Travel Update

I feel horrible about not getting more updates on our amazing trip but we kept so busy while gone and of course I have hit the ground running since back.  I did want to do some highlights finishing off the trip and filling you in more after the Belgium bombings.  


As I was coming home I decided to not post much about my whereabouts and plans for flights.  One of the beauties of my blog is many of you read it and follow along and I LOVE that!!  So along with that, I couldn’t in good conscious let you know my travel plans coming back and when I was in airports and such because I quickly learned how many people I had worrying and praying for us.  I was terrified I would post something letting everyone know and then something happens as I have you all watching.  So, I am obviously home and safe and grateful to be on American soil.  

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The first morning we woke up in Belgium, Shannon’s daughter actually had read about the bombings at the airport.  Things happened in such a strange way that the universe mixed up our travel schedule which kept us safe.  We had planned to fly out of Brussels but each step of the way our trip was altered and fortunately, we were not in Brussels nor the airport the day of the attack.  We were located in Bruges, which is about an hour away from the attack and of course stay cleared of Brussels the entire trip.  We fortunately did not encounter anything out of the norm during our travels and were safe along the way.  It was a little scary to think about the harm that was done less than 30 minutes from us and that we weren’t sure what we would encounter as we flew out. 

**side note incase I forget, I flew out of Amsterdam at the end of the trip which was included in the high terror alert.  The craziest thing about that was that besides me getting my boarding pass and handing over my passport, not a single time was my I.D. nor passport checked the rest of the time at that airport.  They didn’t have their typical show id and boarding pass going thru security, only scanned our boarding pass.  Strangest thing I have encountered especially during that time. So not sure where they check their passports but I never had mine checked!  Kinda scary!  


We had a spectacular place that we stayed in Ghent, Belgium.  One of the things on my bucket list was to stay in a thatched roof house.  Well, I can cross that off!  We had a huge home that we loved being in with a host couple that stayed on the property in a separate home.  They were delightful and extremely helpful.  He also was a beer lover so he and Wes could talk beer and he told us where to go to pick up some of the best Belgian beers.  


We were able to hit some highlights of Belgium and allow everyone to see the beauty of the area.  Of course, we were a bit on edge and avoiding public transportation, but I think that everyone was able to see the how gorgeous the area is and the contrast that it is to Ireland.  I do think our beers drinkers were a bit sad that everything tends to close fairly early in the towns.  There isn’t much open nightly past 7-8 pm.  There was a neat hidden beer sampling/education stop that everyone loved doing.  Plus, we picked up random Belgian beers each time we saw a new one and made sure to try it and find which ones we loved.  I loved the ability for all of us to sit around in the evening, drink, laugh and just recap the day.  We enjoyed it each evening and then we would start it all over again. 
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Will try and get a bit out about our Amsterdam adventure but some of those things should be left in Amsterdam…but I am sure I can rustle up something that I can share.  :)  

Thanks for following along, your support and prayers.  It meant so much to all of us and I have loved sharing with those of you whom have stopped in to Pinkadilly.  


xoxo
Jenny