Travel Overview

Travelogues

Overview

Here's a list of some of the trips I'd taken, or places I'd visited, during 1998, while I lived in Belgium. I took advantage of my time in Europe and traveled as much as possible, visiting somewhere different nearly every weekend. After meeting Joana in Leuven in Spring of 1998, we also did some traveling together (the Switzerland trip).

Neumunster, Germany I got to spend Christmas with my "ex-sister" Steffi's family in Neumunster. Steffi lived with our family in Minnesota for roughly a year, during high school. It was wonderful to finally meet her family and we had a great Christmas.

Paris New Year's weekend. I took the TGV to Paris for the weekend. Stayed in a great youth hostel and met some pretty neat people. We all had a blast, hanging out in the basement of the hostel, telling jokes, comparing travel notes, and performing card tricks.

Bruges, Belgium Weekend in Bruges. More youth hostelling, fantastic old medieval town, incredible art museum (Groeningen), climbed up to the top of the bell tower.

Brussels I've gone into Brussels to spend a Saturday or Sunday several times. Nothing spectacular, but the art museum is great, the waffles are warm, and the Old Market (square) is pretty stunning. Also lots of evenings going into Brussels for dinner..

Itasca State Park, MN I spent the weekend up at Itasca, XC skiing, during my trip home in February. I was definitely experiencing the "no snow" blues and this trip did a good job of curing them.

Zeeland (Holland) I drove up to Holland and spent the weekend exploring the province of Zeeland--the western coast, along the sea. A visit with some people who might be relatives, lots of windmills, and some awesome beaches.

The Ardennes, Belgium Another driving holiday. I drove down to the Ardennes, stayed in a great youth hostel across a valley from a medieval castle, explored the castle, visited an old monastery, and spent some time hiking up in the (little) mountains. Some amazing scenery..

London London is only 2:40 away, taking the fast train that goes through the "chunnel". I spent the weekend in London, saw some of the standard sights, and spent a wonderful Sunday in Greenwich.

Paris #2 Another weekend spent in Paris (I can never get too much Paris). Visited the Louvre, spent a day at Versailles and stopped in Reims on the way back to Belgium.

Bruges #2 Spent a Sunday in Bruges. Pretty rainy, but the truffles were exquisite..

Solbakken Resort, MN During my trip home in April, I spent a long weekend at Solbakken Resort, on the North Shore of Lake Superior, near Grand Marais.

Antwerp, Belgium Some cousins of mine were visiting Holland and Belgium, so we met up one Sunday in Antwerp. A nice city to wander around in.

Paris #3 Another dose of Paris. I took the TGV down (80 min trip). Highlights: funky youth hostel; Vivaldi concert in Ste. Chapelle; mass at Notre Dame; the Orsay; and the Louvre.

Spain / Portugal I spent a week travelling around Spain and Portugal. Visited a friend in Porto, Portugal for a few days (friend of Joana's that I met in Paris over New Year's and who gave me Joana's E-mail when she discovered that I was living in the same Belgian town as Joana was). Then traveled around by train, exploring. Highlights: Lisboa/Belem; Moorish Castle in Sintra; afternoon on the beach; Sevilla; Alhambra (Granada); and some sightseeing in Madrid.

Oostende, Belgium Joana & I drove up to Oostende for an afternoon to get a glimpse of the sea. (Our first day outing together). Kids scooting around on the pier in rented go-carts, lots of dogs everywhere, and we did a bit of shopping.

Ireland A week and a half driving around Ireland with friends Jane and Philip (Finbar was seen with us, as well). Incredible trip - Waterford, Cork, visiting relatives in Timoleague, Dingle peninsula, Doolin and trip to Inisheer, Rock of Cashel, lots of pubs and live music, incredible scenery, three VERY goofy people in a small Twingo.

