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Home › Blog

Quinta Nova: a peaceful paradise in the Douro Valley in Portugal

February 10, 2019 | Posted in: Portugal

quinta nova hotel

Arriving at hotel Quinta Nova, we felt obliged to whisper. It was that quiet, that peaceful. The hotel lies in the Douro Valley, surrounded by vineyards and offers great views, lovely rooms and a delicious patio dinner. Read Post

Tasting heaven at Rui Paula’s the DOP Restaurant Porto

January 25, 2019 | Posted in: Portugal

dop porto restaurant

Regular visitors of Wonderful Wanderings will already know I’m a huge food fan. I just love to eat (cooking, that’s something else…) and I’m always open to new food experiences. You can only imagine my excitement when the tourism board for Porto and the northRead Post

Going on a Douro Azul river cruise in Porto, Portugal

January 16, 2019 | Posted in: Portugal

Douro Azul river cruise

We had such a good time going sailing on the Douro river in Pinhão that we were curious about what it would be like to cruise the waters at the other end of the river, in Porto, Portugal. We were invited to do a DouroRead Post

A walk along the Rhine river in Dusseldorf, Germany + the best chocolate cafe

December 25, 2018 | Posted in: Germany

rhine river in dusseldorf germany

In June my dad and I went to Dusseldorf for a day. After a two-hour drive from Leuven (20 minutes from Brussels), we parked the car in an underground parking lot (I think we paid about €13 for 7 hours of parking) at Carlsplatz, whichRead Post

15 of the best cafes and restaurants in Cologne, Germany

December 10, 2018 | Posted in: Germany

best restaurant cologne germany

When I went on a city trip to Cologne, Germany, I was determined to find the coolest coffee bars and food places. Here’s a list of 15 foodie hotspots I tested and approved that will leave you drooling for a bite and craving for a sip. Promise :-) Read Post

Pacsafe review: the Pacsafe anti-theft purse

December 10, 2018 | Posted in: Travel gear reviews

pacsafe handbag

Whenever I’m packing for a trip I’m faced with the same question: what bag to take? I’m not talking about my main luggage here, but about the bag I’ll be lugging around during the day. I always used to take a rather big shoulder bagRead Post

The people of Bulgaria. Impressions of a first-time visitor

October 26, 2018 | Posted in: Bulgaria

people of bulgaria

When I visited Bulgaria, I did it with my friend Amanda and Anita, an ex-colleague of my dad. Anita’s Bulgarian and loves her country so much that she wanted me to experience it. But not only the country, also the Bulgarian people. Now, Bulgaria isRead Post

4 days of fun things to do in Utrecht province

October 20, 2018 | Posted in: Netherlands

castle de haar netherlands

I always love visiting the Netherlands. They’re right next door and while so familiar, still feel “abroad”. So when Visit Utrecht Region invited me to come visit some places I hadn’t been to yet, I happily said yes. Below, you can find a range ofRead Post

Climbing Porto’s hilly streets

October 8, 2018 | Posted in: Portugal

Douro river porto

To get to the center of Porto, Portugal from our rental apartment at the Rua Campo Lindo, we had to follow the Rua de Antero de Quental into the Rua de Lapa and then to the Praça the República. At that point, we could just followRead Post

7 of the best restaurants in Hampi, India for vegetarians

September 26, 2018 | Posted in: India

hampi special food

Everything in India is either referred to as veg (as in vegetarian), or non-veg (meaning including meat). Historic Hampi is keen on keeping its people healthy and spiritual. As a result, all Hampi restaurants are pure veg. You are not allowed to smoke in publicRead Post

Conquering my fear of heights in the mountains of Québec, Canada

September 22, 2018 | Posted in: Canada

conquering fear of heights

I’m afraid of heights. I’ve already mentioned this a couple of times here on the blog, but I’ve never given it much attention. Now that I’m writing about my skiing adventures in Québec, though, I feel like I have to. You see, the reason IRead Post

What to wear in Belgium in fall

September 21, 2018 | Posted in: Belgium

what to wear in belgium

The weather in Belgium in incredibly fickle. It can rain with temperatures around 17°C one day and be sunny and hot the next. That makes knowing what to pack for Belgium and what to wear in Belgium pretty hard. We don’t have very clear distinctionsRead Post

