Home page, Life in Brussels, monastery, Travel

Pairi Daiza zoo, Belgium

Pairi Daiza (formerly Paradisio) is a privately owned zoo and botanical garden located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. The park is thematically divided so we started with domestic animals 🙂 We continued towards the monkeys, but there was some garden on our way – perfect to take photos. Some ducks and guises before the monkeys 🙂 Finally the monkeys in cambodian temple… In this one of the biggest zoo’s in Europe – it … Continue reading Pairi Daiza zoo, Belgium

RED RIDING HOODOctober 7, 2018October 7, 2018335 Comments

Castle, fortress, History, Home page, Life in Brussels, Travel

Waterloo, Belgium

A day trip to the south of Brussels, to be more precise – Brabant region in Wallonie which is the site of the Battle of Waterloo, where the resurgent Napoleon was defeated for the final time in 1815. We started with the visit to the museum which takes you to the times of enlightenment and ideas of the 18th century philosophers like Rene Descartes or Diderot, Immanuel Kant (my ever … Continue reading Waterloo, Belgium

RED RIDING HOODSeptember 9, 201826 Comments

Life in Brussels, Travel

Walibi park, Belgium

One day trip to this amazing park of attractions, located in Wavre, close to Brussels, since 1975. We started with the hardest ones: the roller coasters like the Vampire and Loup-Garou. It literally spins you around, up and down and in all possible directions. Although the rides are short… However, the Loup-Garou is a rollercoaster made of wood. And unsurprisingly loud! The map shows it is one … Continue reading Walibi park, Belgium

RED RIDING HOODSeptember 1, 2018September 1, 201818 Comments

Castle, food and drink, fortress, History, Home page, kings and queens, Life in Brussels, Travel

Castle van Gaasbeek, Belgium

Since I got myself a car: her name is Tintine, we decided to drive around Brussels and explore. My Flemish friend recommended Castle van Gaasbeek – apparently the most romantic castle of Belgium. The castle was initially built in 13th century as part of the wider line of defence to protect Brussels but changed it’s style through centuries… The castle was occupied by a succession … Continue reading Castle van Gaasbeek, Belgium

RED RIDING HOODAugust 25, 201820 Comments

History, Home page, Life in Brussels, Travel

The boat lift of Strépy-Thieu, Belgium

At the end of the Second World War, it was clear that the Belgian system of canals and waterways needed to be standardised and suitable for 1,350 tonne barges – a step up from the traditional fleet of barges used on the canals, with a maximum capacity of only 300 tonnes. Additionally, the European Conference of Transport Ministers in 1957 recommended that the canals be … Continue reading The boat lift of Strépy-Thieu, Belgium

RED RIDING HOODJuly 20, 201720 Comments

abbey, food and drink, History, Home page, Life in Brussels, Travel

Route de Chimay

My friend and I decided to go on great Chimay tour for a grand weekend in Belgium. We sat in her car (hot as it was 34 degrees outside) and drove south of Brussels through Ardennes and Wallonie. Our first stop was a brewery Beers and Cheeses of Chimay. We tasted samples of beers and decided to continue further. We were driving to many pitoresque small belgian … Continue reading Route de Chimay

RED RIDING HOODMay 29, 201739 Comments

Home page, Life in Brussels, Travel

Wallonia: Liege, Mons, Namur, Dinant – down the Meuse river valley

What I am mostly surprised of this region of Belgium, is its nature. The heavily forested Ardennes massif occupies the southeast of the Walloon region. Mostly cliffs, forests, river Meuse and many streams. The legend said Hitler will never manage to break through the Ardennes and take over Belgium and later Netherlands. Happens to be the guy invented tenks. Anyhow, this topographic peculiarity gave the … Continue reading Wallonia: Liege, Mons, Namur, Dinant – down the Meuse river valley

RED RIDING HOODMay 14, 2017May 28, 202528 Comments

Home page, Life in Brussels, Travel

Flanders: Brugge, Gent, Antwerpen, Leuven, Oostende

Upon my arrival to Brussels, I started to explore Belgium by visiting other cities. Everyone’s recommendation is always the Flanders and the most popular tourist place Brugge. Although, later I will discover the south of Belgium, Valonie. 🙂 Flanders is a Dutch speaking part of Belgium, at the north of the country with important place in European history. During the late Middle Ages, cities such as … Continue reading Flanders: Brugge, Gent, Antwerpen, Leuven, Oostende

RED RIDING HOODMay 3, 2017March 13, 202037 Comments

Home page, Life in Brussels

Christmasing in Brussels

Living in Brussels gets special glow in the time of Christmas. There are many Winter Wonders and of course the Christmas Market where local delicious smell at long distance 🙂 Usually the Winter wonders (fra. Plaisirs d’Hiver) stretche over 2.5km through the Grand Place, the Bourse, Place Ste Catherine, the fish market and Henri Maus and Bouse-de-Brouckère streets. At Grand Place there are christmas lights combined with … Continue reading Christmasing in Brussels

RED RIDING HOODDecember 27, 2016December 27, 201627 Comments

Castle, History, Home page, Life in Brussels

Chateau de Bouillon – home of Godfrey of the Crusades

A medieval castle in the town of Bouillon in the south of Belgium… impressively standing on the hill and witnessing its glory. Although it was mentioned first in 988, it has been there, on the same site for a much longer time. The castle is situated on a rocky cliff of the river Semois . In 11 century it came to the possession of Godfrey of … Continue reading Chateau de Bouillon – home of Godfrey of the Crusades

RED RIDING HOODNovember 13, 2016July 13, 201714 Comments