Clearwater, Florida USA: Summer Camp and Family Beach Fun

There are trips that come about because of an interest in a certain culture. Other vacations start because of a picture or an article in a magazine. Others still, friends recommend. But for this past summer's holiday, our adventure began during a rainy day in Cannes, France three years ago.

My daughter (then six years old) and I had gone to the closest cinema to escape the weather. She chose a film based on a true story entitled L'incroyable Histoire de Winter, known in America as Dolphin Tale. I hadn't yet realized in that dim lit room, while watching this heart-warming story, that we were actually venturing on a new journey fuelled by the passion of a child (the best renewable energy that exists). My daughter walked out of the cinema with an empowerment, a love for dolphins, and a mission to save them.

Winter!

From that moment on, in every book shop, she bought books on dolphins. At the school library, she checked out books about dolphins. And on the website of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, www.seewinter.com, she checked up regularly on the famous dolphin Winter. But she also learned about other sea life throughout her research and about the other residents of the aquarium. Eventually, she adopted a dolphin named Hope for a year. Her older sister also got “hooked” (in a good way!) on the aquarium and adopted a sea turtle named Molly.

Hope!

Not Molly because she was resting
(doctor's orders)

But the stuffed animals, adoption certificates, and monthly updates weren't enough. The whole family took an interest in the well-being of marine life. From the shores of Cornwall, UK to Mediterranean beaches, we searched and snorkelled for sea creatures. 

And finally, last month, we made the journey to Clearwater.

Not only did we visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium every day for ten days straight (I don't think we left one inch unexplored), but both of my daughters attended the aquarium's morning day camps. My oldest daughter took part in the Junior Ecologist program while my youngest learned all about working at an aquarium during the Helping Hands program. One evening, we even had the enormous pleasure of witnessing and assisting in a sea turtle hatching on the beach. Above all, I appreciated the huge emphasis on the well-being, respect, and care of the sea life throughout the week.

The evening the turtles hatched.

Besides home to this fascinating aquarium, in 2013 Clearwater was voted the best Florida beach town in USA Today. I agree and for many reasons. To name a few: the whitest, softest sand leading into the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico. The fun atmosphere, delicious seafood, and breath-taking sunsets from numerous bars and restaurants, and along Pier 60. The friendly, accommodating, and generous people who offer boat tours, jet-ski tours, sailboat rentals, and any other activities a visitor would want to try.

So when my daughters now proclaim that they want to work at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium when they get older, I'm all for it. And, I'll be happy to join them in this family-friendly beach town. But while they work their way through elementary school first, we will continue to look out for Winter and her friends. And of course, Winter's newest film L'incroyable Histoire de Winter 2 (or Dolphin Tale 2) is already in our agenda – coming out in Europe on September 24, 2014 (September 12 in America).

My recommendations:

Rooftop views from our rental

Accommodation: VRBO http://www.vrbo.com

Restaurants: It seems every other place is called Frenchy's, we enjoyed (twice) Frenchy's Rockaway Grill right on the beach. But most of the eateries along the beach are fun with good food, drink, and live music.

Boat tours, parasailing, scuba diving, etc.: Just walk along the marina where all these services are literally lined up along the pier. Otherwise, we met Finn at the end of our street who took us jet-skiing and also offers paddle boarding.

Tip: While booking the children into camp, I went ahead and bought a family membership to the aquarium. Although we are too far away to visit regularly, the membership gave us a discount on the camp, in the gift shop, and the flexibility to come and go as we pleased (without a long line) every day during our vacation. It was well worth it!

Name that Place!

If you're reading this blog, chances are you travel or dream of traveling to places near and far. Sometimes when we travel, we discover places that look surprisingly like home.

When I was a student in France, I promised my grandmother I would go to Cardiff, Wales where her parents were from. She told me about Whales and Welsh traditions all my life while sitting in her living room in Zanesville, Ohio. But my dear grandmother was not one to travel by air. So, already in Europe and on a student budget, I took  buses, trains, boats, another train and bus all the way to Cardiff. My first thought walking out of the bus station was, "Wow, it looks a lot like Zanesville."

So for fun, I'm posting several photographs that I or my husband have taken during some trips to see if you can guess where they were taken. The answers are at the very bottom. I'd love to know how you did. Please leave your score in the comments section.

Have fun!

