Christmas in Paris, 2010

I had been to Paris in 1998, but it was just for a day.  Yep that was me...... in one day, out the next!  So how did I get this picture?

While traveling the United States earlier that year we had earned a free 1 night stay with any hotel affiliated with Holiday Inn Express.  Come to find out.....we could stay in Paris!

We had a wonderful cruise on the Seine River the second night we were there that lasted about 1.5 hours.....and we had some great views!

Paris is beautiful no matter how you choose to see it, night or day.

my honey getting me some hot wine to enjoy while strolling the Christmas Market

This is my first post to "Mellow Yellow Monday".

Who knew?

Home Sweet Home

Let me apologize for not posting any stories lately of my travels while in Europe during the last 5 months.  But on May 12th I headed back to Las Vegas and I have been busy with doctors appointments, grandson's baseball games, catching up with friends and just general sprucing up around the house.

And now I have a wedding to plan!!!  Yes, Stijn and I will be married on July 9th, so plenty to get done before the big day!

I hope you will forgive me for being absent for so long and I promise I will have some more great stories about my trip, like our getaways to Paris, la Clusaz and Wimereux France, and Cologne Germany.

There's no place like home!



Watery Wednesday - Honfluer France

For many years Honfleur, located on the Normandy Coast, has been popular with artists. Painters such as Monet and Boudin were drawn by the scenery and coastline.

And I could certainly see why after spending the night here while on our trip through France in January 2009.

Many others are participating in "Watery Wednesday".  So please stop by and take a look at some other wonderful Watery Shots!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Mistletoe in France

I kept seeing these trees as we drove through France back in 2009.  I found them fascinating and Stijn told me that was Mistletoe growing on the trees.  No, not a Mistletoe tree.  Mistletoe will eventually over take a tree and kill it!

Who Knew!

I am participating in "Shadow Shot Sunday"

Skywatch Friday - Lost in France

Had we not gone this way to our home exchange in Provence back in January 2009, I wouldn't be showing you these pictures today.

Were we really lost?

Or, just taking the scenic route?

Click here to read the story.  Then you decide!

This is my contribution to "Skywatch Friday"  Please be sure to check out others!

Shadow Sunday - Shadows in the Snow

No, this isn't me! 

Stijn's brother, Dries (pronounced drees) is the snowboarder.

I took these pictures just two weeks ago while we were on a ski trip to le Clusaz France.

While I watched from the terrace of a lodge sipping on some vin chaud, (that would be hot wine people, my idea of a ski vacation) I zoomed in on Dries and captured these shadow shots.

I'm participating in "Shadow Sunday" where you can see some more great Shadow Shots!

Watery Wednesday - Mont St Michel

On a trip to France in the Normandy region during January 2009, I was able to see one of the most magnificent structures I have ever set eyes on! Mont St. Michel.

I know there isn't a lot of water in this picture, but isn't it beautiful!

Lucky for us, the tide was out on this day.

After going through the Boulevard Gate and then the King's Gate, we walk along the "Grande Rue" (main street) with its museums, shops and houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries.

Well this is starting to turn into a "story".  But if you would like to read about our day just click here

Now back to the water!  Here are a few more "watery" pictures.

Don't forget to check out some other magnificent "watery" photos over at "Watery Wednesday".  They will be glad you stopped by!

Watery Wednesday - Reflections on the Seine in Paris

Towards the end of December we took a train to Paris from Belgium for two days.

Our first night there we decided on a river cruise on the Seine.

I took these pictures hoping to capture the reflections of this magnificent city on the river that runs through the heart of Paris.

I hope you take the time to visit other photographers at "Watery Wednesday" and see some more fantastic Watery photos!

Watery Wednesday-It's Cold Everywhere

The weather has certainly been strange this winter everywhere!

I took this picture mid-afternoon while visiting the Christmas Market in Lille France just this past December.  (click here to read about my day)

Don't forget to check out some other great Watery pictures at "Watery Wednesday"

Enjoying Life to its Fullest!

I'm sure you have been trying to figure out exactly where the heck I am! 

Well let me apologize for such sporatic posts, and jumping from one story about my travels to another.  If you have been following this blog you know that back in October I left you with stories about my trip to Portugal that I took back in February 2010.  But then I started writing about my trip to Tennessee, and left you wondering about the rest of my days is Portugal. 

Well for the sake of keeping you completely confused, I'll stop here.  There have been a few more trips that I haven't even mentioned, like our Boston trip in November and our Paris getaway just last week.

You've read a couple of stories recently since my arrival back to Belgium, which by the way was on December 3rd.  But here I am now, back in Portugal.  Stijn and I arrived yesterday (Dec 28th) in Ferragudo Portugal, almost one year after our first trip here back in February 2010!

We celebrated our return by enjoying a nice dinner at O Velho Novo, the first restaurant we ate at in February.

Stijn remembered the great meal he had back then, and ordered it again last night.

We will be here for the month of January on what is our part of a home exchange.  What I hope to accomplish while we're here, beside sightseeing, is to catch up on the stories of our travels.

So I hope you don't mind or get confused as to where we are as I begin to attempt to write about where we've been, what we've done and what we've seen during the past several months!

Merry Christmas from Belgium

I thought it would be fun to take pictures of the Christmas trees I've seen since arriving in Europe on December 3.  I hope you enjoy these shots and maybe you can tell me which one is your favorite?

This picture was taken after Stijn's mother and I finished decorating her tree.

The rest are just random pictures I took......

Den Artiest restaurant in Geluwe Belgium



Thon Hotel lobby in Brussels

The streets of Brussels



In Starbucks at the train station in Antwerp



Wood trees on the streets of Antwerp

A.S. Adventure sport store in Antwerp





Grand Place in Antwerp



The Garden of Eden restaurant in Antwerp



Cathedral of Norte Dame Paris



Christmas Market Lille France

I hope you have enjoyed these pictures.....I sure enjoyed taking them.

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year to everyone!!!

Marche de Noel in Lille France

Saturday my friend, Birgit and I headed to Lille France for the day to explore and enjoy the Christmas Market (Marche de Noel). To read more about this great Christmas Market, click HERE

We took the train from Kortrijk Belgium for the 30 minute journey into France!  I just love the idea of being so close to so many countries here in Europe!  "Oh, I think I'll go to France today!"   Why Not???!!!

It was a perfect wintery day, with a festive chill in the air and fresh snow atop the more then 80 wooden chalets that lined Place Rihour in the centre of town.

 The chalets were decorated so cute with lights, gingerbread men and several Christmas scenes.

I, of course must have and eat immediately, a beignet!

Now we did take some time out to have a real meal.  This sign made it easy to decide what I wanted for lunch!

A nice pot of mussels cooked in white wine!

We enjoyed walking around and taking in this beautiful city.

But the views from the ferris wheel were spectacular!

I was loving the views......

....while Birgit was holding on for dear life!

Time to warm up with some Vin Chaud and enjoy the view.

I have entirely way to many pictures to show you for this post.  But here are a few of my favorites!

Ok, I'll stop.....but if you would like to see more pictures just click this "Where's Debbie" and then on the album "Marche de Noel"

It was a fantastic day!  But it's time to call it a day and head back to the train station.

Happy Holidays!