European Adventures

Feel free to follow along as I spend two weeks in Europe. Read more

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Trip start
May 25, 2023
European Adventures Traveler
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Day 1
Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 6:46 AM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 614 ft
United States Divernon 39.563642, -89.65407339°33’49” N 89°39’15” W
Leaving home for the airport
May 25, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
TravelerThe hubby drove and didn't complain or try to get out of it at all. ❤️ 'Twas a really good send off. 💞🫶
5/26/23Reply
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Day 1
Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 9:03 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 564 ft
United States Lambert–St. Louis International Airport 38.74519, -90.36854938°44’43” N 90°22’7” W
Airport... Round 1!
May 25, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
I already overpaid on a portable charger and breakfast... But the employee at the tech place gave me the employee discount (did I mention we bonded over our memories of MySpace?) and the chef from the diner made my bacon perfectly crispy. 🥹🥓 I even found a seat next to a phone charger. 😍Read more
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Day 1
Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 2:06 PM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 56 ft
United States Newark Liberty International Airport 40.694917, -74.17431440°41’42” N 74°10’28” W
An ungodly layover
May 25, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Just landed at the Newark Airport for a 4.5 hour layover... Scratch that... We are 30 minutes early... For a 5 hour layover. The ride was smooth at the beginning and I caught some decent Zzzs in an upright position with this playlist I found a week or so ago.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/07fouBE2kZPmv…

Probably top 5 worst experiences of turbulence but honestly, it was a good alarm clock so I'm not mad.

A few thoughts that popped up into my head during the flight:

"Why are you wearing a full tuxedo at 10am on a Thursday?"
"Wow... His eyelashes are so beautiful."
"Stanley Tucci really looks like a hotdog."

No. Alcohol was not served on this flight.Read more
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Day 1
Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 2:48 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 62 ft
United States Newark Liberty International Airport 40.696815, -74.1783640°41’49” N 74°10’42” W
Forno Magico
May 25, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
I was told "pizza is great but service is terrible." Well, can't wait to see what's in store. 🍕😂
TravelerI can tell already... This pizza is gonna mess me up (and not in a good way). 😭
5/25/23Reply
TravelerThis was a horrible decision on my part and my body got wrecked because of it. Having fiery poops while flying over the Atlantic was not on my bucket list...
5/26/23Reply
Traveler🤣🤣🤣
5/26/23Reply
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Day 2
Friday, May 26, 2023 at 8:00 AM
☀️ 9 °C
Altitude: 161 ft
Belgium Brussels Airport 50.899279, 4.48492550°53’57” N 4°29’6” E
Just landed in Belgium!
May 26, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
I survived the flight! Woohoo!

Food was surprisingly good and (I think) I ate quinoa for the first time. 😂 Here's a picture of the dinner that was served.

I passed the time with two comedy specials and some sleep. I watched the comedy specials below and the Atsuko one was making me laugh throughout the flight. Highly recommend!

- Miz Cracker: Here I Stand
- Atsuko Okatsuka: The Intruder

I was sitting next to a couple that wouldn't stop making out and groping each other. Not the way I saw this flight going. 😂Read more
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Day 2
Friday, May 26, 2023 at 10:23 AM
☀️ 12 °C
Altitude: 463 ft
Belgium Brussels South Charleroi Airport 50.442124, 4.4518650°26’32” N 4°27’7” E
Operation Get the Pets' Approval
May 26, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Howdy!

I got through customs with only mild embarrassment for my pronunciation of French-named cities. Success!

While we were on the 1-hour journey from the Brussel's Airport to her home, we had some really serious discussions take place. Discussions such as:
-The impact on taste because of the peanut butter to chocolate ratio in various types of Reese's. 🥜🍫
-The mutual discovery that the graffitied "GTA" everywhere was not for Grand Theft Auto enthusiasts, but actually a Belgian graffiti crew named Grand Theft Aerosol (Thank you, Reddit!).🏎️🚗🚓
-The fact that Lucie feels her cats are distinguishable because one has more white than black and the other has more black than white... Whereas I feel the most distinguishing factor is in fact that one has 3 legs and the other has 4.😹

Just a bit ago I made it to Lucie and Charlotte's house in Charleroi.

