Let us introduce you to the amazing diversity of Jackie's native
country.
We will escort you on day trips to help you discover not only
the delicious specialties of chocolate, beer, waffles, French
fries and mussels but also the Belgian traditions of lace making,
cookie making. You will be treated to beautiful scenery and
grand architecture.
From the lowlands of Flanders to the rolling hills of Ardennes,
from the sandy beaches and windmills of the North to the deep,
green forests of the South, you will enjoy the wonders of this
small country.
Day 1: Arrival
-
We will pick you up at the Brussels airport and we will drive
you to your home in Durbuy, the smallest town in the world,
where you will be able to relax.
We will take a walk in this
charming town, listed as one of the most beautiful towns in
Belgium. After a welcome reception and orientation meeting,
you will have your first Belgian dinner.
Day 2: Battle of the Bulge and Meeting with a Survivor
Morning: Battle of the Bulge Museum
We will visit the Battle of the Bulge museum at the Bastogne
Historical Center which will allow you to relive moments of
the battle and a day in the life of an American soldier.
We will also watch a movie shot during the Battle of the Bulge.
It will plunge you into the very heart of the offensive.
We will then visit the Mardasson monument, a token of gratitude
from the Belgian population to the American Army and the Allies.
Afternoon: American Cemetery and Meeting with a Woman Survivor of
WWII
We will visit the biggest American cemetery in Belgium. The 90-acre
cemetery contains the graves of 5,329 of US soldiers, many of whom died
in the 1944 Ardennes winter offensive (Battle of the Bulge).
After this emotional visit, we will spend some time with a woman, a
survivor of the war, who will open her house to us. She will share with
us moving stories about her life during the battle, over a cup of coffee
and cakes.
Day 3: Cookie Workshop
Speculoos are very popular Belgian cookies. A pastry chef
will teach you all the secrets of how to make delicious speculoos
and then each of you will make speculoos under his supervision.
The workshop is located in a bread museum that we will visit while
the speculoos are baking in the oven. This is a journey back in
time: a mill from the 18th century, hundreds of speculoos and
bread molds, and more...
Day 4: Chocolate Tasting and Citadel of Dinant
Morning: Chocolate Tasting
On that day, we will leave our guesthouse and head off for the
one near Brugge. On the way, we will stop by a local chocolate
maker.
It was in Belgium that the first praline was made by filling
an empty chocolate shell with a rich, intense center. Olfactory
and tasty chocolates are on the program. The chocolate master
will make pralines in front of us and we will then sample various
chocolate delights.
Afternoon: Citadel of Dinant
Immerse yourself in history in the citadel perched high over the Meuse
valley. The museum and its reconstructions take you back in time to
see what life was like under the shadow of these walls: under Louis
XIV and during WWI.
After your visit, the cable-car will take you to the center of Dinant.
Alternatively, you may choose to walk down the incredible 408-step
stairway carved into the rocks!
Make sure to try the "couques", the cookie from Dinant.
Evening:
We will settle down in our new home for the rest of the week, in the cute village of Damme, next to Brugges in the West of Belgium.
This splendid medieval city is one of Belgium's crown jewels and
is largely considered one of the most beautiful towns in Europe. In
no other European city do medieval times feel so present as they do
here in this city close to the North Sea.
The historic downtown of Bruges has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site
since 2000. In 2002, Bruges was designated the "cultural capital of
Europe."
We will take a guided walk in a car-free environment in the most perfectly
preserved medieval town in Europe: from the quaint Beguinage quarters
to the impressive Grand Place.
Lace is one of the specialties in Bruges. We will attend a
lace making demonstration by Anya who learnt how to make lace
since she was 6. We will then take a boat ride on the peaceful
canals with delightful views of medieval Flemish mansions.
You will also have some free time to explore more of Bruges.
There is so much to do!
Visit one of the various art museums displaying the famous
Flemish paintings, the first 13th century hospital, the Church
of Our Lady with the sculpture "Madonna and Child,"
the only one of Michelangelo's sculptures to have left Italy
within his lifetime.
Take a guided tour of the last brewery in Bruges that, of course,
includes a tasting of their beers. Or simply have a drink at
the terrace café and watch people go by.
Day 6: Mills and Dune Beaches by the North Sea
Morning: Mills in Damme Free time. Damme is one of the cutest villages in Belgium.
You can rent a bike (very easy bike ride) or walk from the guesthouse
to Damme along romantic canals, barges, between quaint towns,
outdoor cafés and mills.
Afternoon: Sand Dune Beaches by the North
Sea Shoreline
All along the sandy beaches of Belgium, the boardwalk is alive with
outdoor cafes, shops, cyclists, rollerbladers and strange vehicles known
as cuistax (ask the locals what it means!). That will be the perfect
time for ice cream, a Belgian waffle, a beer at the beach, a café
or a chance to ride the cuistax or a bike on the boardwalk.
We will have dinner by the beach to see the sunset.
Day 7: The Royal City of Brussels
Morning:Guided
Walk in the Heart of Brussels
The bilingual capital of Belgium is renowned for its architecture
(medieval, Gothic, Art Nouveau and Art Deco). In Brussels, the
Grand Place, the royal palace, its pubs and its expensive boutiques
are attractions not to miss. The Grand Place, (an old market square
surrounded by buildings from 16th - 18th centuries) with its Golden
Gothic facades, is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful
town squares in Europe.
Afternoon: Free Time for shopping
or museums
Since this is your last day, you will probably have some shopping to
do. You can find everything in Brussels, from cheap shops to luxurious
boutiques. If you are not a shopper, there are plenty of museums to
visit. You can also buy some chocolates at the famous Newhaus chocolate
maker regarded as number one in Belgium.
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, we will drive you to Brussels airport.
For more pictures, visit
our photogallery and for travel stories from our guests with pictures
and info about Belgium, visit
our blog.
Accommodations:
Two luxury guesthouses: one in Wallonia and one in the Flanders
Both accommodations are very charming, quaint and luxurious at the
same time.
In Wallonia, we will be staying in a 4 star bed and breakfast, very
comfortably renovated and ideally located on a hilltop overlooking
the Meuse river valley, in the small village of Yvoir, the heart of
Begium. It has a dining room, a living room with an 18th-century fireplace,
18th-century beams and doors, and hand-painted ceramic tile decor
in the kitchen and bathrooms. All five bedrooms have a private bathroom.
The hotel in Flanders is only 7 miles from Brugges. This charming
hotel has a beautiful sun room where we will take our breakfasts and
a big living room with a grand piano. It has 11 rooms, each with radio
and TV, and full bathroom. You will be able to relax either in the
open air swimming pool or in the hot tub.
Watch our video about the accommodations
Dates & Rates
- August 16-23, 2010 for the cultural trip: US $2,890 (8 guests) +$550
for single room
