Don't be a tourist. Be our guest.
Writing Workshop in Belgium with Kathleen ArchambeauIf you are interested in teaching on our tours, please contact us. For the Writer in You! 7 people only! All levels welcome.Everyone is a writer. Most of us want to write but everything else gets in the way of it. Come to Belgium and take time out for yourself to discover and re-discover the joy of writing and the power of the written word.
Archambeau has studied with Nobel Prize for Literature winner Derek Walcott, National Book Award winner Adrienne Rich and American Book Award winner Elizabeth Woody. She's taught writing for more than 20 years at four private SF Bay Area universities. In addition, Archambeau taught at the Weller International School of Business, headquartered in Paris, France. Archambeau holds a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Iowa.
Writing Excursions and Itinerary
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Writing Excursions Kathleen's philosophy of writing is: "Everyone is a writer".
However, to call yourself a writer, you have to write. Kathleen
is a big fan of writing without editing the rough draft and
using right-brain writing techniques to get to the "juice" of
the story. In her workshops, there are no mistakes, just roads
not taken. |
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This workshop will help you get started on creative writing projects of all genres -- short stories, articles, creative nonfiction, essays, novels, poems, memoirs and personal essays.
Kathleen looks forward to sharing the writer's journey with you --
in Belgium!
Itinerary
Let us introduce you to the amazing diversity of Jackie's native
country. |
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 © ToerismeBrugge - cel fotografie Stad Brugge |
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 and Visit of Durbuy-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. |
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Day 2: Battle of the Bulge and Meeting with a Survivor
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. |
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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.
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Day 3: Cookie WorkshopSpeculoos 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 DinantMorning: 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. |
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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.
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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.
Day 5: Bruges, the Venice of the North
© Toerisme Brugge
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.
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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! |
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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. |
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Day 6: Mills and Dune Beaches by the North SeaMorning: 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.
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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.
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We will have dinner by the beach to see the sunset.
Day 7: The Royal City of BrusselsMorning: 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. |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Watch our video about the accommodations
Dates
August 16-23, 2010
Rate
$2,990 per person (land cost), + $550 for single suppl
Includes
- Brussel airport pick up and drop off
- A welcome reception
- All nights
- All breakfasts
- Four dinners
- Transportation in a comfortable van
- A personal bilingual chauffeur/guide throughout the week
- All writing sessions with the teacher
- Entrance fees to all sites on the tour as described on the itinerary
Excludes
- Flights to and from Belgium
- Lunches and 3 dinners (we will still go with you for the meals that I not included)
- Personal expenses and tipping
