice had gotten into my stuff. And, yes, I found the (dead) perpetrator in another boc.
From August on, our jobs slowed down a bit and we hung out with dear friends and family at an average pace of every other day. Sometimes, the social days and evenings were stacked and we felt exhausted, but other days we found ourselves with free time. As always, a balance was key, but every visit was fun.
Going for a drink at a quiet outdoor bar with friends Sven and Mieke in Dendermonde. They made dinner for us as well!
On my nephew Lenn’s birthday, we babysat both kids. We walked, played minigolf, had lunch together, and…
Me and my namesake cat, LB, who I rescued for Sven from the woods fourteen years ago!
… went out for ice cream.
My aunt Marleen invited us and my cousin Sofie with her family for a nice afternoon and dinner.
We had to postpone our visit to my friend An and her husband, Kristof, to a rainy day.
I managed to get two flat tires riding around on my dad’s bike!
We spent a weekend with our friends Rosy and Peter and a second weekend in Boom, focused once more on beer production.
A weekend at Rosy and Peter’s house
Happy puppies on the couch
Dinner in the yard
Rosy prepares a Thai curry.
Game night at Rosy and Peter’s place
And my favorite pastry breakfast!
Posing with Rosy, Peter, and their daughter Yanou in Merelbeke
Beer bottling time means teamwork! Griet caps the bottles.
Liesbet sterilizes the bottles.
Wim cleans the tanks
Mark fills the bottles.
First taste – before the final fermenting step, which happens in the bottles
During these longer visits, we managed to see a couple of historic Belgian towns.
Quick visit to the town of Lier
The famous Zimmer Tower in Lier
Family photo with my cousin and her husband
Nature around Lier – all in walking distance of the town.
Daytrip to Damme, near Bruges
Stroll around Damme with our friends Rosy and Peter, their daughter, and our dogs
City Hall of Damme
Walk along the canal in Damme. It was very popular with walkers and bikers.
Group shot in nature
Rosy walks with the donkeys
Church and cemetery in Damme
Cool church in Damme
The stork have returned!
Mark and I also drove an hour to an empty beach in the Netherlands to let Maya run before 10am, when dogs needed to be put back on leash (but were still allowed on the sands). On the drive home, we visited an online friend of mine on one of her historic canal boats.
Beach run for Maya in Breskens, the Netherlands
Lighthouse of Breskens
Lunch in the shade of a beach cabin – it was a very hot day!
Meeting fellow author, teacher, and sailor Val in Sas-Van-Gent (the Netherlands) on our drive home from the coast.
One of Val’s two historic canal boats in Sas-Van-Gent
The last ten days of August, our trio went on a real vacation – meaning no work – with my cousin, Griet, and her husband, Wim. We had booked apartments in the northern and southern part of the Black Forest in Germany and in Austria to visit Liechtenstein affordably. More about that trip in a future blog.
More about Liechtenstein later
The first two weeks of September were filled with visits from friends to our little place, a dinner invitation by my other cousin, Katrien, and her family, a fantastic gourmet multiple-course lunch at Pacht 26 with my mom and aunt Marleen, a quick visit to my aunt Nicole at the seaside, and a last-minute and highly appreciated reunion “halfway” in Liège with long-time friends from Germany.
Visit from Kim, Eli, and Giel at the little house in Berlare
Sven joined in on our patio, the first weekend of September.
Visit of Rosy, Peter, Yanou, and Viggo to the little house, two evenings before we left Belgium. Mark cooked mussels and Rosy and I picked up fries at the shop.
Taking Maya to the beach in Bredene (in September dogs are allowed off leash there) before visiting an aunt in Oostende
Walk with my aunt on the beach promenade
Visiting my aunt Nicole in Oostende, where she lives in a really cool apartment with a view.
Exquisite dinner at my cousin Katrien and her family’s home in Kontich.
My mom invited my aunt and us (and Maya) to an excellent multiple-course lunch at Pacht 26.
One of the appetizers
First course of fish. The second course was tender duck.