While here for less than half an hour I have already managed to scare her Bernese Mountain Dog (and both cats), lock myself in the bathroom, and confuse a school sign next door saying "ecole" with "ecoli".
Enjoy this collection of emojis to describe the eventfulness thus far.
😱🐶🐈🚽🔒🏫🎒🥬🥗

Operation Get the Pets' Approval - Failed. 🚫

Operation Get Pets' Approval Enough to Not Get Attacked - Achieved. 💅🏆💯🥇Read more
TravelerI am just catching up because I was waiting for notifications like messages do!! Now I will check here.
5/27/23Reply
TravelerSorry! I didn't want to bother people with notifications so I had turned them off. I was too lazy to keep doing it so you will keep getting notifications!
5/27/23Reply
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Day 2
Friday, May 26, 2023 at 6:14 PM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 479 ft
Belgium Brussels South Charleroi Airport 50.441989, 4.45198450°26’31” N 4°27’7” E
Grocery Shopping
May 26, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Visited Colruyt for groceries today. It reminded me of grocery shopping in Hawaii (but not nearly as expensive).

It was cool to see some of the same brands that I'm used to but with different names / styles of logo. It was really nifty to see so much fresh food and free samples.

I learned that the drinking age for beer is 16 and 18 for spirits, Americans are weird for refrigerating milk, and the multi-packs of things in plastic wraps can be suggestions but you pay for the individual items inside.

They give you money back for recycling your glass bottles of some Belgian beers like how Oberweis does the glass bottled milk.Read more
TravelerLoving the posting frequency!!
5/26/23Reply
TravelerTrying to keep everyone up to date but trying to keep details written down for my memory too.
5/26/23Reply
Traveler😎😁
5/26/23Reply
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Day 3
Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 11:23 AM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 463 ft
Belgium Brussels South Charleroi Airport 50.442166, 4.45186250°26’32” N 4°27’7” E
Wakey Wakey!
May 27, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey!!!
TravelerLooks like you have been well fed.
5/27/23Reply
TravelerYes, yes I have! Charlotte is a fantastic cook!
5/27/23Reply
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Day 3
Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 2:04 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 476 ft
Belgium Courcelles 50.457087, 4.37588650°27’26” N 4°22’33” E
Dog Park
May 27, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Took Willow to a dog park in Courcelles!
TravelerDon’t forget to get some photos with you in them. 😊 What’s the dogs name?
5/27/23Reply
TravelerI will! The dog's name is Willow.
5/27/23Reply
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Day 3
Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 3:45 PM
Altitude: 279 ft
Belgium Houyoux 50.462033, 4.86543450°27’43” N 4°51’56” E
Fresh Waffle in Namur
May 27, 2023 in Belgium
This is for you, Jacob and Jackie! It was delicious.
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Day 3
Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 5:07 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 325 ft
Belgium Sambre 50.461202, 4.86666850°27’40” N 4°52’0” E
Visiting the Citadelle de Namur
May 27, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
We went up by cable car to visit the Citadelle de Namur.
TravelerBeautiful
5/27/23Reply
Travelerlooks like a really old place.
5/27/23Reply
TravelerFrom the 900s and then added on in the 1600s.
5/27/23Reply
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Day 3
Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 6:28 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 299 ft
Belgium Faculté Universitaire De Namur / Algemeen 50.463629, 4.86377950°27’49” N 4°51’50” E
Drinks In Namur
May 27, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Fun fact: bachelor and bachelorette parties go WAY harder here than in the states.
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Day 3
Saturday, May 27, 2023
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 463 ft
Belgium Brussels South Charleroi Airport 50.442119, 4.4519250°26’32” N 4°27’7” E
Finished the day at The Huggy's Bar
May 27, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Finished our day in Namur at The Huggy's Bar for burgers and beer (sorry... The burger didn't last long enough to be in the photo). Here's the menu!
https://huggysbar.com/fr/carte/

One of the burgers was called the Davy Crockett Burger... And we never figured out why.