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

8)

9)

10) 

11)

12)

Before revealing the answers, I must admit I got the idea for this post after playing a similar game on Parkdean's website called Home or Away. Unfortunately, I'm not giving you the chance to win a holiday anywhere, but they are!

"Know your Newquay from Nice? Take the Home or Away Quiz to be in with a chance of winning a UK family holiday worth £750 with Parkdean Holidays."










Answers to the above photos:
1) Alabama
2) Cornwall, UK
3) French Alps
4)  Greece
5) Holland
6) French Mediterranean
7) La Hulpe, Belgium
8) NYC
9) Outer Banks, NC
10) Cannes, France
11) Tuscany
12) Wallonian countryside, Belgium

Visiting Belgium, for a Day or a Lifetime

If you've ever seen the movie RV with Robin Williams, you may recall the logo on the side of the family's caravan: Rent Me for a Day or a Lifetime, and the image of the guy with open arms, convincing you to climb aboard... or run away (Sonnenfeld, 2006). Planning an international vacation or accepting an expat assignment is a bit like that. The adventure awaits with open arms to take you awaaay. Away from your “normal” and into a wilderness of expectations and surprises.

Coming and going from Brussels Airport

Whether by your own free will to live something new or by request from your or your partner's employer, it's all up to you. You ultimately choose to make it a short experience to get a taste of what's “out there” or you sit down for a gourmet, multi-course meal where your senses are excited by how unpredictable flavors work together. If you remember in that movie, many tastes (of clothes, of lifestyle, of food – the “vegetarian” meal with no meat, but all organs) come together in a whacky adventure that makes the viewer laugh, out loud, and sometimes roll off the couch. That is the attitude one needs when going abroad.

To encourage more laughter than tears, I'd like to offer a few helpful hints specific to arriving in Belgium – for a day, or a lifetime.

Assuming you've had a good flight and that you've arrived in Brussels airport, found your luggage, (swung by for one last Starbuck's coffee or, in my case, chai tea), it's time to get somewhere...

If you're driving:

Good luck! Driving in any new city, even in your native country, can be tricky. The two rules that still leave me baffled are “no turn on red” and “priority to the right.”

Turning Right on Red

When an intersection consists of five or more lanes, it is tricky to know which lane will have the next green light. Even if you think you can tell, don't chance it!

On a positive note, there are certain intersections of Brussels where acrobats and jugglers will entertain you across the street until your light turns green. They will ask for a small coin in exchange, but are really nice about it. Keep your window up and smile if you don't wish to contribute. They will smile back. So, be patient and enjoy the show. These acts are apparently a special local treat. One performer told my husband that he and his friends went to South America to do the same, but got arrested.

Giving Priority

If you are coming to a four-way stop, everyone should slow down to check that no one is arriving on his right... in theory. However, what would seem logical could turn into a very dangerous game of chicken. Don't chance it! (After a decade here, I never assume I have the priority)

city of Leuven

If you choose public transport:

Buses and trains are wonderful options and, generally, keep to the time schedule. However, certain hiccups can occur, including but not limited to strikes. And not just by the drivers. Anyone else in the country could also strike or manifest in the middle of major axis points. These events are less entertaining than the acrobats and jugglers (see above).

Now that you're here, you've got to eat!

Fast food:

“Quick” is the belgian fast food restaurant. It is good, but at the end of the day, it is fast food.

Brasseries:

These restaurants are among my favorite because of their laid back atmospheres and because they are the easiest to experience with children. Strollers usually fit through the doors. But beware of where the restrooms are located. Older brasseries, although great for their charm, tend to still have “facilities” (nothing facile about it) up or down a very narrow and winding staircase.

A typical brasserie menu offers meals from hot sandwiches and cold salads to nice, warm belgian specialties and are really good!

Le Falstaff - restaurant/brasserie in art nouveau style

Fine Dining:

The last time I checked, there were nearly 100 restaurants in Belgium with at least one Michelin star! But don't think you have to eat only in one of them to get an exquisite taste of Belgium. Coming from the New York region, I have found that restaurants in general offer very good quality and delicious meals for the prices they ask. What's better is that the lunch menus (2-3 courses) are often the same as the dinner menus but less expensive, just because it's lunch hour and not dinner time. So, it's a great way to discover those Michelin stars!

