Peter J. LeBlanc

On July 17, after 2 years away from my children & friends, I’m coming home to . This was the 1st time I had lived outisde of Southern Ontario. Hey, if you’re going to move make it big! Talk about risk taking! Was it worth it? That convo will take place over a ! #20Dayspic.twitter.com/F4wtcvC9Ug

Now, the list of places we wanted to see was longer than the list of places we visited. This was due to several factors: global pandemic, choosing not to extend my contract &, you know, because I actually had a job to do while here. But, all in all, we saw lots! ##20Dayspic.twitter.com/csv8BBRCsw

Our last trip was a lovely weekend to celebrate my recent retirement. We drove to Épernay, the champagne capitol! We tasted bubbles, toured champagne houses, had an incredible Indian meal & stayed in La Villa Eugène. Sunday morning, we headed to Reims to do it all over! #20Dayspic.twitter.com/5UmDAnIrSI

Visiting Monet’s gardens was surreal . Although I am not an art aficionados, I am, like most people, familiar with Monet’s work. Walking around the grounds & gardens was like stepping into his impressionist paintings. We walked with several prints. #20Days #kelplbtravelpic.twitter.com/vGN1WU2O5s

June 12-13, we headed to the Giverny region of France to visit Monet’s home and gardens. We stayed overnight in the Château de la Bûcherie, a spectacular château in Saint-Cyr-en-Arthies in the French countryside. The grounds there we stunningly peaceful. #20Days #kelplbtravelpic.twitter.com/qHy8Mlpw27

Day 20 of #20Days Our last trips were a little luxurious. Maybe because we had been locked down for so long. Maybe because we are fully vaccinated & feel ‘safe’ for the 1st time in ages. Or maybe it’s the ticking clock marking the conclusion of our Euro experience. #kelplbtravelpic.twitter.com/djnjTXZY7Y

The old city core is stunning, with many XVI & XVII century half-timbered houses still standing. The open spaces & water fountains throughout the city core were equally beautiful. Troyes also provided me with my favourite picture. ‘Euro-Peter’ was part of my UGDSB retirement !pic.twitter.com/ubRLApB5Wc

Day 19 of #20Days - Troyes was our first ‘taste’ of the Champagne region, although our venture there involved no tasting whatsoever. Tours at this point were only days away from opening. COVID restrictions kept us outside, but what a gorgeous city to explore. #kelplbtravelpic.twitter.com/FF7akkRhKr

Nonetheless, we got to take in the city without the typical crowds. Most of our time was spent wandering the streets & taking it this canaled wonder. Restaurant were open from 12h00 to 18h00 so our dine out experience was centred around lunch. #20Days #kelplbtravelpic.twitter.com/ULj5TbDHtI

Day 18 of #20Days - Our last trips happened as restrictions lifted. We headed to Amsterdam. We had not yet been to this city, despite its proximity to us. Now, with many still in place, our visit wasn’t as exciting as it should have been given our destination!#kelplbtravelpic.twitter.com/3m2UE9I9QF

But we discovered that Belgium has some beautiful spaces. Some, like Ypres, we on our ´to visit’ list. But others, like Mechelen or Dinant, might not have been seen had it not been for the closing of the Belgian border. #20Days #kelplbtravelpic.twitter.com/hxKjiPL4t1

One of the appeals of living in Belgium is its central location in Western Europe. It is 3 hours or less by land to London, Amsterdam, Cologne, Luxembourg, Brussels and Paris. We can be in Germany or the Netherlands in an hour. France in 15 minutes. #20Days #kelplbtravelpic.twitter.com/HuTWTYwNFk

We also explored some of Belgium’s parks, town squares, canal paths, abbeys & châteaux. Places like Jardins d’Enghien & d’Annevoie, Château Belœil, the outdoor Middelheim museum & Villiers Abbey became familiar to us since we couldn’t leave the country. #20Days #kelplbtravelpic.twitter.com/6FlXfOKYAN

Hotels & restaurants were closed in the early stages. So we focused on outdoor spaces. We visited & revisited Antwerp, Brugge, Brussels, Ghent, Leuven, Dinant, Mechelen, Ypres, Oostende & the Belgian coast. Food and drink was bring your own or take away. #20Days #kelplbtravelpic.twitter.com/DnRL0zEtBe

Day 16 & 17 of #20Days - Two days together! Day 16 & 17 focus on the period from the beginning of November ´20 to the end of May ‘21, when Belgian borders were closed and we either stayed home or stayed local. We could go out, but needed to follow COVID protocols. #kelplbtravelpic.twitter.com/c6862NR8Dm

A good-bye gift from a staff member who knows my passion for board games, my current read is much more thought-provoking than anticipated. #GoodReadspic.twitter.com/sRNVCIbppn