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| The happiest boy on the airplane!!! |
Disclaimer: I wrote this blogpost halfway through 2020 and with what I now know, I am so so happy that Ennio and I made this trip to Belgium to see our family. I went alone with Ennio. Marcus and Lily did not feel like traveling - they don't share the travel bug Ennio and I have - so they stayed in Los Angeles. In retrospect, I feel so very grateful that we were able to go. At the time of writing (June 2020) Europe's borders are closed for American travel and vice versa due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The times we're living in are crazy and I would never have imagined this possible. But it is where we are right now. Not knowing if and when we will see each other again. Writing this first post of 2020 makes me happy (oh, blissful ignorance of what was yet to come) and I treasure the memories immensely. Here we go!
Saturday, December 28, 2019: Air France flight Los Angeles-Paris.
I booked this flight in September 2019 because I had found a really good deal. After some deliberation (Marcus and Lily did not feel like going), I decided to go for it after all. Ennio was totally excited and it worked out that Oma Eva would fly back on the same plane with us. Win/win!
Sunday, December 29, 2019: The French railways were on strike this month and the TGV train I had book got cancelled. We were lucky enough to have Wouter pick us up! I have the best brother! Robbe and Jolien were also part of the welcoming committee! We drove to Roeselare where we saw Oma and Opa again and enjoyed a delicious dinner with one of my favorite Belgian dishes: tomaat-garnaal!
Ennio enjoyed his sleep-over with Robbe in matching onesies! Thank you, tante Charlotte!
Monday, December 30, 2019: We stayed in Roeselare but didn't do much. Wouter felt sick and stayed in bed. He probably caught a stomach bug from either Amélie who hadn't felt well on Friday or Charlotte, who felt a bit icky on Sunday.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019: Guess who had to throw up and stay in bed today? Yes, me! That bug I was talking about got me and made me feel horrible for 24 hours. Good thing Oma had planned New Year's Eve dinner at home and not at a restaurant! Fortunately, everyone else was feeling fine and it was a nice night, but I didn't eat or drink much at all.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020: Happy New Year! I can't remember much of how the first day of 2020 rolled out, but I felt better and we headed to Stekene to spend some time with Wouter and his family. We decided to have Belgian fries for dinner from a frietkot. Yummy!
Unfortunately, at night, Ennio's stomach decided it couldn't stomach the frietjes, and out they came! It was quite the experience! My poor little guy, he felt so sick, but was so scared to throw up. He actually thought he was going to die. I told him he wouldn't die and that he would feel better after he threw up, but he wouldn't believe it. Finally, he gave up and said, "Mommy, I love you." (it was the cutest thing!) and out came the inside of his stomach (I had a bucket ready next to the bed, thankfully). And then, the biggest smile ever because he felt so relieved!!! He fell asleep, but alas, we had to go through 4 more episodes like that before things calmed down. It was probably around 6 in the morning when I was finally hoping for some sleep... and then I heard Robbe in the bathroom... Aargh... nooo, that was our next victim in action!
Thursday, January 2: We obviously slept in until we all felt a bit better and after some discussion decided we were up for a brief visit to Antwerp. We called Oma and Opa to give them an update and agreed that it was best for them not to join us. We didn't want them to catch that nasty bug!
We left around 4PM and Wouter found a parking spot on Linkeroever near the Sint-Annatunnel. We walked through this beautiful art deco pedestrian tunnel under the Schelde river and came out on the other side near the city center.
It was the last week of the "christmas/new year's" market and the big ferris wheel was still up. Of course, we had to get on and enjoy the marvelous view of Antwerp and the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal (Cathedral of Our Lady)!
We then headed to the market, had some snacks and drinks (only what our tummies could handle...) and the kids had a VR experience.
We ended the night at an Italian restaurant. Santé!
Friday, January 3: back to Roeselare and then on to Knokke
Saturday, January 4: Knokke and dinner at La Réserve (to make up for New Year's Eve)
Sunday, January 5: Knokke
Monday, January 6: Roeselare
Tuesday, January 7: train to Antwerpen
Wednesday, January 8: Efteling
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| Where to go first? Let's look on the map! |
HET SPROOKJESBOS!
THE FAIRYTALE FOREST!
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| Langnek - Long Neck |
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| Roodkapje - Little Red Riding Hood |
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| De wolf en de zeven geitjes - The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats |
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| Raponsje - Rapunzel |
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| Hans en Grietje - Hansel and Gretel |
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| De draak - The Dragon |
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| Kabouters! |
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| Het meisje met de zwavelstokjes - The Little Match Girl |
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| De sprookjesboom! |
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| Sinterklaas! |
Thursday, January 9: Kortrijk
Friday, January 10: Oma and Opa bring us to Paris
Saturday, January 11: Air France flight Paris-Los Angeles
