The French have officially closed the camps, but bulldozers remain to sift and level mounds of remaining trash into smooth ground as if it never happened.

We stayed at the Mercure in Koblenz, Germany for 4 days with a view of the Rhine river.  A river boat took us down the Rhine to see the castles and villages. It was beautiful but we really enjoyed the people we met and conversations we had along the way. We could get off and … Continue reading Germany

We took a 2 hr. train into the Netherlands and stayed for 3 days in Amsterdam.  It is a crazy busy city!  Pedestrians, cars, motorcycles, and bicylists are all going every which way.  The safest way is on the canals on a boat.  But we enjoyed ourselves, and looked both ways to cross the streets … Continue reading Amsterdam

 Planning meals has never been my favorite thing to do and here it's even harder.  However, we're getting the hang of it, so we don't go out for pain de chocolate for breakfast, durums for lunch and Lapin for dinner every day.  (Pastries, wraps, and rabbit.).  We are a 10-15 min. walk from a couple … Continue reading Hunting and Gathering

We finally moved into our own apartment that we'll have the next 7 weeks.  There's always a bit of apprehension when you're unlocking the door for the first time to discover how closely the pictures represented the place.  We are very happy with what we found.   It's on two floors, with a living room, … Continue reading Home sweet home for 7 weeks

So, of course, there's a few differences we've noticed.  One is this meatloaf offered at Subway.    One day, I was behind a boy and his grandma in line at the store.  I understood his French without a doubt, when he picked up a Red Bull and asked his grandma, "What's this?"  How great to … Continue reading What on earth?

We did the tourist thing today and took the train to Brugges. It's a beautiful town with canals going through, medieval homes and churches, and of course chocolate shops. A few times I felt like I was in Disneyland and would soon realize I wasn't actually in Europe. We were only an hour away from … Continue reading Brugges

Can't believe we are sitting on a curb on the world-famous Grand Place. We are waiting for the square to light up.  We had gone to see Dunkirk (in English). I don't know if the tank was promotional for the movie or a regular part of town  Afterward we had crepes, drank a little wine, and … Continue reading Grand Place

As Becky and I transition into life in a non-English-speaking country, we are testing the boundaries of the timeworn admonition – Don’t judge another until you’ve walked in their shoes. In just the first week of cheek-kissing and rich foods, I’ve gained a little insight, if not a little weight, into life as a refugee.  … Continue reading LOST IN TRANSLATION

It was so wonderful to be welcomed at our friends' house in Ittre, but the time has come to go.  We felt so secure there; we knew we wouldn't go hungry or be lonely.  Now we must brave the city.  We are staying a week in the church apartment in a Brussels municipality.   Last … Continue reading Chicks leave the nest