With the children off from school for more than a week, it seems almost criminal not to be traveling to some unexplored corner of Europe, but with a one month trip to America set for this summer and some pressing matters for my husband to attend to at work, a spring holiday wasn’t meant to be.

With two children under 12, we’ve visited zoos all over the world. My favorite is in Karlsruhe, Germany, a place where the zoo is integrated into a large and beautifully landscaped park full of flowers, winding paths, and green spaces. By comparison, Plackendael seemed far less attractive but no less fun. While there seemed to be an abundance of bare dirt and not enough greenery and flowers this early in the spring, there was a well displayed selection of animals organized by theme, and some nice hands-on activities for the children.

They were thrilled to pull themselves along a rope in a shallow boat in “Africa,” and navigate a challenging obstacle course in “Australia.” The multiple playgrounds inside the park were geared toward kids of all ages, and many of the interpretive signs at the exhibits included English as well as Flemish and French. There was a free map of the park available in Flemish but if you desired a French or English version, it cost 3 euros.

While the price of admission had seemed a bit high when we bought our tickets, we had to admit that at the end of the day, it seemed worth it. Our kids had a great time at Plackendael.

On Easter Monday, we ventured into Wallonia to attend the spring festival at the Abbaye de Villers. Built in the 13th century, the abbey fell into a state of disrepair hundreds of years later.  Still, the ruins rising up from the extensive wooded grounds are awe inspiring. While portions of the roof and walls are missing and the windows no longer have their stained glass, other parts remain intact and have a majesty all their own. The site is loaded with pointed arches, soaring barrel vaulted ceilings, and beautiful stone and masonry.

During the spring festival, there was an assortment of craftsmen and vendors on the grounds, as well as musical performances, dramas, and demonstrations with medieval flavor.  We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the abbey and the grounds and browsing the many booths in the market area.

Still on our list of things to do and places to go—the Musical Instrument Museum in Brussels, the Jean-Michel Folon Foundation museum in La Hulpe, a day trip to Luxemburg, and a trip to Aquatopia in Antwerp.

With brilliant weather and nearby attractions, I’m reminded once again that I don’t have to leave Belgium to have a holiday in Europe.

April 11, 2007

V-Grrrl

© 2007 Veronica McCabe Deschambault and V-Grrrl. All rights reserved.