Across the street was a store that decided to choose violence with their choice of font (the disgraced Comic Sans).Read more
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Day 4
Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 9:28 AM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 463 ft
Belgium Brussels South Charleroi Airport 50.441715, 4.45311650°26’30” N 4°27’11” E
Heading to Germany!
May 28, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
On our way to Cologne, Germany!
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Day 4
Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 10:59 AM
Altitude: 745 ft
Germany Eilendorf 50.767925, 6.17302450°46’5” N 6°10’23” E
Just crossed into Germany!
May 28, 2023 in Germany
Just crossed into Deutschland. 😁 The sign with the circle made of stars is where it starts.
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Day 4
Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 12:18 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 180 ft
Germany Altstadt Nord 50.940201, 6.95609650°56’25” N 6°57’22” E
German Cathedral in Cologne
May 28, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
TravelerDid you get a chance to go in
5/28/23Reply
TravelerNo we were in a hurry!
5/28/23Reply
TravelerAlso, I don't think any of us were super set on going in!
5/28/23Reply
TravelerGotcha! I wasn’t sure if they let you in and you weren’t allowed to film
5/29/23Reply
TravelerThat’s beautiful.
5/28/23Reply
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Day 4
Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 1:27 PM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 180 ft
Germany Altstadt Nord 50.940301, 6.9561250°56’25” N 6°57’22” E
Nomnomnom
May 28, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Funkhaus for lunch in Cologne (Köln), Germany.

https://www.funkhaus-koeln.de/index_en.html
See translation
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Day 4
Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 5:55 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 167 ft
Germany Humboldtkolonie 50.929797, 6.98473850°55’47” N 6°59’5” E
Käsebrötchen and Nougatbrezel
May 28, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Obligatory snack pictures!
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Day 4
Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 6:24 PM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 387 ft
Germany Inden 50.834666, 6.35635950°50’5” N 6°21’23” E
Germany photo dump
May 28, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
-Firstly, I'm sorry mom. We were on the Autobahn! ... Secondly, "The Autobahn" apparently isn't a specific place ... But German for "highway". OOPS. Thirdly, we only did this so I could get a screenshot. We didn't stay this speed.

-I don't know what that old building is but it was pretty so I took a picture.

-For the chalking of different countries, if you were from that country, you put a coin on it. There were 3 or 4 of them.

-Some guy made the portrait super quickly!

-Some music posters for you.

-Saw this guy wearing a shirt that said "DO NOT REMOVE PHOTO FROM THIS SHIRT" and I couldn't tell if it was meant to be ironic or not. 😂

-The picture of us three is while we were ending our City Scavenger Hunt and a screenshot of our "prize". I didn't believe what it said.... So I tried it and was disappointed in myself. 😂

-The remaining pictures are from the Basilica of St. Ursula... I was sad that there weren't the bones visible but I guess that would be a bit too morbid for the general public. We still took pictures of what we could see!

-Some guy was doing bubbles! Love that.

-A woman was playing beautiful music on this instrument that resembled a xylophone.

Willow (dog) is SO EXHAUSTED. It was a long, long day.

Lessons of the day:

-Carry cash. The parking garage will be the source of many angry people today because we found out the hard way no card was accepted. 😅 Charlotte was a champ and hustled to an ATM. Did I mention that you have to PAY to use the bathrooms?! My bladder is very angry with me.

-Learn some basic German before going there because they don't give a crap about translating for tourists even in tourist areas. 😂

-Wear close-toed shoes (I did!) and even consider little shoes for your doggo. There was an obnoxious amount of shattered glass EVERYWHERE. You'd think they were trying to cut off the toes of their enemies.

-Coca-Cola in Germany is... Eh.

-People in Cologne (Köln) like the French but everyone else hates them.

-Almost everyone and their mother is a chain smoker here. 😅 All ages, all races, all body shapes, all professions.Read more
Traveler100mph!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️
5/28/23Reply
TravelerLucie kept me safe! Promise. 😅
5/28/23Reply
TravelerInteresting
5/28/23Reply
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Day 5
Monday, May 29, 2023 at 7:29 AM
☀️ 10 °C
Altitude: 443 ft
Belgium Buzet 50.556294, 4.35748650°33’23” N 4°21’27” E
On our way to Paris
May 29, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C
Are you even a tourist if you don't run after the train? Lucie helped me fulfill this dream. 🤣 Not on purpose though.

