
Resetting in Raglan, New Zealand
Mentally clogged up with city life in the middle of the pandemic after covid had rendered all my travel plans ‘pending till further notice’, I decided to follow up on a recommendation made by a
Belgium, a country in Western Europe, is known for medieval towns, renaissance architecture and location of the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) headquarters.
Brussels
Euro
11.56 million (2020)
Dutch, French, German
Bring flowers for the host if you are invited to a Belgian home.
Don’t bring chrysanthemums as these flowers are said to signify death.
Europe
Bonus
I visited Brussels, Belgium in 2014 with some friends, on a long weekend challenge. The country is known as the land of of delicious waffles, beer and chocolate. Belgium is an interesting country with a blend of French, Dutch and German settlers and therefore the language and culture will vary depending on which part of the country you end up in.
As a people who enjoy good beers, they needed to create opportunities to enjoy their beverages with ambiance. There are a great number of music festivals held in Belgium, particularly in the summer with the most famous being Tommorrowland, which has now also been exported to other parts of the world. But one cannot drink without food (that is a recipe for regret), the Belgians have options to line the stomach such as simple frites or for a more substantial meal add carbonnades flamandes (beef stew cooked with beer instead of wine).
Due to the history and make-up of Belgium, the culture is very varied with influences from the different parts of the continent from which the Belgians originated. Ever wondered how the the noble lived in the medieval times? Belgium has the highest number of castles per square mile in the world. Therefore, there are ample opportunities to explore these medieval structures in the countryside and get information about how the households were run, a bit more about some of the nobles that have inhabited the country as well as seeing some of the furnishings that have been preserved over time. Another interesting cultural contribution of the Belgians to society are some of the comics we grew up with such as ‘The Smurfs’, ‘The Adventures of Tintin’, ‘Spiro et Fantasio’. there are galleries and museums galore sharing many of the creations by Belgians over the years.
Antwerp, in the north, is known for its diamond industry and trade. This history spans from the 16th century when the first diamond cutters guild was founded. About 85% of the world’s rough diamonds pass through Antwerp.
English |
Dutch |
Hello |
Hallo |
Goodbye |
Tot ziens |
Please |
Alsjeblieft |
Thank you |
Bedankt |
How much? |
Hoeveel? |
Do you speak English? |
Spreekt u Engles? |
Where is the toilet? |
Waar is het toilet? |
May I please have some water? |
Mag ik alsjeblieft wat water? |
I would like some food please |
Ik wil graag wat eten alsjeblieft |
Where can I get a taxi? |
Waar kan ik een taxi nemen? |
Places visited
NEWS & UPDATES
Mentally clogged up with city life in the middle of the pandemic after covid had rendered all my travel plans ‘pending till further notice’, I decided to follow up on a recommendation made by a
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Senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Sed libero enim sed faucibus turpis in eu. Pharetra diam sit amet nisl suscipit adipiscing bibendum est. Leo in vitae turpis massa sed elementum tempus egestas.