My mom, aunt, and me with a table of tea accompaniments, after the dessert.
Mark, dogs Kali & Darwin, and I met German travelers Sabine and Michael way back in 2006, when all of us were RVing (now called overlanding) in Central America. We shared an Airbnb house in Liège (in the south of Belgium) for one night to catch up.
Quick stop in Liège
The four of us rented a comfortable house with a big yard (for the dogs and for hanging out) for one night.
Maya and Sam in the living room of our Airbnb
Happy hour with our friends Sabine, Michael, and dog Sam in the yard of our Airbnb in Liège .
Sabine sent us a photo of their visit to our sailboat Irie in the Bahamas in 2008 as a comparison of how we have aged in the last two decades… 😊
Sabine, Mark, Liesbet, and Darwin on our sailing catamaran Irie in 2008.
Michael, Mark, Liesbet, and Maya on the couch now.
Our time in Belgium flew by too fast – who would have guessed? – and we thoroughly savored the company of our friends and family, daily hot and pressurized showers, unlimited electricity, a nice bed to sleep in, a comfortable couch, stacked and varied grocery stores, amazing food and drinks, a quiet environment, and the beautiful, sunny weather we lucked out with. I suffered from dental issues, which would be addressed on our one-week return to the US.
I bought a used oven for 20 euros, so Mark could make his granola recipe. We used it for dinner a few times as well.
Lunch consisted of awesome Belgian bread, spreads, and vegetables. I loved the choices!
Belgian fries (they overfill the boxes at fry shops) and a homemade salad = bliss!
A sandwich with Brie cheese and smoked salmon – decadent?
Mark compares some of Wim’s beer – We bought a case to last through the summer.
My favorite lunch: croque madam and a salad. A croque madam is a croque monsieur (grilled cheese sandwich; I omit the ham) topped with a fried egg.
A new favorite home dinner: Thai curry and noodles
Another amazing pastry breakfast in Boom!
Once, we got caught in the rain, but Belgium was exceptionally sunny this summer.
I think it’s safe to say that I wouldn’t mind another one of those comfortable breaks in the future. That being said, Mark and I are still happy nomads who look forward to continuing our South American adventures, next week.
Property/storage owner Julian sent us a message from Bella halfway through our absence.
Mark, Maya, and I in front of city hall in historic Lier
Curious about a previous ten-year chapter in our nomadic lives, which includes eight years aboard a 35-foot sailboat in the tropics with dogs, check out my compelling, inspiring, and refreshingly honest travel memoir:
Plunge – One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary
It was such an easy lifestyle that we sometimes wonder why we don’t stick with it. We still had to work, so it wasn’t a holiday, but things sure were much easier than usually. Yet, the cost of living and the lack of adventure would cause itchy feet, I think.
Living large! Great to have a nice chunk of time like that to reconnect with family and friends. I haven’t seen my sister, niece, and her 3 kids since Covid! We hope to squeeze in a visit as we’re rolling south for the winter — closer to the end of Oct. Glad you guys had a good time! 🙂
Oh yeah, Jim, we were living really large – and enjoying every minute of it, haha. But, it was temporary and that’s for the best. We don’t want to grow roots anywhere and get too comfortable! Or too used to luxury! 🙂
I hope you get to visit your sister and her family on your drive south. It sounds like it’s been a while since you saw them and those family times are super precious. We don’t always realize it, but life is short… For everyone.
Haha, Alex! It would have been easy to stay a while longer. I actually wish we planned to be in Belgium for three months (my US husband can’t stay longer than that) but I’m sure we would have filled up our time just as much. And, yes, our friends’s yard is party central and a real tropical paradise. In summer anyway. 🙂
You know it, Diane! We cheated big time by flying away from winter and returning during the austral spring. This year, we will actually have two summers. Although, in Patagonia summer might as well be winter.
True thing, Pete. I guess life works the other way around for us. We travel full-time, while others only head out once a year. And when we return to our home countries, it feels more like vacation than in our camper. Solely because life is so much more comfortable and convenient in a house. Funny stuff.