Tips are included in your restaurant bill, even at cafés. However, I have tipped for exceptional service or when the children were quite young and we were dining at a place that wasn't necessarily destined for children. Even in these cases, the tip doesn't need to be more than 5%.

And so after a good meal, it's nice to have a cozy place to go home to...

Town if Vaulx in Wallonia

Hotels and Bread-and-Breafasts:

A simple internet search will give you the whole range of possibilities throughout Belgium. If you want familiar surroundings, there are always Holiday Inns, Radissons, Hiltons, etc.

Renting versus Buying a Home:

If you're planning on staying under five years, I would suggest renting a home. The closing costs of buying can reach 20% and wouldn't be worth it unless staying longer.

Now my family's expat assignment was for two to three years, so we rented... for ten years! All I can say, it's a gamble. The reverse also happens where expat families get called back to their native countries earlier than expected.

For more on this, please read my post: An Unexpected Expat Life.

Now that you're settled into the best housing option for your situation, it's time to meet the neighbors!

Don't know what to say?

Two words: Language school.

Language centers are abundant throughout Belgium (of course, as it has its own three official languages to learn), from private schools like Berlitz to less expensive schools with bigger class sizes to local community classes.

Luckily, I already spoke French when we arrived. And so, I took Dutch classes in a nearby Flemish community at its community center (for almost nothing). I loved it! My teacher taught us everything from the language to the culture (which I personally feel is so important). I was in a class with other adults from all over the world. Despite our initial differences, we had the one common goal of wanting to communicate with each other and that brought us together... not just as classmates, but as friends.

Take that first step...

Even with limited language, a smile is sometimes all you need, or a wave from one backyard to the next. A great tradition is “l'heure d'apéritif” or cocktail hour. Invite your neighbors for a drink. It doesn't take much to put out some juices or wines and a few snacks. It's also a great excuse for a Belgian beer tasting. Besides, who doesn't speak a foreign language better after a drink? You might even discover your guests speak a bit of your native language... you'd be surprised by how many do. About five years into one of my friendships, I was astonished to go to her house one day and hear her speaking to her other guests in English, and really well! You never know.

Tredegar House Folk Festival

I could give you a hundred more tips on your future trip or expat experience, but instead of just reading about it, go to it! Jump into a new place with wide-open eyes and ears. See the sights, listen to the people and their music whether it's a hoe-down, classical, or new jazzy beat. At the end of RV, the cast sings a great rendition of Get Your Kicks on Route 66, I think we can get our kicks just about anywhere with the right attitude.

For more personal stories of my expat life and of my experience raising Third Culture Kids, visit Good Night, Sleep Tight and click on Third Culture Stories.

For more expat tips from expats all over the globe, visit HiFX's expat page, where I have also added my two cents worth.

Have a great trip!

The Expat Guide to Having Fun in Brussels & Belgium by Doug Morris

I don't usually post anything that I have not written on this blog. However, Doug Morris is a great guy who has written a great book on Belgium. And so, I am posting his press release here for your benefit.
My only remark is that he says, "Belgium is an absolutely amazing place to spend a couple of years." 
I have been in Belgium almost 9 years and still think it's amazing. So, I suggest you buy the book and plan on staying a good long time or at least plan on coming back often... all the while checking back on Belgian Trips to know what else is happening in and around Belgium. 

If you are living in Belgium and want to make the most of your time while there, then The Expat Guide to Having Fun in Brussels & Belgium is the ebook for you.

The Expat Guide to Having Fun in Brussels & Belgium showcases all the best events and festivals on offer each month, along with the most enjoyable activities and places to visit for kids, families and adults, ensuring that no matter when you arrive in Belgium to live, you will not miss out on any of the most interesting, distinctly local, culturally significant, or just plain fun activities. Within its pages you will find information about great markets, playgrounds, parks, kids’ play centers, amusement parks, adrenaline pumping family activities, Christmas Markets all over Europe, unique cultural destinations, farm stays, bicycling, kayaking, paintball, land sailing, rock climbing, go-karting, a multiplicity of spectator sports to enjoy, social and expat groups to join, as well as periodicals filled with tons of great weekly events and activities all over the country.

Belgium is an absolutely amazing place to spend a couple of years. Brussels is a city of vibrant and diverse neighborhoods; Antwerp is stylish, edgy and hip; Ghent and Leuven are lively university towns; and Belgium as a whole is rich in cultural heritage, natural beauty, and fascinating history. Featuring a treasure trove of enjoyable activities, The Expat Guide to Having Fun in Brussels & Belgium takes away the guesswork about what to do, when, and where. So, if you are looking to fully enjoy your sojourn in Brussels, Belgium and beyond, this book is for you.