5 peace exhibitions at museums in Münster, Germany

May 28, 2018 | Posted in: Germany

lwl museum munster

100 years ago, the First World War ended. The years 1914-1918 will forever be part of the collective European memory, but did you know that Europe also has another peace to celebrate in 2018? It’s been 370 years since the Peace of Westphalia was signedRead Post

9 of the best restaurants in Munster, Germany

May 8, 2018 | Posted in: Germany

restaurants in munster germany

When I was planning my trip to Münster, Germany, I turned to Instagram to find cool food spots in the city. These are the places I ended up eating at, including a little review, practical information and whether they offer free wifi.  Read Post

MeetnGreetMe: personal assistance from locals for travelers – A review

May 4, 2018 | Posted in: Random

meetngreetme review

You’re traveling somewhere and want to make a few restaurant reservations, but have no idea where to go. You’ve recently moved somewhere and are trying to find your way around administration, banking, and all that other practical stuff. You need to go to the doctorRead Post

What to do when your flight is canceled or delayed

May 2, 2018 | Posted in: Random

flight cancellations due to weather

When a flight is delayed or canceled, what are your rights? Knowing is half the battle. There are several laws handling airline passenger rights when it comes to things such as flight delays, lost luggage, and overbooked flights. This article tells you what you’re entitled to when, and what you need to do to get it. Read Post

20 hip Rotterdam cafes and other foodie hot spots

April 10, 2018 | Posted in: Netherlands

cafes in rotterdam

Rotterdam has plenty of food and coffee hotspots to choose from, but what about nice outdoor spots to have a drink or grab a bite? I went on a search for terraces, balconies and rooftop bars and found 10 (+1!) of them. Here they are. Read Post

Timberland Earthkeepers review – Should you buy them?

March 27, 2018 | Posted in: Travel gear reviews

timberland earthkeepers on feet

2018 update: the Timberland Earthkeepers I have don’t appear to be sold anymore but you can find a range of boots similar to Timberland Earthkeepers on Amazon. When I travel I usually go for comfortable. Leggings instead of jeans, sneakers instead of leather boots. NothingRead Post

Visiting the European Parliament Museum – Parlamentarium – Brussels

March 26, 2018 | Posted in: Belgium

european parliament tour

Which European Parliament sights to visit Most people know about the European Quarter in Brussels, but not everyone knows that you can also visit several of the European Parliament institutions. I went to see the Parlamentarium- the European Parliament museum, and also visited the nearbyRead Post

Enjoying a night with the Royal Swedish Ballet at Stockholm’s Opera House

March 8, 2017 | Posted in: Sweden

Royal Swedish Ballet Stockholm Opera

Enjoying a ballet abroad was on my #Anydaysgood list, so spending a night with the Royal Swedish Ballet at the Opera House in Stockholm, Sweden was a dream come true. I saw two different pieces from the top balcony. Here you can read what that experience was like and whether I liked what I saw… or didn’t. Read Post

Booking a Mystery Trip with Mystery Travel works like this

March 6, 2017 | Posted in: Random

Mystery Trip Stockholm with Mystery Travel

If you go on a Mystery Trip with Mystery Travel, they’ll book your flights, accommodation and a few activities. I did their Suprise City Trip and was sent clues to figure out my destination and what I’d be doing there. Sounds interesting? In this post I’ll tell you step-by-step how to book a Mystery Trip for yourself or as a gift. Read Post

Finding silence at a home away from home in the Flemish Ardennes

October 24, 2016 | Posted in: Belgium

Duivenbos Herzele

Eyndeveld offers spacious vacation homes in the Flemish Ardennes, a green region in Belgium that’s great for hiking, biking and horseback riding. I spent the night there to try test them and explore the nearby Duivenbos forest. Read on to find out how I liked my stay and what I saw in the woods. Read Post

Visiting an award-winning chocolatier

October 19, 2016 | Posted in: Belgium

centho chocolade duisburg

I tasted the best caramel praline in the world. That’s not a personal verdict, that’s what was decided at the 2013 International Chocolate Awards in London. And I didn’t even have to leave the country to do so. Centho Chocolate can be found right here in Belgium. Read Post

Loving life at Brewery and bistro De Kroon

September 28, 2016 | Posted in: Belgium

brewery de kroon neerijse

Brewery and bistro De Kroon both has a protected old brewery and an active new one in which it brews its own beers. It’s also nice for lunch or dinner, outside in the courtyard or inside in the industrial looking bistro. Here’s what I ordered.  Read Post

