16.08.2026
Our second day trip: Well, Shona suggested Rotterdam, I was more interested in The Hague, mostly because of the artist, Piet Mondrian. So, we went to The Hague, lol.
Nice city (lol), but it looked like at least half of the old city center is blocked off and under renovation. After wandering around for an hour or two, and a nice lunch, we went to the Kunstmuseum. Very, very interesting if you are into modern art, and a fan of Mondrian, but 40 euros for a ticket was a little pricey, and no discount for seniors (seriously?!).
Andrzej
11.08.2026
After leaving France, we ended up in the small town of Bergen op Zoom, in the Netherlands. We chose Bergen because of its location. Close to the Belgian border and interesting Dutch cities like Rotterdam or The Hague.
Our first day trip was to Antwerp, the city known as the hub of the world's diamond trade (very dirty business, if you ask me). Antwerp (as almost every European city) has a lot to offer. Top attractions: Antwerp Central Station (also known as the railroad cathedral); the Cathedral of Our Lady and the statue of Nello & Patrasche in front of it (the main characters in the fairy tale "A Dog of Flanders"), and the spectacular City Hall, erected between 1561 and 1565. And, of course, don't go cheap on Belgian fries, chocolate, or beer. Lol.
Andrzej
31.07.2026
The city of Lille was quite a positive surprise. Nicknamed the "Capital of Flanders", the city has much to offer but just wandering around its colourful and interesting streets and plazas was a lot of fun. We also recommend a visit to LaM (Lille Metropole Musee d'art moderne).
Andrzej
19.07.2026
After exploring Brittany, we made it to Normandy, which has been on my bucket list for a long time. Of course, the first thing we did was visit the famous Mont-Saint-Michel. This place is amazing, you'd have to visit many times in different conditions to fully appreciate it. We did at least make it there early in the morning, before the crowds, but the tide was already going out. Such is the life of a road-tripper, you take what you get! We also visited the historic capital of Normandy, Rouen. The city is famous for its gothic cathedral and the beautiful half-timbered houses. Then we did something that was very special for me. We visited the Canadian Battlefield Memorial at Juno Beach and the memorial at Courcelette. My grandfather lost his leg during this battle. So many lives lost. There are actually many memorials from different countries along the Normandy coast, and it was so hard to imagine the horrific conditions as we drove through the idyllic countryside. Will we never learn? Anyway, it was nice to be able to visit and the area is quite beautiful.
Shona
16.07.2026
Another area I've always wanted to visit is the northern part of France, specifically Normandy. On the way there we had the pleasure of exploring some spots in the region of Brittany. This area is amazing, and I kind of wanted to stay forever! There are so many things to see and do, but we only had a few days, so we stayed in the little town of Dol de Bretagne. There's a beautiful cathedral there and some very pretty timbered houses. We also visited the historic Abby of Lehon, which is a Benedictine monastery founded in 850. And the highlight was the town of Saint-Malo, a walled city with an amazing fortress that is only accessible at low tide. There are beautiful cobbled streets and a gorgeous beach...and it's not nearly as crowded as other places in France. It also has the great honour of being the birthplace of Jacques Cartier, the first European to sail the St Lawrence river and who attempted to colonize what is now the province of Quebec. To this day, there are strong ties with Quebec. The area wasn't really on our radar but we loved it and would love to return one day.
Shona
10.07.2026
It's always fun to cross a place off my bucket list! We've seen a lot of Spain but I've always wanted to see the City of Arts & Sciences in Valencia. I'm sure the rest of the city is beautiful, too, but strictly from a photography point of view, this place was on my list. And, it did not disappoint! We went close to sunset and then again close to sunrise. Both times provided beautiful light and reflections. Designed by architects Santiago Calatrava and Felix Candela, the complex consists of several buildings and structures, including the Palace of Arts, which includes the Opera House, and the recognizable L'Hemisferic, which houses a planetarium, laserium, and IMAX cinema. It's a very interesting place offering loads of photo opportunities, and I'm so glad I finally got to see it!
Shona
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