How nice to have family in Belgium and such hospitable ones at that...
It's great that you were able to stay with them... I think knowing someone from the country just adds such a depth to it...
We were really lucky to be in Paris once when my friend was traveling there as well and we got to have lunch with her Aunt and Uncle and Cousins... and it was absolutely one of my favorite parts of the trip... it was also nice to be able to dust off my high school/college French and use it... it seemed the more wine consumed the more fluent I became...
but seriously it is really nice to be able to communicate-even a little- in another language...
(As much as I love my country and am deeply grateful to be American...it really annoys me that some people just think everyone else in the rest of the world should speak English...
)
Speaking of European breakfasts (of which I am also a fan ... good coffee and a little bread and cheese -its all good) we were in a little tea salon on the Ile St. Louis in Paris and a large,loud American man comes in with his wife booming in English "What time do you all open for breakfast?" The owner who was an attractive, petite middle aged women who was also waiting tables rushed over to the door and tried to explain in English that they didn't really open till lunch and then served tea and pastries in the afternoon-they did not serve breakfast but he could get croissants and coffee at the cafe down the street for breakfast if he wished. He left rather disgruntled complaining loudly about "not being able to get any solid bacon and eggs breakfast in this country"...
Um... I'm sorry, why did you come to France if just to eat an American breakfast and bellow at people in English... you've could have easily done that at home and for free too...
Isn't the whole point of traveling to another country to experiences it's culture... something different than at home?
Ahhh that castle at DLP...
I think although the 3 that I've seen (MK, DL & DLP) are lovely that one in Paris is extraordinary...
I love the how they interpreted the New York theme in the hotel... looks like a great place to stay... I'd like to at least stay over night next time versus daytripping from Paris...
Loving this TR...
Oh PS... I think you should have your Tips for International Travelers published...