Instagram story viewer> @kateinbrussels> Posts

Katherine

@kateinbrussels

1.4K

followers

495

following

I live in Brussels with my family. Likes (in no particular order): exploring Brussels and beyond, reading, walking, cities, cooking (and eating).

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

As my week in Madeira comes to an end, I thought I’d share a selection of photos from some of the hikes I did. If you would like more information on any of them, don’t hesitate to reach out. Pictured here are the Levada Nova (1-4), the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço/PR 8 (5-8), the Levada do Caldeirão Verde/PR 9 (9-12), the Vereda do Areeiro/PR 1 (13-19) and the Vereda dos Balcões/PR 11 (1). by @kateinbrussels

11

4

4 hours ago

Snapshots from my first few days in Madeira. I am doing a lot of walking. The weather is warmer than my weather app indicated so it appears that I’ve packed the wrong clothing. Oh, well. Some of the trails are much more crowded than I expected. I did a hike yesterday (PR9) which reminded me of the Bois de la Cambre on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The government launched a new ticketing system this year for the most popular routes so it’s now necessary to book a time slot and pay in advance. I should also mention that public transportation is spotty on the island so if you want to make the most of your stay, you’ll need to rent a car (preferably an automatic!) and feel comfortable driving on steep, winding roads. by @kateinbrussels

3

7

4 days ago

We combined our visit to the wonderful @huisbeaucarne with a walking tour of Oudenaarde. You can pick up a copy of the accompanying booklet (€2.50) at the tourist office in the town hall which just so happens to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of 56 historically significant Belfries of Belgium and France. The walk isn’t long but it took us longer than one would think to complete because we were constantly stopping to read about the history of the various sites and take photos. My kids hate it when I do this so I guess it’s a good thing they were not with me. We liked the begijnhof, the public library in what was once the meat market (butchers’ hall) and strolling along the Scheldt. We’ll have to make a return visit because we did not have time to visit the Museum of Oudenaarde (@moumuseum)to admire the tapestries or to have a glass of wine at what has to be one of the most beautiful wine bars/restaurants in Belgium (@margarethas_restaurant), named after Margaret of Parma, an illegitimate daughter of Emperor Charles V who was born in Oudenaarde in 1522 and later became governor of the Netherlands at the start of the Eighty Years’ War. taken in Oudenaarde by @kateinbrussels

41

7

14 days ago

Huis Beaucarne in Ename, near Oudenaarde, has been inhabited by the same family since 1748. Since 2018, it’s been open to the public for guided tours, and if you, like me, appreciate historic interiors and eclectic collections (think shells, dollhouses and plenty of taxidermy), you should definitely put this place on your list. In addition to the house, you can tour the garden and see the oldest glasshouse in Belgium, painted to resemble a Turkish tent and filled with 250-year-old vines. Weather permitting, don’t miss afternoon tea in the courtyard. Dogs are welcome on a lead. Truly a unique day out taken in Huis Beaucarne by @kateinbrussels

3

9

18 days ago

It’s easy to despair these days looking at the state of the world. So to brighten your mood, I present you with these photos I took yesterday on my walk around the Sahara Lommel, part of the Bosland National Park, and the nearby Heuvelse Heide. What’s remarkable is that this landscape is entirely man-made and did not exist a mere 100 years ago. The lakes are the result of sand extraction. Furthermore, the fumes from a zinc factory in Lommel killed all of the vegetation in the area, so the heathland and pine forests were all planted after 1940. Nature is remarkably resilient. taken in Sahara Lommel by @kateinbrussels

25

7

a month ago

I am getting back into the swing of things in Brussels, with good memories of the past month. Here are some of my recommendations:
@fondationboghossian is always a good idea, as is the #boisdelacambre. If you’re in the city centre, be sure to check out the revamped @hallessaintgery. As per usual, I spent a few days in @visit_depanne to see the solar eclipse but then I came back to Brussels to see the biennial #flowercarpet. @mainsbxl is my perennial favourite. Back in the centre, the Manneken Pis was wearing his beefeater outfit the other day. His garderobe (@mannekenpisofficial) is well worth a visit. While you’re in the area, why not stop by the rooftop @kbrbe? I finally got a peek inside the Russian Orthodox Church in Uccle. And last but not least, my Russian friend introduced me to @mini.mix.bruxelles.30, where you can find all things Eastern European at very reasonable prices. There are two shops in Brussels, in Forest and Etterbeek. taken in Brussels, Belgium by @kateinbrussels

