and a monkey too!

From Lille we headed to the last destination of our Christmas holiday. Instead of spending the final day in Charleroi, we stopped in at the smaller Belgian town of Mons. It was New Year’s Day so the shops were closed and the streets were quiet. That was just fine with me. It’s much easier to adjust to the realization that holiday is over when the sightseeing slows down.

We spent the day walking up and down the cute streets and made sure to visit the lucky monkey outside City Hall. Tradition states that if you pet the monkey’s head with your left hand, a wish will come true. If I was better at keeping track of wishes, I’d be able to let you know if it worked or not.

For lunch we stopped in at one of the only open restaurants. Our fellow patrons were a lively pair who alternated between shouting at each other and shouting across to us. I was actually thankful for the language barrier because it felt easier to politely ignore their drunken banter. The sympathetic looks from the waitress helped too.

A pop culture nativity scene.

After a comfortable night’s rest we were back on the train headed to the Charleroi airport and then onwards to Marrakech.

xo, jill

Bruges is for lovers (and tourists).

Our last day trip from Brussels was to the much fawned over Bruges. Two things were very clear during our visit: 1. Bruges is a beauty. 2. Her dance card is full.

Unlike in Ghent, it was very easy to find our way from the train station to the center of town. We just followed the masses. If Bruges is this busy in the winter, I’d be tempted to skip it altogether in the summer. At one point a mother in line ahead of me while I was getting a waffle kept complaining that there was no where to sit down to eat in all of Bruges. All the cafes and restaurants were full up. Mike and I didn’t investigate her claims much further, but by peeking through a few cafe windows in the square, she seemed to be correct.

Of course, all those tourists are in Bruges for a reason. It’s a really pretty town.

Mike and I spent our day milling about the town, eating waffles, and stopping into another Medieval cellar bar. We tried to ignore the throngs of other visitors and a pervasive feeling that you’re trapped inside a diamond company commercial. Still, not a bad day spent in one of Europe’s best preserved towns.

xo, jill

The Diamond Cutting Capital.

Our next day trip after visiting Ghent was a very soggy afternoon in Antwerp. For some reason, my memories from Antwerp are severely lacking. I’ve had to ask Mike what we spent the day doing multiple times. It must be due to reciting the Shane Company’s radio commercial nonstop all day. “Now you have a friend in the diamond business. Shane Company. On Highway 217 and Scholl’s Ferry Road. Open Monday through Friday til 8, Saturday and Sunday til 5.”*

By adding Mike’s memories to my puny photograph collection, I gather that we spent the day walking around the city, visiting a castle, and not doing too much else.

What I do remember is stopping in for a drink at a Medieval cellar bar and warming my hands by the fire. That is highly recommended.

xo, jill

*I know they’ve moved locations at this point but that’s their Portland store’s address from my childhood.

“…it has to be good.”

While staying in Brussels, Mike and I took several day trips thanks to a cheap Christmas train special (roundtrip for 10 euros!). The first place we ventured off to was Ghent.

Am I the only one who finds the name Ghent a bit underwhelming? I mean, the word just doesn’t draw me in. It’s so dull and dreary sounding. Fortunately, when Mike proposed Ghent as a day trip he came prepared with photographs. As it turns out, behind that lackluster name lies a lovely city, well-deserving of a visit.

We arrived in Ghent at midday, armed with a Use-It map. We set out from the train station with plenty of Use-It suggested spots to check out. Unfortunately, our visited coincided with Boxing Day. Most shops and restaurants were closed for the holiday. Because Use-It maps strive to give visitors a local experience, we found ourselves walking through dead neighborhoods with little to see or do. Not exactly ideal when you only have one day in town.

Mike and I decided to ignore Use-It for a while and head to the center of town. Surely there’d be something happening there. As you might expect, as we neared the center of town the buildings and scenery became more and more idyllic. At one point we decided to check out an area that seemed to have quite a few visitors lingering nearby. Bingo! Tourist information. We picked up a more traditional tourist map and set out to see the major sights. It turns out we had somehow walked in a big circle around the main sights and managed to avoid every last one. We felt a little silly when we turned the corner to crowds of tourists and merrymakers, a Christmas market, and a spectacular view. Oops!

You better hope you have the boat ready before you step out the back door! 

The rest of our time in Ghent was spent sliding on a giant slide, picking up a few more treats at HEMA (I was a little obsessed with that shop), and enjoying the gorgeous medieval architecture.


Even though most of the “locally suggested” spots were closed and we spent most of our time in the tourist areas, Ghent’s coolness was quite apparent. I loved the city’s college town vibe mixed with its traditional picturesque beauty. It definitely has a local quality that the much more popular Bruges lacks.

I suppose having a lackluster name isn’t such a bad thing after all.

xo, jill

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”

After leaving Amsterdam, Mike and I headed for Brussels. We arrived on the 23rd and headed to an apartment we had secured through AirBnb. I truly feel like we hit the jack pot with this accommodation. While looking for a room to book, Mike came across a listing by a woman who needed someone to take care of her cat. Of course, she greatly discounted the cost of renting out her place. So, not only did Mike and I spend Christmas in a cozy one bedroom apartment… I also got to spend some time with a cute little kitty. I could not have asked for a cozier Christmas abroad.

The evening of our arrival we hopped on a bus and headed towards the town center where Christmas was in full swing. We spent the evening enjoying the holiday lights, festive crowds, and Christmas market.

On Christmas Eve the weather was wet and windy. We only ventured out for Christmas dinner supplies and some Christmas shopping at HEMA. This is the second year in a row that Mike and I have decided to follow a $10 (or Euro) budget for Christmas gifts. Since we’re often on the move, it’s the most practical way to enjoy unwrapping gifts. It’s also a lot of fun. You have to get creative! Hopefully it’s a tradition that will last.

Christmas Day was spent unwrapping gifts, talking to family, and enjoying a walk around the city. We paid a special visit to Brussels most famous resident, Manneken Pis. The santa suit really made it for me. We eventually ended up at a closed Le Botanique and sweet talked our way into the lobby for a Christmas Day photobooth session. It felt like quite the triumph! (I like to use this site to scout out photobooths when we travel.)

It was another lovely Christmas abroad. The only thing that could have improved it would be the presence of friends and family.

xo, jill

P.S. – Other Christmases spent abroad here and here.