I’m glad you enjoyed our photos. An overload of it. And I still had a hard time picking this selection. Yes, there were many smiles – all around. From people and animals. 🙂
I’m sorry you had such a crappy summer. Yet I’m glad about all the “dreary” fun!
People in Belgium will say that the weather wasn’t all that great, this past summer, because they remember the heavy, never-ending rains of the spring, which lasted until the week before we arrived in July.
But I can assure anyone that I’ve never experienced any summer for as long as I lived in and visited Belgium with this little rain and this much sun. The climate has changed a lot since my childhood and others have gotten used to this, while I haven’t. I could never sit outside at night without a sweater two decades ago, for example. Now, this is possible. Global warming. It’s a thing!
Your post is brimming with family, friends, and food–as it should be. I’m so happy you had a more leisurely pace on this trip and I also had first dibs on a car. My son-in-law and grandson visited Belgium at the beginning of a tour of the Netherlands and Germany this summer. They loved it.
Thanks for the update, Liesbet! 😀
How nice that your son-in-law and grandson enjoyed a Western European tour this summer. I’m glad they added Belgium to their itinerary. Bruges more than likely. 🙂 A father-son travel experience? How special and cool!
Thanks for the kind words, as always. This was such a nice visit to Belgium. It always is, but this summer was extra special because we stayed much longer than usually, so it will really stick. The memories will have to last until I go back in a couple of years.
I really enjoyed reading this post and discovering a little bit about your friends and family from Belgium. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
The little house looks so cute and comfortable, and the surrounding area very picturesque.
I loved seeing how well Maya has adapted to being in Belgium. Was the flight over there ok for her? She is such a sweet girl.
I am looking forward to hearing more about your trip to Liechtenstein, I have always wanted to visit it😀
I have a brother who is two years younger and has a wife and two children, a boy and a girl. Maya was a trooper on the plane. She is so well-behaved, adapted, and flexible. She flew from/to three continents in one week!
We are having a serious engine issue at the moment, but hopefully, we find a solution for it soon. Then, we plan to travel through southern Brazil. I’ll let you know if and when we reach Porto Alegre. 🙂
We have been perpetual nomads since 2003 – sailing, camping, RVing, house and pet sitting – and are currently roaming about South America in a truck camper with our rescue dog, Maya. As lifetime adventurers, we are self-employed and maintain a tight budget. This blog is about all that – and more – to inspire a life less ordinary. Don’t dream but do! 🙂
September 25, 2024 at 12:11
Sounds like a fabulous visit filled with a diversity of travel and family. 🙂
September 25, 2024 at 19:57
Hi Ingrid!
It was a very special and different visit “home” and I’ll cherish it for the next couple of years. 🙂
September 25, 2024 at 12:25
Looks like you had an excellent two-month holiday with family, friends, good food, home comforts and fun travel.
September 25, 2024 at 19:58
Hi Natalie,
It was such an easy lifestyle that we sometimes wonder why we don’t stick with it. We still had to work, so it wasn’t a holiday, but things sure were much easier than usually. Yet, the cost of living and the lack of adventure would cause itchy feet, I think.
September 25, 2024 at 12:41
Living large! Great to have a nice chunk of time like that to reconnect with family and friends. I haven’t seen my sister, niece, and her 3 kids since Covid! We hope to squeeze in a visit as we’re rolling south for the winter — closer to the end of Oct. Glad you guys had a good time! 🙂
September 25, 2024 at 20:01
Oh yeah, Jim, we were living really large – and enjoying every minute of it, haha. But, it was temporary and that’s for the best. We don’t want to grow roots anywhere and get too comfortable! Or too used to luxury! 🙂
I hope you get to visit your sister and her family on your drive south. It sounds like it’s been a while since you saw them and those family times are super precious. We don’t always realize it, but life is short… For everyone.
September 25, 2024 at 14:11
Looks like so much fun, I’m surprised you left! That place looks like an amazing location for a party.
