Travel Journal
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Pont-Audemer (Eure, Normandy): the little Norman Venice
After Le Bec Hellouin and the poppy fields, we continue our little tour in Normandy stopping in Pont-Audemer for lunch. In thisn’t so small village, water is omnipresent, so it is called “the little Norman Venice”. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary We have to admit that we have never been to Venice, so it is impossible for us to confirm if it really looks like it 🙂 The city center is small but very dense, with a lot of traffic. In the surroundings there is even an area with shopping malls. Pont-Audemar is on the list of the “most beautiful detours in France”,…
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Poppy fields in Normandy (France) – Travel diary
It’s poppy season! While driving around Rouen, JB and I came across this absolutely incredible field of poppies, like in a dream. I wanted to bring back 2 poppies to use as templates for my paper flowers, but we were having trouble finding a place to stop and pick them. And then we saw this field, absolutely beautiful, on the road between two small villages. I think it is a field left fallow, invaded by wild plants and flowers, to the great delight of the bees. This is the first time I have seen such a beautiful field in real life. And then, a little further on, at the edge…
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Le Bec-Hellouin (Eure, Normandy): A Village full of charm
We take advantage of our 2.5 months in Rouen to rent a car from time to time and radiate around Rouen.Our 1st destination: Le Bec-Hellouin, one of the most beautiful villages in France, 44 minutes by car from Rouen. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Météo France announces rain everywhere in France but we passed between the drops. If it rained during the first 15 minutes of the trip, we even had a few clearings during our visit. The path leading to the village is already super beautiful, we go along a small beautiful stream, before parking just behind the church. These beautiful half-timbered…
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2 weeks of Road Trip in Madagascar – Travel Diary
We take advantage of the (de)confinement to continue our stories of past trips with this travel diary to Madagascar (2015). This trip is important for us because not only did we go there to attend the wedding of our friends V. and H. but it was also the first time that we traveled in a minimalist way, a small year before leaving on a world tour. Practical advice is, as usual, available at the end of the article. Note: this article has been proofread and completed by V. and H. Everything they have completed, will be written in italics for ease of reading. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical…
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Loire Valley Castles (France): Chambord, Chenonceau, Blois & Villandry – Travel Diary
Having a lot of free time at the moment, I’m looking back at my old travels, through editing videos for the blog as well as storing the hard drive. There are three trips that I want to “dig up” because it brings back very good memories with my friends. Including this one to the Loire Valley castles. It was in 2013, I had too many vacations, JB didn’t. I proposed to my best friend to go and visit the Loire castles to use our RTT days. It was thus in the cold that we left for 3,5 days of road trip. He had to take care of the transportation and…
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Along the German Rhine: Bacharach, Mainz, Worms & Heidelberg – Road trip Germany solo 2/2
After a few days spent in Cologne and Bonn, I continue my 3 weeks solo road trip in Germany, armed with all my computer equipment, my ginger shots and my moringa capsules. The goal: not to get sick, not to catch the coronavirus and to lead the trip to the end. Note : to read the 1st part of my solo road trip in Germany, click here Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary This objective is very quickly called into question. In spite of my very comfortable Airbnb in Bonn, I really have trouble sleeping, it’s the anxiety that rises. On my Facebook thread,…
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Cologne and Bonn: Road trip Germany solo 1/2
After a week criss-crossing Belgium, I leave the country of chocolate and fries to go to a neighboring country: Germany. Not speaking the language, I only went there twice… but our initial plan was to go to Austria for a month, so I thought it was a good idea to do a 3 weeks road trip in Germany (alternating between tourism and work), but solo this time. JB being in France at the moment Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Before this trip, I had nightmares… I put it down to my anxiety or fear of traveling alone again for 3 weeks in a…
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Brussels: the most beautiful city in Belgium – Road Trip in Belgium (5/5)
I’ve been to Brussels at least twice – but each time I forget what she looks like. I think that documenting my stay on the blog – at last – will help me remember this city better. Note: this article is part of a series of blog posts about my road trip in Belgium. You can access the other parts here : 1st part, 2nd part, 3rd part, 4thpart Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary I don’t know why the other two times, my visit to Brussels didn’t really make an impression on me. Whereas this time, I feel like looking at it through…
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Antwerp: the City of Diamonds & Printing Museum – Road trip in Belgium 4/5
It is a mistake to think that diamonds in Antwerp are cheaper than elsewhere. If the centuries-old diamond district is the home of thousands of diamond merchants, cutters and polishers, buying a diamond in Antwerp means having more choice – but not necessarily paying less. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Train Ghent – Antwerp After half a day visiting Ghent, we take the train back to Antwerp. If we chose to spend 2 nights in Antwerp, it’s because I couldn’t find an economical hotel in Ghent for 3. So we opt for an Airbnb (a private room with shared WC and bathroom) in…
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A day in Ghent: Castle of the Counts & medieval churches – Road trip in Belgium 3/5
On the way to Antwerp, we decide to spend half a day in Ghent. We don’t sleep there because I couldn’t find cheap hotels for the three of us (my girlfriend M., her 5 year old son and I travel together). This half-day really made us want to go back another time, under the sun if possible 🙂 Note: this post is part of a series of blog posts about our road trip in Belgium. I invite you to read the previous articles: 1st part, 2nd part here Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Train Bruges – Ghent Trains leave regularly from Bruges train…