For more information on The Expat Guide to Having Fun in Brussels & Belgium, visit https://sites.google.com/site/expatguidebrusselsandbelgium/.

To order a copy of The Expat Guide to Having Fun in Brussels & Belgium for Kindle, Kindle Fire, Apple iPad/iPod/iPhone, and other devices visit www.amazon.com/dp/B00A41LKO0. (Devices supported by this ebook download: Kindle, Apple iPhone/iPod/iPad, Android, Sony Reader, Blackberry Devices, Palm OS PDAs, Cybook Opus, Bebook (Endless Ideas), Papyrus (Samsung), Jetbook (Ectaco), Windows Mobile OS PDAs, Windows PC/PocketPC, Mac OS, and Linux OS.)

To order a copy of The Expat Guide to Having Fun in Brussels & Belgium for Nook readers, Apple iPad/iPod/iPhone, and other devices visit www.lulu.com/shop/douglas-morris/the-expat-guide-to-having-fun-in-brussels-belgium/ebook/product-20462321.html. (Devices supported by this ebook download: Nook, Apple iPhone/iPod/iPad, Android, Sony Reader, Blackberry Devices, Palm OS PDAs, Cybook Opus, Bebook (Endless Ideas), Papyrus (Samsung), Jetbook (Ectaco), Windows Mobile OS PDAs, Windows PC/PocketPC, Mac OS, and Linux OS.) This version does not support Kindle. See next link for Kindle version.

Due to continuing changes in the eReader market, these lists are not inclusive of all available eReaders. If your eReader is not listed above, please refer to your device documentation for compatible file types.

Author Contact Information

Douglas E. Morris, douglas.e.morris@gmail.com, https://sites.google.com/site/expatguidebrusselsandbelgium/

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About the Author

The author is a professional travel writer who has lived over 20 years in 10 countries on three continents. He has had 10 books published by four different publishers, has a travel column in Primo magazine, and regularly pens articles for a variety of periodicals. For more information about his other books visit www.BestofItalyGuide.com or www.ItsaSprawlWorld.com.

Mr. Morris lived in Belgium for three amazing years, two of which he was the editor of the US Embassy news weekly, the Brussels Weekly, for which he received a number of awards for quality content and design.

Casa Batlló: An Architectural Masterpiece of Antoni Gaudí

The Catalan sun of Barcelona is a welcome embrace to the rather grey sky of Bruxelles (and only an hour and 40-minute flight away). Travellers who love the water, the sea and the sand of a beach holiday, but don't feel like getting wet, should head to Avenue de Gràcias. Amongst a plethora of architectural styles, they will find Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece at Passeig de Gràcias, 43. 

Gaudí made sure that anyone walking through Casa Batlló would not feel too far from the water. His oceanic palette and fluid frameworks in wood and tile englobe the visitor into a sea-like promenade without turbulent waves but with a rippling serenity.

Upon entering, visitors notice the rounded “corners” of doorways and windows. The staircase banister holds each hand in perfect form as it leads guests to Batlló's office and sitting rooms. Light shines from what looks like turtle backs and onto the wall motif resembling scales. Where Victor Horta's Art Nouveau comes across more flowery, Gaudí looks to the sea and its creatures for inspiration.

As if underwater and looking up toward the sunlight, Gaudí's choice of glass - its color and its shape - pull in the natural light of the Barcelona sun. In the office, a small skylight allows sunlight to naturally fall into place while being reflected in the mirrors strategically placed opposite of it.

Through the next doors, windows span across the two front rooms separated only by a sliding wooden door. The ceiling droops and curves poetically with the door's framework, avoiding any straight lines. Out the windows, the Batlló family appreciated watching the comings and goings on busy Avenue de Gràcias up until the mid-1950s. To filter excess sun, Gaudí designed stained-glass along the top of the windows in the form of disks and in progressive shades of blues.

His choice of colors and shades is equally apparent down the walls from a domed skylight in the middle of the building. By using darker colored blue tiles towards the top and lighter colored tiles towards the bottom, the Barcelona sun shines through this area giving the look of all one shade.

