This is our sixth Christmas since moving to Belgium. So far we've spent two at home in the States, one in Paris, one in London, and two at home in Belgium. This year is one of "two at home in Belgium".
However, we contemplated taking a little "road trip" the day after Christmas and had decided to go south into France. The weather was a bit rainy so we just decided to stay at home . . . and boy, am I glad we did.
This could have been us:
Freak snowfalls and ice stranded more than 15,000 vehicles on Sunday in the French Alps. Some families spent the night in their cars, blocked in huge traffic jams on the main routes to and from the Alpine ski resorts. One couple said it took them 12 hours to drive 20 miles. Authorities seem to have been unprepared for the heavy snowfall – resorts had closed many slopes last week due to a lack of snow.
However, we contemplated taking a little "road trip" the day after Christmas and had decided to go south into France. The weather was a bit rainy so we just decided to stay at home . . . and boy, am I glad we did.
This could have been us:
Freak snowfalls and ice stranded more than 15,000 vehicles on Sunday in the French Alps. Some families spent the night in their cars, blocked in huge traffic jams on the main routes to and from the Alpine ski resorts. One couple said it took them 12 hours to drive 20 miles. Authorities seem to have been unprepared for the heavy snowfall – resorts had closed many slopes last week due to a lack of snow.
Of course this really came as no surprise to us since last October we spent five hours at a standstill (at least it wasn't overnight) due to a "freak snowfall", "huge traffic jams", and "unprepared authorities". We were not too far from the French Alps in Switzerland. It does snow there every year, right? It IS the Alps.
So we spent this Christmas, and the days after, all cozy at home in Hasselt.
So we spent this Christmas, and the days after, all cozy at home in Hasselt.
Our Christmas tree with stockings from Randi :)
A little last minute gift wrapping.
Christmas morning . . . Winslow enjoyed this as much as we did!
_____________________________________
We were invited to Ross's friend, Valentine's home for lunch on the day after Christmas. They live in a small town near the city of Ghent in a very old house which they have renovated into a lovely, beautiful home.
We decided to take family photographs in front of their pretty tree.
Four girls! Abalone, Aurelie, Valentine, Eugenie, Katrin and Andre'
We enjoyed an enjoyable, delicious lunch with typical Belgian foods - rucola soup, turkey breasts stuffed with raisins or clementine, witloof, appelmoes, and . . .
kerststronk - a traditional cake served at Christmastime.
We hope you had a joyous and memorable holiday and we wish you a happy, healthy and successful new year!
No comments:
Post a Comment