What is considered a vacation? Getting on a plane? Traveling to a tropical destination? Crossing the border? Visiting friends and family? Taking a road trip to the other side of the country? Staying at a hotel?
I have done all these things and I can guarantee that none of them resulted in a vacation. Mark and I have been together since December of 2004; that’s almost seventeen years. Even though we have lived a life less ordinary, in many different countries, the two of us have NEVER been on a typical vacation together (or apart) since we met. I know this is hard to believe and/or grasp by people who don’t know us well…
The closest we have come to anything like a medley of peace, exploration, and relaxation without worries is a three-day city trip to Budapest in 2017 and two months of “living off the grid” in Baja last winter (this one still involved work, book promo, and the necessary stress that we seem to incur).
Based on all that, I have decided that the best way for me to describe “a vacation” is when I am able to leave my computer behind. Yep, that’s right. Not take my computer on a trip. How is that possible? I have a monthly editing job, receive occasional translation assignments, need to promote Plunge, write blogs on my laptop, save photos in folders on my computer, and have my important information (including passwords which I could never remember) stored on its hard drive. I actually considered this drastic act for my recent three-week visit to Belgium. (I really craved a vacation.) And … decided against it. That’s just too long without my most important electronic buddy.
(As always, hover over or click on the photos to read the captions.)
So, I took my trusted laptop, forfeited my camera instead (and took photos with Mark’s old phone – a mistake as you can tell), requested a “leave of absence” regarding work, and managed to have a wonderful time with friends and family. It was exhausting but incredibly satisfying, for the soul, the belly, and the sense of belonging. Mark and I were treated like royalty and spoiled like… Maya. ????
Despite the never-ending insecurity and anxiety regarding international pandemic rules, regulations, and guidelines, we lucked out. Two days before I was scheduled to fly from Boston, Massachusetts, to Brussels, Belgium travelers received the green light for that trajectory. No quarantine or negative Covid test were needed anymore; the United States was considered a green or orange zone instead of the dreaded red designation. Unfortunately, institutions were behind with their data, which caused me extra worry and stress upon arrival and an entire week into my trip. Fortunately, it all worked out in the end.
That first week in Belgium, jetlag and lack of sleep followed me, but I embraced being with my parents, seeing a few “select” friends, and participating in interviews with the press to chat about my book and my lifestyle – for a regional TV station and two national newspapers. I had to decline a radio interview because of logistic reasons. I was in France during the live broadcast.
Once Mark arrived for two weeks, the pace and goals changed as we bounced around different bedrooms across the Flemish part of my home country. Beer, good food, friendship, and family became the center of attention. It was glorious and time went way too fast. A huge shout-out to our friends Duwan and Greg (Make Like An Apeman) who made our journey as a couple possible. They pet sat Maya – who did great by the way – in “our room above the garage.”
During the two days we “stayed” at my brother’s house, Mark and I biked and had lunch out with my parents, joined a group of friends to watch the Belgian Red Devils lose their quarter finals in the European Championship for soccer, walked around my birth town of Dendermonde, and enjoyed a wonderful brunch at a friend’s home.
From there, we moved to another friend’s house for a fabulous dinner, an amazing brunch (extensive “tabling” with goodies as the rain kept pouring down), and a short walk in Gent (Ghent), the city of my college years.
The strange thing is that I never before realized how attractive the capital of Oost-Vlaanderen (East Flanders) is, despite living there for four years!
Next, we left Gent to visit my aunt in Oostende, West-Vlaanderen. While we slept in her guestroom bunk beds, the days and evenings were filled with activities. My parents were on a one-week holiday at the coast with their grandchildren; my niece and nephew. Their location was a 50-minute walk or 15-minute tram ride away. The idea was that we’d have fun with the kids for two afternoons and we did!
The 12-year-old and her 7-year-old brother picked two favorite activities to do with auntie Liesbet and uncle Mark. The first one was a pleasant surprise: collecting trash in the dunes. My mom joined us on that windy endeavor. In the evening, Mark and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary with Belgian stouts (Mark), wine (me), and Turkish food.
The second afternoon – again, after a delicious and extensive lunch out – the four of us biked to a farm with petting zoo, playground, and cafeteria. On this day, unlike most days during our “vacation,” the weather was agreeable. As animal lovers, a good time was had by all.
Another week had passed already, when Mark and I headed across the border to the Opal Coast in NW France. My parents generously lent us their only car for the entire three weeks of my presence. The whirlwind of activities and visits slowed down a tad for four days, as the two of us met up with my cousin and her husband. Family as well as friends, this couple visited us around the world. I will elaborate on that excursion in a future blog post.
The last two days of our Belgian adventure, Mark and I stayed with a cousin in the province of Antwerpen (Antwerp). We visited with more family members, I caught up with some emails and work, and we had a lovely final dinner on my cousin-in-law’s birthday. Having a group of family around that evening was special and precious, since we are never present for occasions like these. Not having my dear aunt included (she used to be the organizing body) made the event bittersweet. She unexpectedly passed away last October.
Despite the uncooperative weather, Mark and I had a lovely time. To see loved ones is more important than sunshine. It had been three years for me and four for him since the last visit. Our friends and family welcomed us with open arms and used their hospitality, gestures, and spoils to make sure we’d return! Maybe we bring Maya next time?
I am linking this post to Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share #30. You can read her contribution about some Toronto highlights here.
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