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SIM card / eSIM in Belgium: How much does it cost? Where to buy it?
For those who have a mobile plan from France, here’s some great news. Since Belgium is a member of the European Union, you won’t have to pay any roaming fees. You’ll be able to use your French SIM card to connect to the internet, send texts, or make calls, just as if you were still in France. If you don’t have a French SIM card, here are a few solutions below. Buy a SIM card before you leave Here’s a convenient option: you can buy a SIM card before you leave. Once purchased, it will be delivered right to your doorstep. Once you arrive in Belgium, all you have to…
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The Hague (Netherlands) in 1 day – Travel diary
We had always wanted to see the tulips in bloom in the Netherlands, but the opportunity never arose. It was only in 2023 that we finally got motivated to come see the blooming tulips, and to optimize costs, we decided to stay in The Hague, not far from Lisse and Amsterdam. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal We left Serbia very early heading to Amsterdam, then took a train to The Hague. From the plane, I was very excited to see fields as far as the eye could see, but was very worried to see that only a few were in bloom. Finally, we saw…
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My Current Favorites [May 2023]: Books & Museum of Esotericism in Amsterdam
Far from its occult connotations, the word esotericism comes from the Greek εισωθεω (eisôthéô, I bring in, to be turned inward). Esotericism allows, above all, self-discovery. It’s a logical progression for someone interested in astrology like me, to eventually take an interest in other esoteric movements. Les Initiés by Jean-Jacques Bedu I’m not actively seeking out esoteric books; they come to me. First with watching a very interesting interview with Jean-Jacques Bedu. I immediately bought his book “Les Initiés”, which portrays about a hundred initiates from the year 1000 to the present day. These men and women come from movements as diverse as they are spread over time: alchemists, hermeticists,…
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[review] The Alchemist, a Sometimes Misunderstood Bestseller by Paulo Coelho
When I bought mint seeds, the packaging clearly indicated the best time to sow them. I didn’t heed that advice, put the seeds in a pot indoors, and watered them, hoping I’d still get mint out of season, thinking that heat alone would be enough to make them grow. Sure enough, the seeds sprouted, but the plants were too small to eat. I gave up and stopped watering them. Then, just as the instructions said, right before summer, the plants suddenly shot up and gave me more leaves than I needed. By the time I got organized and set a date with friends for a “homemade mojito” night, the leaves…
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[Travel diary] Keukenhof 2023 and Tulip Fields (Netherlands)
After years of telling ourselves “we really must go one day,” we finally made it to the Netherlands in late April 2023 to see what the famous “tulip festival” is all about. It was our first trip to the Netherlands ever, and we made the most of it. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Very high prices Accommodation around Amsterdam has always been expensive, and it’s even more so between mid-April and mid-May, when millions of people flock to see millions of tulips in bloom. With the travel skills we’ve picked up over the years, we know we need to stay away from the city…
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[Tip] How to watch a Formula 1 Grand Prix live for free (and legally)
If you’re a Formula 1 fan and want to watch the GPs, there are basically two options: Luckily, there’s a third option that’s legal and lets you stream in HD without any risk of cutoffs! And this option exists thanks to our Belgian and Swiss cousins. In these two countries, it’s the national TV channels that hold the F1 rights. RTBF in Belgium and RTS in Switzerland. And they broadcast the races, free-to-air! You just need to log onto their website or their mobile/tablet app, create an account (for free) to watch the race. The RTBF app is called Auvio, and the RTS one is called Play RTS. One last…
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SIM/eSIM card in the Netherlands: How much does it cost? Where to buy one?
If you have a French phone plan: good news, since the Netherlands is a member of the European Union, you won’t incur roaming fees. You can use your French SIM card to access the internet, send texts, or make calls, just like in France. If you don’t have a French SIM card, you’ll find solutions in this article. Buy a SIM card before you leave It’s the easy way out: you can buy a SIM card before you leave. You’ll receive it at home and just have to insert it into your phone upon arriving in the Netherlands. On Amazon, for example, there’s an offer at €15 (see the offer)…
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MyWheels review (+ promo code): flexible car rental in the Netherlands
To get a €25 promo code for MyWheels, accept my invitation by clicking here. After visiting the famous Keukenhof park using public transport, we thought it would be super cool to be able to rent a car the following weekend to admire tulip fields with fewer crowds and more freedom. Problem: we’re doing this at the last minute. We discover that car rental agencies are only open on Saturday mornings during the weekend, and it’s impossible to return the vehicle outside of agency opening hours. Only option: go pick up a car at an Amsterdam airport agency open 24/7. Since we’re in The Hague, that’s not very convenient. Just as…
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[review] Graphic novels A Life with Alexandra David-Néel Volumes 1-4
Today, I’d like to introduce you to the graphic novels “My Life with Alexandra David-Néel” by Frédéric Campoy and Mathieu Blanchot. These graphic novels are adapted from the book by Marie-Madeleine Peyronnet. If you love to travel, you’re sure to enjoy these graphic novels. They trace the life of Alexandra David-Néel, a French explorer of the early 20th century, through the eyes of her factotum and assistant: Marie-Madeleine Peyronnet. The 4 volumes are divided into 2 box sets (box set 1 Amazon link, Fnac link, box set 2 Amazon link, Fnac link). It begins with a brief introduction to the life of Marie-Madeleine Peyronnet and how she met Alexandra David-Néel.…
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Astrology for Beginners: Predictions, Transits & Planet Returns (2/2)
Following my very first beginner’s article on astrology, I received some very enthusiastic comments. It made me really happy, and I waited until I was a bit more informed before writing this second article on astrological predictions. Initially, I wanted to use astrology as a way to get to know myself, but when Covid hit, I needed to calculate my travel dates (departure/arrival in a country) to avoid yet another lockdown or getting stuck in a foreign country. I knew the Chinese had a sort of auspicious calendar, but it was tailored specifically for Asia (and also aligned with Beijing time), so I didn’t want to overcomplicate things and chose…