September 25, 2024 at 20:04
Haha, Alex! It would have been easy to stay a while longer. I actually wish we planned to be in Belgium for three months (my US husband can’t stay longer than that) but I’m sure we would have filled up our time just as much. And, yes, our friends’s yard is party central and a real tropical paradise. In summer anyway. 🙂
September 25, 2024 at 14:27
Wow, it sounds like a wonderful break! Very different from suffering through freezing nights while the condensation drips on your bed. 😉
September 25, 2024 at 20:05
You know it, Diane! We cheated big time by flying away from winter and returning during the austral spring. This year, we will actually have two summers. Although, in Patagonia summer might as well be winter.
September 25, 2024 at 16:30
You and Mark have figured out what works for you, and that’s all that matters. How many people get to vacation when they go home?
September 25, 2024 at 20:07
True thing, Pete. I guess life works the other way around for us. We travel full-time, while others only head out once a year. And when we return to our home countries, it feels more like vacation than in our camper. Solely because life is so much more comfortable and convenient in a house. Funny stuff.
September 25, 2024 at 18:08
What beautiful photos and a wonderful trip back home.
The smiles say it all! <3 <3 <3
September 25, 2024 at 20:08
Hi Donna,
I’m glad you enjoyed our photos. An overload of it. And I still had a hard time picking this selection. Yes, there were many smiles – all around. From people and animals. 🙂
September 25, 2024 at 18:11
What a wonderful summer! Including the weather which did not make its way this far north. We have had a poor summer (but still lots of fun).
September 25, 2024 at 20:12
Hi Anabel,
I’m sorry you had such a crappy summer. Yet I’m glad about all the “dreary” fun!
People in Belgium will say that the weather wasn’t all that great, this past summer, because they remember the heavy, never-ending rains of the spring, which lasted until the week before we arrived in July.
But I can assure anyone that I’ve never experienced any summer for as long as I lived in and visited Belgium with this little rain and this much sun. The climate has changed a lot since my childhood and others have gotten used to this, while I haven’t. I could never sit outside at night without a sweater two decades ago, for example. Now, this is possible. Global warming. It’s a thing!
September 25, 2024 at 19:51
Your post is brimming with family, friends, and food–as it should be. I’m so happy you had a more leisurely pace on this trip and I also had first dibs on a car. My son-in-law and grandson visited Belgium at the beginning of a tour of the Netherlands and Germany this summer. They loved it.
Thanks for the update, Liesbet! 😀
September 25, 2024 at 20:16
Hi Marian,
How nice that your son-in-law and grandson enjoyed a Western European tour this summer. I’m glad they added Belgium to their itinerary. Bruges more than likely. 🙂 A father-son travel experience? How special and cool!
Thanks for the kind words, as always. This was such a nice visit to Belgium. It always is, but this summer was extra special because we stayed much longer than usually, so it will really stick. The memories will have to last until I go back in a couple of years.
September 26, 2024 at 09:30
Sounds like a great recharging time!
September 27, 2024 at 10:43
It was a good time, Lexie! Busy, but comfortable and perfect to recharge. Now, we are back in the trenches! 🙂
September 27, 2024 at 09:01
I really enjoyed reading this post and discovering a little bit about your friends and family from Belgium. Do you have any brothers or sisters?
The little house looks so cute and comfortable, and the surrounding area very picturesque.
I loved seeing how well Maya has adapted to being in Belgium. Was the flight over there ok for her? She is such a sweet girl.
I am looking forward to hearing more about your trip to Liechtenstein, I have always wanted to visit it😀
September 27, 2024 at 10:47
Hello Gilda,
Thank you for the sweet comment and interest.
I have a brother who is two years younger and has a wife and two children, a boy and a girl. Maya was a trooper on the plane. She is so well-behaved, adapted, and flexible. She flew from/to three continents in one week!
We are having a serious engine issue at the moment, but hopefully, we find a solution for it soon. Then, we plan to travel through southern Brazil. I’ll let you know if and when we reach Porto Alegre. 🙂