Kara Drake

Mom23

Kara Drake

Our family (Kara, Jonathan, Emma, Abigail & Eliza) are originally from western Massachusetts in USA, but now we are living in Leuven, Belgium for the next 7.5 months and traveling around Europe.



Europe » Belgium January 15th 2008

I can't believe it is over. It has been an amazing seven and a half months living in Europe. I feel like we were able to fully take advantage of our time here. We did just about everything that we hoped we would do and did about a million things that were new and unexpected. Setting out for this trip I had a few specific travel goals, most of which we did. I was able to see three new countries, which was terrific, but we were also able to go to some old favorites and really immerse ourselves. In most of our travels I think we took advantage of all the opportunities afforded to us. I also came here with the hopes that we would be able to give our children a different look at the ... read more

Europe » Belgium January 11th 2008

Today we went to nearby Tongeren. We had plans to meet friends for dinner in Leuven but we thought we deserved/needed/craved one last little trip. We were going to bike to the station as usual but Jonathan had (another) flat tire. Even the bikes know it is time for us to hand in our gear, pack up our stuff and bust out of here. So, the bus to the train and a peaceful hour long ride to Tongeren. The kids did their usual coloring, reading and eating routine on the train. Jonathan and I have been amazed to think back to our first day trip via train back in June; the kids hardly knew what to do with themselves and now they are seasoned little travelers. We arrived in Tongeren with no real agenda. The town ... read more
Carving of a Knight
Backside of the Basilica
Emma on the spider web at the playground

Europe » Belgium December 31st 2007

Europe » Belgium December 30th 2007

We had no plans when we woke this morning. All of our motivated house guests were out the door early and the girls were happy to stay in their pajamas until noon. It was nice to have a lazy morning, of course this is the kind of lazy morning you are expected to have after a meter of beer the night before. When I returned from my run Jonathan and I looked at each other and decided we needed to get moving. With only two weeks left we could just sit back and be idle and wait for our departure, or we can attack this time as we have the rest of our European adventure. We quickly found a few places that we thought would merit a look. Due to the late hour and our state ... read more
Inside the Cathedral
Under the Statue
Another Pretty Building in the Square

Europe » Belgium December 30th 2007

Our first house guest was Jonathan's cousin Eric. Our last house guest (or one of them) is my cousin Molly. Accompanying Molly is her friend Sarah, and overlapping their visit is one from my brother Pat and his girlfriend Elisa. The girls and I did our final (?!) trip to Gravensteen (yes, that makes it six times for the kids and they still get a chuckle out of the knight's toilet) and helped the weary travelers to get accustomed to European train travel. We stopped in Brussels on our way home and while Molly and Sarah babysat (I mean slept) the other four of us went out to a few local watering holes to get Pat some "real" beer. He has been won over by the Belgian beer brewing (as though we had any doubts!). And ... read more
Abigail and Pat
Blackmail
Pat and the Fooz Ball

Europe » Belgium » Brussels-Capital Region » Brussels December 28th 2007

When we last reported we were "freezing in Florence". We are now nice and warm and a lot has happened. We found celebrating Christmas in Belgium to be an inspired experience for the whole family. We were able to invent new traditions that will hopefully stay with us for years to come and additionally we were able to escape a lot of the harried chaos that usually accompanies holidays in the States. Perhaps it was the lack of pre holiday parties or the lack of travel over the actual few days but it was such a relaxing time for all of us. The girls are thoroughly enjoying their new gifts and we all enjoyed celebrating Christmas dinner with our friends in traditional German fashion. Now that the holidays are over we are hosting our last guests ... read more
The Balls
Cute Girls Waiting for the Elevator...
Going up an Escalator

Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Florence December 17th 2007

After a wonderful night's sleep we all dressed and headed downstairs for breakfast. We certainly got our money's worth here. They had a terrific coffee machine and I personally had four cups of cappuccino! The girls feasted on cereal, croissants, and juice. The previous day we had to decide how to spend our day today. I lobbied for a trip to nearby Lucca. But yesterday when we saw the cathedral Jonathan was seriously impressed. My response: it's nice but the one in Florence is better (perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut). Thus, we went to spend the day in Florence. Unfortunately because it was a Monday all of the great museums were closed but we had no big agenda except to wander around the city, eat some good food and see the Duomo. We ... read more
The Duomo
Another view of the Duomo
Emma in the Duomo

Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Pisa December 16th 2007

When we first discussed our European adventure with the girls we showed them pictures and maps and tried to get them excited about travel. Luckily our efforts have panned out and they are as excited as we are when we go someplace new. Of course it may prove harder to leave them behind with friends and grandparents should Mom and Dad find a way to escape once we get home! During our studies with them they became hooked on seeing a few sights in particular while we were here. Abigail was all about castles. Emma was most interested in the Eiffel Tower. They both wanted to see the London Bridge (we didn't bother explaining where it was really located) and they were dying to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We decided to skip out of ... read more
First Pizza
More of Pisa
The Girls at Pallazzo dei Cavalieri

Europe » Belgium December 11th 2007

Here it is serious holiday time in Europe. When we were planning our trip we had the option to return home before the holidays but decided that it would be a great opportunity to enjoy a different way of celebrating if we stayed through mid January. Christmas time in Europe is so beautiful with all of the lights and particularly with all of the Christmas markets. Last week marked the beginning of Hanukkah. The girls and I fashioned a menorah together and we found candles so we were able to light the lights and sing. Unfortunately we didn't have any matzo meal to make potato latkes, but we reminded ourselves it is the oil that is the important part of the tradition. Emma heard fried and immediately suggested falafel and frites from the local frituur which ... read more
Our homemade Menorah
Candy filled Shoes
Feasting on Smoutebollen

Europe » Belgium December 9th 2007

Yeah, more friends visit Belgium!! We can't get enough entertaining :) We are very happy to have Maura and Bill visiting us from greater Boston. Maura and I used to work together (the girls can't believe someone used to pay me to do things) and we have spent many hours reminiscing (a shout out to declass right here!). They arrived from Amsterdam, despite the scheduled Belgian train strike (occurring the several times over the next few weeks) and we had a relaxing rainy afternoon together. Saturday night I prepared a traditional Belgian dish, witloof, which is endive wrapped in ham with a cheesy cream sauce to help fuel us for our next adventure: a Sunday in Waterloo. We were so happy that the trains were working, the weather was brilliant and that we were able to ... read more
Emma ascending the 226 steps
Bill and Jonathan
The Family at Waterloo




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