Tiles are a prominent décor element throughout the interior of the house as well as on the facade. Some enthusiasts have even ventured to compare the exterior design to Monet's lilypads. To use tiles in the rounded areas of the house (down from the skylight, for example), Gaudí instructed his workers to break the tiles geometrically to be fitted in and around curved areas. The two tiled pillars in the dining room, for instance, demand attention before allowing guests onto the back terrace. The Barcelona sun is again center stage as it shines onto the tiled terrace and off the tiled wall at the back of the garden.

Up the final staircase from the attic, visitors marvel again at the tiles (600, according to the official website) Gaudí used to ornate the roof. Compared to a colorful dragon's back, it invites adults and children to enjoy the magic of Gaudí's creativity.

But, Gaudí was not only an esthetic genius. His ingenuity upheld Art Nouveau's marriage of form and function. As mentioned earlier, he took advantage of the abundance of natural light Barcelona offers. Yet, the city is also known for its heat. To assure proper air flow throughout the building, Gaudí designed discreet air shafts, most notable in the attic. This storage floor was also used as a laundry for residents. Along the walls are upward-facing shafts (possibly the only straight lines to be found) that lead lower into the structure. From the roof, visitors have an even better view of the air flow possibilities by looking down, around the skylight windows. Another example is in the design of the interior windows, best seen in the sewing room. A wooden frame supports the window panes that let in light. Yet, on the bottom half of this frame, slats can be adjusted according to the desired air flow. Like a sea creature, the Casa Batlló possesses air passages, gills if you will, allowing the house to breath...to live.

Being the Gaudí's masterpiece it is, only volumes of architectural analyses could do the Casa Batlló proper justice. A visit to Barcelona would be lacking without a stroll up Avenue de Gràcias. If visitors haven't bought an e-ticket to skip past an understandably long line, passers-by still have the best view of the facade from across the avenue. Casa Batlló conveys the beauty and functionality of Art Nouveau while showcasing its unique Catalan influence.

For more information on visiting Casa Batlló, please see its website.

Related posts:
Victor Horta and His Art Nouveau
At the Home of Victor Horta
La Maison Autrique, chez un ami

Le Revard: a Family Ski Holiday in the French Alps

Although we may already be longing for spring, it is finally snowing in Belgium. Ski dreams dance again in my head...not necessarily the sport but rather the ski holiday or sports d'hiver. Although I am more inclined to snowshoeing, my husband and daughters are the ski fanatics. A couple months after my youngest daughter turned three, she was already descending an Alpine slope, closer really to the classic “bunny hill” grade...but still!

At least once a year, we head to Savoie and stay in the small village of Méry located between Chambery and Aix-les-Bains, France. Just a half-hour drive up the mountain behind us, we arrive at a very family-friendly resort called Le Revard. Although this resort provides anything you may need for a relaxed, fun-filled holiday, close by are also La Clusaz and La Feclaz ski stations.

If you or your little ones are new to skiing or need a refresher course, private and group lessons are taught by the Ecole de Ski Française. At the end of the week, skiers take a skill test to earn their next star to advance levels. The smallest of skiers begin by earning their piou piou, ourson and flocon pins. Conveniently, skiers have all the material ready to rent at the shop overlooking the beginner hill. If you've forgotten your hat, you can buy that too. The people in the shop are incredibly friendly and often have a piece of candy for the children, whom they get to know throughout the week (or years).

Within snowy steps of each other, a hill specifically for sledging, paths for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country ski circuits abound. What's more, which I absolutely want to try next time, is dog-sledding! As I was trekking in my snowshoes last December, I heard a pack of dogs coming up and around the path in front of me, I quickly (as quickly as one can in snowshoes) steered myself behind a tree. Much relief came when the dogs ran past with no concern for me at all. In fact, a group of about five people and their dog teams were following a guide. I chatted with one woman, as the man in front had trouble getting his dogs going, who said it was actually quite easy and fun. Dogs sledding is yet another way to breath in the magnificent white scenery.

Travelers can find the dogs at the chalet just before turning towards the parking lot of Le Revard, on your left. For specific information, consult the station's tourism office. Once parked, one only has to turn around 360º to situate the first aid station, tourism office, shops, cafés and restaurants... and on a clear day, Le Mont Blanc! For an even more panoramic view, turn right out of the lot and continue to the terrase of Les 4 Vallées. On a sunny winter day, tourists and locals marvel for the first or even the énième time at the vast beauty this regions offers.