Cycling through the Belgian province of Namur this summer: RAVel des BBQ

June 29, 2016 | Posted in: Belgium

River Meuse province of Namur Belgium

“Please don’t let it rain”, I thought as I woke up. I was going to participate in the RAVeL des BBQ, a cycling route along restaurants and slow roads in the province of Namur, from the castle of Freyr through the village of Hastière, all the way to Agimont. Read Post

Visiting the little-known border town Gorizia in Italy

June 22, 2016 | Posted in: Italy

Piazza San Antonio Gorizia

Gorizia is a small town in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy where you can stand with one foot in Italy and with the other in Slovenia, where you can climb up to a castle, visit a palace and have a marvelous lunch. Obviously, I did all of that and a bit more on a sunfilled morning.  Read Post

Food and fun things to do in charming little Grado, Friuli

June 20, 2016 | Posted in: Italy

Grado Italy

The Comune di Grado in the Friuli region of Italy is a place to wind down. Also known as “The Sunny Island”, it has a completely southward facing beach, a lovely old town center and a beautiful little harbor with a great fish restaurant. Read Post

A fun night with the Tower Lady of Münster, Germany. A unique visit 300 steps high

June 13, 2016 | Posted in: Germany

Munster in Germany still has a tower keeper that climbs 300 steps every night to watch over the city and let it know it's safe. I got to join tower lady Martje on one of her shifts

Martje is the first female Türmerin or “Tower Lady” of Münster since the 14th century. I’m not kidding. Six nights a week she climbs the 300 steps of the tower to keep an eye on the city and this night, I got to join her. Read Post

My first experience glamping: amazing or not so much?

May 30, 2016 | Posted in: Belgium

what is glamping hub

What is glamping? The word “glamping” is a contraction of the expression “glam camping” or “glamorous camping”. Could I, a lover of comfort, like glamping? Glamping Hub invited me to try it out and so I headed to L’Escargot in Theux to spend the night in a safari tent. Read Post

A weekend away enjoying nature in Belgian Limburg

May 4, 2016 | Posted in: Belgium

cycling routes Limburg Belgium

The east of the Belgian province of Limburg offers ample walking, cycling and horseback riding routes together with some fun activities for adults and kids alike. I did a cycling tour, attended a chocolate workshop, tasted a local specialty, visited an alpaca farm and wandered through a garden full of sculptures. Read Post

What to see in Düsseldorf, Germany when it rains

February 17, 2016 | Posted in: Germany

What to see in Dusseldorf Rhine Tower

Planning a city trip in Europe is alway a bit of a weather risk. Germany can be particularly shaky some seasons, so what to see in Düsseldorf when it rains all day long? This post gives you some ideas to turn your trip into a success anyway. Read Post

Introducing St Davids, Wales: smallest city and beautiful peninsula

September 14, 2015 | Posted in: UK

St Davids Wales

St Davids is both the name of the smallest city in Britain and of a Welsh peninsula. In the city, you find the magnificent cathedral and Bishop’s Palace, as well as some local pubs and afternoon tea options. On the peninsula you can walk a part of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Read Post

Boldly hiking the breathtaking Pembrokeshire Coastal Path

September 9, 2015 | Posted in: UK

Pembrokeshire Coastal Path Wales

The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path is 186 miles long and runs all around Wales. There are several car parks along the Coastal Path so you can choose where to start your walk. I walked it from Stack Rocks car park to St. Govan’s Chapel. It was absolutely worth it. See why: … Read Post

Maasmechelen Village, luxury outlet meets stunning nature

August 31, 2015 | Posted in: Belgium

Maasmechelen village

Maasmechelen Village is an outdoor outlet shopping located right next to a national park and walking distance from several former mining sites. It boasts famous brands such as Nike and Hugo Buss, as well as some bistros. If you like shopping, it makes for a great day out. Read Post

The Cost of living in Belgium

June 17, 2015 | Posted in: Belgium

Cost of living in Belgium

Europe isn’t the cheapest place to travel to and while Belgium isn’t as expensive as the UK, for example, it isn’t exactly a budget destination either. But what’s the cost of living in Belgium like? When you strip away the activities you do as aRead Post

Having the Vatican Museums all to yourself… at night

June 2, 2014 | Posted in: Italy

Vatican

I haven’t been to Rome yet, but it’s been on my list for quite some time now. I think the reason I haven’t gone yet is because I’m afraid it won’t live up to my expectations. How could those not be sky scraper high after readingRead Post

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