During the Easter break I bundled up the puppy for a short trip to the nearby region of Champagne-Ardennes in north-eastern France. Still a bit on the damp and nippy side, it was nevertheless a great couple of days away and the pup behaved surprisingly well (helped along by many hours of running through forests...but absolutely not crossing tiny streams. Not even the smallest trickle. Tell me again how spaniels are meant to like water??) ... Read the Post...
bruges
Bruges/Brugge, also called the Venice of the North, is a little village just over the Belgian border that has been frozen in time - much to the delight of hundreds of tourists who flock to the town for their fix of lace, chocolate and ye olde authentic horse and carriage rides (this town probably has the highest carriage per person ratio of anywhere in the world outside of Amish settlements). ... Read the Post...
easter at meert
Meert, the pricey but exquisitely turn of the century tearoom is the jewel in the Vieux Lille crown. As well as tea, they also sell a beautifully tempting array of chocolates and pastries. However, aside from popping in for the occasional packet of old style syrup filled waffles (gaufres), it's not an experience I can readily afford. But window shopping is free (and they're pretty laid back about letting you take photos). ... Read the Post...
toutou
Turns out owning a dog in France is like obtaining an open pass to converse with any and all strangers you meet on the street. Whether you want to or not. While his little cocker eyes don’t fool me for a second (well, apart from that bit that saw me forking over a bunch of cash to buy him), they seem to work wonders on all passers by that either have a dog, had a dog, want a dog or are quite simply insane. Being, as we are, in France, this ... Read the Post...