There's also a woman next to us who is hardcore praying (out loud) as if she is asking for forgiveness on behalf of all humanity.

Lucie said "It must be her first time, I guess."

*This photo is dedicated to my mom because she insisted I take more pictures of myself*Read more
TravelerThe photos are much improved now that I can see your face. 😊
5/29/23Reply
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Day 5
Monday, May 29, 2023 at 9:11 AM
Altitude: 138 ft
France Lille Airport 50.555964, 3.11572550°33’21” N 3°6’57” E
Officially in France!
May 29, 2023 in France
Just crossed into France.
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Day 5
Monday, May 29, 2023 at 12:42 PM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 243 ft
France Place de l'Etoile 48.872249, 2.29669848°52’20” N 2°17’48” E
Pt. 1 of Paris
May 29, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
So far:

-Lucie (and the police) think I got conned but is it even a con if you knew they were lying and you bought them food anyways? 😅 Okay, maybe.

-We visited Moulin Rouge and wow... There are so many sex shops around it.

-We went on a train, a bus, and the RER (similar to a subway but still smelled like literal sewage).

-THERE ARE ALMOST ZERO ATMs AND THE ONE WE FOUND HAD A MINIMUM WITHDRAWAL OF 50 EURO!

-We saw the Paris Opera.

-We saw the Lafayette Gallery and the ceiling was AMAZING... But hot dang I can't afford anything in there (including the bathrooms).

-We saw the Arc de Triomphe.

-Now we are at Casa Luca, an Italian restaurant that had a bathroom I could use in the basement if we ate lunch.Read more
TravelerSounds like an awesome day. Did y’all see the opera perform?
5/29/23Reply
TravelerNope! Just went by the exterior.
5/29/23Reply
TravelerEverything looks just beautiful as they say
5/29/23Reply
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Day 5
Monday, May 29, 2023 at 1:30 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 121 ft
France Champs-Elysées 48.868631, 2.31142648°52’7” N 2°18’41” E
Champs-Élysées
May 29, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Photos captured are random storefronts or cool things I saw on Champs-Élysées (famous street), some additional Tuileries Garden photos, a super creepy moving mannequin that Louis Vuitton had, and a video I forgot to upload earlier of the RER.Read more
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Day 5
Monday, May 29, 2023 at 3:30 PM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 115 ft
France The Louvre 48.86088, 2.33653148°51’39” N 2°20’12” E
2
The Louvre
May 29, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Wowza! The Louvre would take days to go through if you wanted to see all of the exhibits. We were able to see Venus de Milo, works from Leonardo da Vinci (including the Mona Lisa!), And some beautiful pieces that I couldn't help but associate with my Nana. I took lots more pictures but wanted to keep it short and sweet to some of the most important ones we saw. Lucie and I started off strong but we were barely able to walk at the end and were getting overheated. Thank God I had my portable and electric fan!Read more
Traveler This looks like a Nana one. Very cool.
5/29/23Reply
TravelerAs soon as I saw it I knew I needed a picture because it reminded me of her.
5/29/23Reply
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Day 5
Monday, May 29, 2023 at 8:30 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 233 ft
France Paris 14 Observatoire 48.831948, 2.32551248°49’55” N 2°19’32” E
Dinner, Giggles, & 2nd Hand Smoke.
May 29, 2023 in France ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Dinner was delicious. I couldn't decide what I wanted to eat so Lucie and I split a delicious pizza and I got the most authentic rigatoni carbonara I could have ever imaged (Lucie had the 🍔).

I think sleep deprivation has hit us hard based on how we constantly had the giggles.

One thing is for sure, you don't get to truly experience the essence of Paris without an obnoxious amount of second-hand smoke. Weak-lunged humans need not apply. 😭😂

Another thing, I don't think I'll ever get used to waiting so long to order, for food, and to pay the bill. 🥲Read more
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