Lodging at any one of the possibilities at Le Revard will be comfortable and convenient. One advantage of staying closer to town is, well, you're closer to town. Both Chambery and Aix-les-Bains offer a variety of cultural outings, shopping and star-worthy restaurants. As for Aix-les-Bains being Aix-les-Bains, it is the place to pamper any body or soul after days of cold, winter sports..or as the destination itself. At the thermes, book a treatment or simply spend the day between the pools (in and outdoor), hammam, sauna, exercise room, café, or just lounging with a good read.

Between the various winter sports, leisure activities and dining possibilities, a winter holiday in Savoie has never disappointed us. As a family, we have a great time all together in the snow...and it doesn't hurt mummy (or daddy!) to recharge at the spa before another rentrée.

Market days in Wavre

Brussels boasts several neighborhood markets which are quite noteworthy. However, venturing out of the city, or not wanting to fight traffic on the way in, can lead to an enjoyable morning of shopping.

While the capital of Wallonia, Wavre is a well-located town right off the 411 (exit 6), about 20 minutes from Brussels. The city center offers an abundance of shops, cafés and restaurants to suit any budget, from standard stores like Etam to high-end boutiques such as Max Mara.

Apparently, rubbing his behind brings good luck.

Market days are Wednesdays and Saturdays. Wednesdays bring the most market vendors and the most people. Shoppers find a variety of items for the home, apparel and good, fresh produce alongside top-notch butchers and a fishmonger. Even when noon comes and the vendors start to pack up their awnings, many high-quality butcheries, bakeries, cheese shops, and chocolate shops call Wavre home.

Saturday's market takes up less streets but includes a solid supply of florists, bakers and cheese-makers. I highly suggest, for entertainment sake at least, to visit the fishmonger at Wauter & Fils on Saturday. His lively personality, stories and jokes pull customers (his favorite audience) from all corners of the streets. His incredibly fresh fish and seafood guarantees a faithful clientele. You can find Wauter & Fils on Place de l'Eglise, and also on Wednesdays but without monsieur and his comedy.

Right in front of the church is now my favorite baker, Laurent Dumont. With a delicious selection of breads (the Maya being my standard), he also sells tasty and beautiful quiche, tarts and pastries. His baquettes are the closest to French baquettes I have yet to find in Belgium.

For fresh, organic produce I go to La Ferme de l'Hoste, found on Rue du Commerce just off of the Place de l'Eglise. The friendly service matches the bright and colorful produce on offer, including fresh eggs. If you're lucky, you'll be offered a bunch of mint for your patronage.

During the month of December, St. Nicolas and Père Fouetta ride their train through the town streets on Saturdays picking up passengers at la Commune and passing out candy to children.

La Commune de Wavre

All year round, Wavre offers special activities which include a Halloween party, a visit through the “village” of St. Nicolas, as well as Carnaval and Easter celebrations. Periodically, visitors may even find that Place Bosche has turned into a fairground of rides and cotton candy.

Place Flagey, a Brussels square with a little taste of the Big Apple

If I could take my favorite New York City café and place it in Brussels, it would be at Place Flagey. If I could take my favorite New York City neighborhood and bring it closer, I would plunk it down on Place Flagey. If I could place my favorite indie cinema from NY near by, I'd set it up on Place Flagey.

When I can't be in New York City, I go to Place Flagey.

This rather intimate square in Ixelles, not too deep into the city, encompasses all the “little things” I miss about NYC. When I want to reminisce about walking in Central Park, I take a stroll around the Ixelles ponds. When I yearn for unique theater, music, or programs for the children, I visit Flagey , an art deco mecca of entertainment for the whole family. When I want the convenience of neighborhood commerce, I find small eateries, a bike shop, a book store, and an outdoor market.

For a dose of energy from an ecclectic mix of people, a light meal, a hot coffee drink, or a fresh mint tea, I push through the door of Belga Café – or simply sit on its terrace. With free wi-fi access, Belga Café is the perfect “hang out” for professionals, students and an artsy/literary crowd. The eatery also features live music. What better way to remember jazzy weekends in the Big Apple? For other dining experiences, plenty of restaurants sprawl into the side streets.

People revere NYC neighborhoods because of their energy, hustle and bustle. Place Flagey offers energy without over excitement and enough people without a crowd.

