Gent

Piet and Mary joined his sisters and partners for an enjoyable weekend in Gent, one of the main cities in Belgium. The plan was to meet up with nephews Bart and Jeroen, who moved to Gent in September to start their studies. However, they decided to have a boys-only weekend at Piet's sister's house in Turnhout, so there were just 6 'old' people doing the tourist spots around this historic town.

We visited Gravensteen, a castle in the centre of town, and did a long walk (also passing Jeroen's kot), in grey, cold and windy autumn weather. After dinner we did the 'town by light' night walk, with the most important buildings and streets lit. Unfortunately the famous beer bar De Dulle Griet was too busy for us: next time!

The next day we climbed the Belfort tower, followed by another rainy walk through town and lunch at an alternative restaurant. With plans for next get togethers at Christmas and Whitsun discussed (and to be agreed) we drove back to The Hague, to Dorien and Beau.

Inside Gravensteen

Gravensteen, the castle in the centre of Gent

It was a grey and cold day

Gent by night: river Leie

 A rare appearance of the sun on Korenmarkt

Autumn holiday

This year we went on our autumn holiday to France without kids. At university there is no break between summer and Christmas, so Piet and Mary drove down together, with a trailer (but no horse!). Mary had bought a second hand couch to replace the two old ones in our house, and it was far too large to transport in the car. So Mary borrowed a flat trailer from her brother (used to transport his motorbike) instead of the horse trailer.

The week was spend mainly in the garden, getting it ready for winter. We mowed the lawn, cleaned the ditches, and did some work in our little swamp forest. Piet also took the opportunity to do a few bike rides, including a cycle up Alpe d'Huez. The weather was fine, sunny and relatively cold, and there was already some snow higher up in the mountains. 

We also made a trip south towards Gigondas where we met with Frits, who was on his yearly wine trip in the Rhone valley. We visited the historic town of Vaison la Romaine, and then spend an afternoon visiting several wineries to stock up on reds from Beaume de Venice and Gigondas appellations. We had an excellent meal in the evening, and the next morning we did a nice hike in the Dentelles de Montmirail. Unfortunately these two days were overcast and very grey and the pictures of the grapevines in autumn colours with the Dentelles (teeth in French) in the background don't do justice to the stunning reality. After lunch and a last wine stop we drove back to the house to enjoy the last few days, with our own (excellent) red wine in the evening!

Piet is riding his book in the garden

Vaison la Romaine, the medieval part of town

Piet is walking in the narrow streets of Vaison

Piet and Frits are hauling their harvest from Domaine de Durban

Mary is walking in the vineyards of the Dentelles de Montmirail

An overcast, grey day in the Dentelles

The Dentelles is a prime rock climbing area

The village of Oulles in autumn colours