Summer Flashback: Howells in Wallonia (& Luxembourg)

It was the summer of 2009. My parents were visiting from Denver. We saw Brussels and Flanders, and then...the blog fell silent. Such silence has been explained, but now begins the task of catching up. And this catching up begins with: Wallonia!

Wallonia is the southern region of Belgium, the Gallic, laissez-faire contrast to the Germanic orderliness that is the North. It is Francophone today, though there is also a strong cultural history tied up in its Walloon dialect, which had faded in importance but has experienced a resurgence in recent years.

More to the immediate point, Wallonia marks the third region that we visited with my parents. We had a couple of big days in the South, the first of which was the coldest and rainiest day of my parents' visit, thus making it perfect for the long drive to the other side of the country. We started off in the pouring rain, our compass pointed southeast towards Bastogne. However, as we crossed the halfway point, I noticed a building off the motorway that looked just like the chateau on the cover of my parents' guidebook (it turned out to be that very one!). Thus began our first detour of the day, a spontaneous side-trip to the Chateau Lavaux-Sainte-Anne with its contrasting architectural styles, interesting interiors, picturesque moat, and beautiful nature-reserve grounds.



After Lavaux-St-Anne we made our way to Bastogne and the nearby WWII museum and monument interpreting and honoring the Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes).







As we headed back from Bastogne towards our evening target of La Roche, we took yet another detour, this time into Luxembourg. (Alright, it's a bit of a technicality, but my parents did in fact visit three countries during their two week stay!)





Brief Luxembourg dalliances aside, we soon re-entered Belgium and rounded out a long, interesting day with a visit to La-Roche-en-Ardenne.



Wallonia Day 1 might have been rainy, but my parents were blessed with warm sunny weather 95% of the time they were here, so Wallonia Day 2 dawned bright and clear. Our first visit was to Freÿr Castle and its beautiful gardens.





After the castle, we made the quick drive up the road to Dinant, a charming riverside town complete with unusual onion-domed church, which is dramatically backed by a formidable hilltop citadel.





We enjoyed a fun late lunch at a pretty riverside café, soaking up the sunshine and summertime atmosphere.



The bright sunny weather was just what we ordered for my parents' visit. Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels...we're so glad my parents made trek over the Atlantic to visit us and see a bit of 'Our Belgium'.

Wallonia Photo Album - Click Here

Mise à Jour

After the longest silence in the history of our blog, we're back!!! To what can we attribute this unusually long period of blog blackout, you ask? You might call it 'Life to the full'.

Since my last post:

My sister visited for a week!

At the annual Belgian Beer Fest on the Grand Place


At Pierre Marcolini, the chic-est chocolatier in Belgium


At the Wednesday Châtelain Market

The last few days of Blythe's visit, Troy's brother passed through town too.


Todd, Troy, and Blythe at the Abbaye de la Cambre

Troy and I picnicked on the grounds of a chateau, visited a trappist brewery, and toured a castle at night.

Chateau La Hulpe


Awww...aren't we sweet? (tee hee)


At the Orval Brewery, in the distribution room


Orval is an active Cistercian monastery, thus giving the brewery its rare trappist designation


A blurry sunset shot of Simone, Stephanie, and Rick at the castle


The courtyard of Gaasbeek Castle by night

I sang in a cabaret show with my choir, celebrating the organization's 30th Anniversary.


(photo: M. Lamote)


Singing a little Patsy Cline with Akim and Alan on guitar and ukulele (photo: E. Hertel)

We spent a week in Spain -- first to Granada to see the Alhambra, then on to Sevilla for our friends' wedding!

Paloma and Marc, the blissful newlyweds, outside the Iglesia Buen Suceso


The party went all night at the Real Club Pineda de Sevilla


Simone and Paloma

I (along with my friends Ali and Jeanette) threw a baby shower for my friend Maisie...who just delivered her sweet little Isaac two days ago!!!!


At the shower in September


The Chaffin Family at the hospital yesterday!

Whew! In six weeks, we've had a little bit of everything—so much happiness, fun, and friendship, all of which undoubtedly deserves its own post. However, given my past clever (read: failed) attempts to outline how and what I will blog about in the future, I'm not making any predictions this time. Instead, we'll leave it with à la prochaine...