For a weekend brunch, a relaxing walk or unique entertaining, Place Flagey is a small square in Brussels that guarantees a perfect day (or night) out.

Playing in the Cabanes at Seneffe Castle

If you have ever walked into your child's bedroom to find sheets sprawled from the dresser, then tucked under the mattress over to the arm chair and tied unconvincingly to the window handle, keep reading. If you have ever walked into your living room and found blankets thrown over the dining table and clothes-pinned to its matching chairs, keep reading. Finally, if you have ever walked into your garden only to find plastic bags hanging from tree limbs and little heads peaking out to say, “Look at our tent!”, I have got the perfect outing for you.

Until November 2011, the Château de Seneffe is host to a magical exhibition that will please the child in, and with, us all. In French, cabane refers to any sort of little house whether up in a tree or down on the ground and usually the home-made variety using sticks, planks of wood, fabrics, etc. Just as any child, and any helpful adult, feels proud of her creation, the artists who have participated in “Cabanes” have produced real chefs-d'oeuvre. The concept behind each cabane may seem more sophisticated than child's play. But, one necessary aspect is irrevocably the same as what motivates any child to dig through the linen closet or through the garage... imagination.

This outdoor exhibition is entirely free – good news when thinking of how to entertain the little ones on the weekends. Upon entering the front gates into La Cour d'Honneur, Frederic Geurts demands attention with his metallic sphere cabane. Upon seeing this almost weightless construction, my six year-old Belgian surrealist immediately remarked, “Ça, c'est pas une cabane!” Imagination is the word of the day. There is no harm in reminding children, nor adults, that everyone can perceive differently what we all may be looking at. Immediately to the left of the gates is La Chapelle showcasing, in video, each cabane. This overview prefaces the very unique houses the visitor will be experiencing.

Guests to Seneffe can roam freely throughout the grounds. I recommend, however, stepping into the castle to pick up a brochure detailing the where and what of each exhibit. Since the drive from Brussels to Seneffe can take a good 45 minutes, this is also an ideal time to stop into the restrooms (to the right and down the stairs).

Stepping out of the entrance, my daughter and I turned left and proceeded to the Jardin des Trois Terrasses. Pierre Courtois works with cubical red designs to produce four cabanes. One sits like a tall rectangle framed by walls of greenery. The second one lacks walls but limits are marked by four red poles. The third one is the highest. This red cube literally hangs above the visitor. The final cabane resembles most what someone might find in their own garden made from mosquito netting. These four creations are a perfect introduction to the variety of forms a cabane can take and will take throughout the exhibition.

From the Jardin des Trois, we headed behind the shrubs and past Le Théâtre. Near the stream and its bridge, we were both eager to run into a cabane by Dimitri Vanggrunderbeek. His three red, green and yellow cubes tempted us all too strongly to peek our heads through their square windows.

We continued up the path to a rather American country scene – a saloon. Jason Van Der Woude creates a cabin one could find in any western movie. We walked around and glanced inside to find boots lined up as straight as the glasses on the bar. So real was the scene, I expected the upright piano to start playing itself.

Towards the Grand Bassin, my daughter and I arrived with a beautiful view of the château. She ran ahead as soon as the next cabin was in sight. Van Der Woude now contrasts the dark, closed in wood beams with an open, glass structure. On this particularly sunny day, the shadows shown as much a part of the cabane as its recycled beams.

Immediately following, Loreta Visic's cabane reminded me of all the washing waiting for me at home. She has created a house with very imaginative, and yet very appropriate, walls. Shirts, skirts, pants, underwear - wardrobes of colors, textures and styles - hang straight until the wind blows. “Look, I have the same stockings!” My daughter exclaimed. I could only imagine what she was conjuring up for her next cabane.

The rest of the promenade lead us back around to the castle. We walked into large boxes and admired towering spheres. While strolling through the grounds, more than just our voices rang in between the trees. Speakers, cleverly disguised as hanging flower pots, play recordings from works by Casanova and Madame de Sévigné. Once at the Orangerie, we took advantage of the cafe to have a refreshment and talk about our favorite exhibits.

If, during your visit, the weather is not as sunny and warm as we had it, the castle is definitely worth a visit. For more information, visit the website of the Domaine du Château de Seneffe at www.chateaudeseneffe.be. There is a variety of exhibitions and entertainment to enjoy.