Switzerland Joana and I spent 2 weeks in Switzerland, with a detour to Florence, Italy at the end of the trip. We did quite a bit of pretty intense hiking and enjoyed some incredible scenery, including the Matterhorn and the Eiger. Special thanks to "Spike", the wonder-climbing-stick!

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Neumunster, Germany	I got to spend Christmas with my "ex-sister" Steffi's family in Neumunster. Steffi lived with our family in Minnesota for roughly a year, during high school. It was wonderful to finally meet her family and we had a great Christmas.
Paris	New Year's weekend. I took the TGV to Paris for the weekend. Stayed in a great youth hostel and met some pretty neat people. We all had a blast, hanging out in the basement of the hostel, telling jokes, comparing travel notes, and performing card tricks.
Bruges, Belgium	Weekend in Bruges. More youth hostelling, fantastic old medieval town, incredible art museum (Groeningen), climbed up to the top of the bell tower.
Brussels	I've gone into Brussels to spend a Saturday or Sunday several times. Nothing spectacular, but the art museum is great, the waffles are warm, and the Old Market (square) is pretty stunning. Also lots of evenings going into Brussels for dinner..
Itasca State Park, MN	I spent the weekend up at Itasca, XC skiing, during my trip home in February. I was definitely experiencing the "no snow" blues and this trip did a good job of curing them.
Zeeland (Holland)	I drove up to Holland and spent the weekend exploring the province of Zeeland--the western coast, along the sea. A visit with some people who might be relatives, lots of windmills, and some awesome beaches.
The Ardennes, Belgium	Another driving holiday. I drove down to the Ardennes, stayed in a great youth hostel across a valley from a medieval castle, explored the castle, visited an old monastery, and spent some time hiking up in the (little) mountains. Some amazing scenery..
London	London is only 2:40 away, taking the fast train that goes through the "chunnel". I spent the weekend in London, saw some of the standard sights, and spent a wonderful Sunday in Greenwich.
Paris #2	Another weekend spent in Paris (I can never get too much Paris). Visited the Louvre, spent a day at Versailles and stopped in Reims on the way back to Belgium.
Bruges #2	Spent a Sunday in Bruges. Pretty rainy, but the truffles were exquisite..
Solbakken Resort, MN	During my trip home in April, I spent a long weekend at Solbakken Resort, on the North Shore of Lake Superior, near Grand Marais.
Antwerp, Belgium	Some cousins of mine were visiting Holland and Belgium, so we met up one Sunday in Antwerp. A nice city to wander around in.
Paris #3	Another dose of Paris. I took the TGV down (80 min trip). Highlights: funky youth hostel; Vivaldi concert in Ste. Chapelle; mass at Notre Dame; the Orsay; and the Louvre.
Spain / Portugal	I spent a week travelling around Spain and Portugal. Visited a friend in Porto, Portugal for a few days (friend of Joana's that I met in Paris over New Year's and who gave me Joana's E-mail when she discovered that I was living in the same Belgian town as Joana was). Then traveled around by train, exploring. Highlights: Lisboa/Belem; Moorish Castle in Sintra; afternoon on the beach; Sevilla; Alhambra (Granada); and some sightseeing in Madrid.
Oostende, Belgium	Joana & I drove up to Oostende for an afternoon to get a glimpse of the sea. (Our first day outing together). Kids scooting around on the pier in rented go-carts, lots of dogs everywhere, and we did a bit of shopping.
Ireland	A week and a half driving around Ireland with friends Jane and Philip (Finbar was seen with us, as well). Incredible trip - Waterford, Cork, visiting relatives in Timoleague, Dingle peninsula, Doolin and trip to Inisheer, Rock of Cashel, lots of pubs and live music, incredible scenery, three VERY goofy people in a small Twingo.
Switzerland	Joana and I spent 2 weeks in Switzerland, with a detour to Florence, Italy at the end of the trip. We did quite a bit of pretty intense hiking and enjoyed some incredible scenery, including the Matterhorn and the Eiger. Special thanks to "Spike", the wonder-climbing-stick!