41

4

a month ago

While waiting for the bus in Fishguard, we struck up a conversation with a Welshman who recommended a visit to the boathouse in Laugharne (rhymes with “yarn”) where Dylan Thomas spent the last four years of his life (1949-53) so of course I went. His writing shed seems like a good place to gather one’s thoughts. I don’t recall how or when I first encountered Dylan Thomas’ work but I distinctly remember reading his poem “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night” many years ago, when I was facing the loss of my own father. Poetry is not my favourite literary genre; deciphering poems can require a good deal of effort but there is a real sense of accomplishment when the pieces fall into place. Aside from the boathouse, you can visit Laugharne Castle (photo 8) and possibly have a drink at Brown’s Hotel, the Thomas’ favourite watering hole. The bar is named Dylan’s, after the poet and playwright. I’m not sure how I feel about this given that he died at the age of only 39 due in part to complications from alcoholism. Thomas is buried in the overspill graveyard of St Martin’s Church. His resting place is marked with a sober and simple white cross. Later in our trip, I picked up a 1959 edition of his collected poems in Hay-on-Wye, which I look forward to dipping into now and again. taken in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire by @kateinbrussels

27

3

3 months ago

We crammed a lot into 36 hours in Cardiff. I highly recommend a visit to the National Museum (photo 2) which has an exceptional art collection, a stroll around the leafy neighbourhood of Pontcanna (photos 3-5), a visit to Cardiff Bay to see the city’s best contemporary architecture, including the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) building designed by Richard Rogers, the Norwegian church, the Pierhead Building and the Wales Millenium Centre (photos 6-11), and a meander in the city centre to browse the shopping arcades. We also trekked out to Roath Park but I would skip it if you’re pressed for time. taken in Cardiff by @kateinbrussels

15

5

3 months ago

Visiting Hay-on-Wye was a dream come true for this bibliophile. The town boasts no fewer than 28 bookshops and is renowned for the Hay Festival, an annual literature festival held for 10 days in May and June which I would love to attend one day. We browsed in many of the shops and did not leave empty handed. I found a 1959 edition of the Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas 1934-1952 @richardboothsbookshop while my husband bought several books on photography and Leicas at @haycinemabookshop and @addymanbooks. We also enjoyed a walk along the river to the Warren. Be sure to check out the sixteenth photo in this album for a nod to Belgium’s village du livre. taken in Hay-on-Wye by @kateinbrussels

22

3

3 months ago

Today I hiked to the top of Pen Y Fan, the highest peak (886 metres) not only in the Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) National Park but also in the southern United Kingdom. Being a recreational hiker, I took the “easy” way up, the Pont ar Daf route, and it suited me just fine. I was surprised by how foggy it was at the top and by how quickly the views changed (see the first two photos in this album). taken in Pen y Fan by @kateinbrussels

25

5

3 months ago

When I planned our car-free Wales itinerary, I booked four nights in Swansea due to its good transport links. Some people I spoke with expressed surprise about the length of my stay in Wales’ second-largest city, and I began to wonder if I’d made a mistake. I am pleased to confirm that I did not. We explored the city itself, spent a day on the Gower, and borrowed bikes from our hotel and cycled out to the Mumbles. I was even able to visit Dylan Thomas’ boathouse (by train and bus). I should also mention that we ate very well. Pictured here: (1) the Maritime Quarter, (2-3) The Shed (@theshedsa1), a great restaurant serving local specialties made with high-quality ingredients, (4) the marina lock, (5-6) Gigi Gao’s Favourite Authentic Chinese (@gigi_gao168), one of the country’s best Chinese restaurants where more is definitely more, (7-8) the wonderfully old-fashioned and eclectic Swansea Museum, (9) Waterstone’s bookshop, housed in the first purpose-built cinema in Wales, which opened in 1914, (10) Swansea Bay at high tide, (11) Mrs Whippy, a first for me, (12) the Volcano Theatre, (13) the Observatory, previously home to Wales’ largest optical astronomical telescope and now offering cocktails and brunch with a view, (14-16) the Mumbles, a neighbourhood of Swansea at the entrance to the Gower Peninsula, (17-19) @morgansswansea, the best place to stay in Swansea, and (20) small plates @orkaswansea. taken in Swansea, Wales by @kateinbrussels

3

4

3 months ago

A day on the Gower. We took the bus from Swansea to Rhossili where we alighted to explore the beach and Worm’s Head. The free-range ponies are used as grazers. After a walk and an ice cream, we got back on the bus and rode until Parkmill where we did a circular walk to Three Cliffs Bay, passing by the ruins of Pennard Castle. All in all, we walked just over 13 kilometres. It was a lovely day out. taken in Gower Peninsula by @kateinbrussels

32

13

3 months ago