Antwerpen..my temporary home town

I reached Antwerp on 13th February 2006 and left on the 3rd of August. During this time I bonded with my sister and Brother in law, welcomed my Mira into the world, became closer to Jeroen's family, made some good (hopefully long term!) friends, learnt how to knit and cook, spent quality time with myself, got to know the city- streets and vibes and travelled to and from it a few times. Coming home to Thaliastraat after my trips around Europe was a delight.

This city came alive as the sun set later.. www.antwerpen.be
Click this link to see the nicest cafe I hung out at.. a few times...
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Belgium/Provincie_Antwerpen/Antwerp-358974/Restaurants-Antwerp-Wattman-R-1.html
You come across this when you walk down a gorgeous street with breathtaking art nouveau houses called Cogels Osylei, from Didi's place towards a nice square called Dageratplaats (lots of restaurants and cafes - all had my patronage).

How could I forget De Nacht Wenkels! I wish I had taken a photo of one. These were very handy at times when you didnt want to pay exorbitant prices for a drink in a bar and just wanted a few cans of Kriek to sip on while sitting along the Scheldt or in a square in the centre. Good times!

1. Manu, Jeroen, me, Eva and Martin at Wattman on a warm Saturday night
2. Didi and I in the Antwerp Botanical Garden
3. Eva, Manu, me and Jeroen enjoying a meal at Overrloed (Overflow!) at Dageratplaats

De Nederlands

So its a small world.. I met Anna - my friend from Berlin in Amsterdam for a few days. Then I caught up with Julija.. my parent's neighbour's daughter.
I have to admit it was meeting these two crazy chics that made my trip to De Nederlands memorable.

I was a bit dissapointed in Amsterdam.. too much sin.. I ca ignore all the sex, drugs etc.. but it is very difficult to ignore the zillions of neon signs and 18 year old Americans on the streets. The quieter parts were much nicer. I also went to Utrecht - a small University town, for a day.
1. Anna and I posing in front of the Kaiser's canal
2. beautiful dom of the St Niklaas church
3. Julija and I, photo taken at arms lenght at an Italian restaurant in the suburb called "Pipe". Wnder why.. canals or bongs?
4. The Dom and the clock tower in Utrecht

Pays de la Loire www.enpaysdelaloire.com

Thanks so much Jeroen (Van Esbroeck) for inviting me to France with your sisters, brother in laws and their lovely children. Arent we lucky to have these nieces and nephews to play with!
(Note: In Belgium they often use the same word for cousins as nieces.. confusion!)

We got into a car with Jeroen's sister Lieve, her husband Dirk and their three lovely children Artuur, Barrund and Eward (forgive the spelling!) and drove from Belgium through the Ardennes, Lille, by passed Paris and reached Besse sur Loire. This is where we stayed at a Moulin (water mill) which had been converted into a huge holiday house.

Jeroen's older sister, Ann and her husband Greg joined us on the road with their kids Tobe and Hilljche (that is certainly incorrect.. please tell me the correct spelling someone).

At the Moulin we played Jeu de ball, drank wine and Ricard (I didnt.. I hate anis), cooked, watched the World Cup Final, sat on the Hollywood swing, played with the children.. and then did some short trips to discover the Loire region. Some castles, some little towns along riversides and of course churches.

1. Jeroen and I in a limestone cave
2. Jeroen enjoying some rotten cheese and Chillean wine (French one was too expensive) in the only fancy restaurant we could find for miles.
3.Me and the adorable kids
4.View of the town from the ruins of a castle