Walking through the historic streets of Durbuy is a journey through time. The cobblestone roads and quaint architecture invite the imagination to wander, wondering about the stories and lives of those who lived here hundreds of years ago.
The picturesque cobblestone streets of Durbuy.
"L'épicerie de Durbuy" is a small specialty shop located in Durbuy. They offer artisanal products made locally in the Ardennes region. On our visit, we purchased some of their homemade pastis.
Durbuy is one of the smallest towns in Belgium, but has one of the best Christmas markets.
In the queue to get de-iced.
We recently visited Vanessa's parents. Their house holds great sentimental value as it not only served as Vanessa's childhood home, but also her father's. The property has been in the family for over 50 years. As we looked through old photographs, it became evident that countless birthdays and holidays were celebrated in their kitchen, adding to the warmth and nostalgia of the space.
The John Hancock Tower shines in the last sunlight of the day. At 60 stories and 790 feet (240 meters), it is the tallest building in Boston.
The winds are howling, the snow is swirling, and frost is creeping upon the cabin's windows. But a love for cooking means she is always exploring cookbooks.
We're spending the weekend at a remote cabin in Vermont. You can't tell from the photo, but the temperature dropped to -17°F (-27°C).
A glassblower at Simon Pearce in Vermont. I bought some handblown Negroni glasses.
This summer, we're moving out of the apartment that I've owned for almost twenty years. Leaving will be tough as we have made countless memories here. Before we move, I want to capture some photos of the things I love about our apartment, such as the warm afternoon light in the kitchen shown in this picture.
We are celebrating a few birthdays with our family in Belgium. Lots of laughter and happy smiles.
I love that my sons have become passionate about basketball. Having passions is important for our well-being and drives our personal growth. It helps us develop a sense of identity and belonging, and it often drives us to work harder and push ourselves to improve. Passions also encourage us to dream big. They open up new opportunities and connect us with like-minded people. Having passions and being passionate is so important in life, be it in sports or any other area.
The picturesque harbor of Svolvær in Lofoten, Norway. Lofoten is situated above the Arctic Circle and known for its picturesque fjords and rugged landscapes.
Lofoten has a rich and storied fishing heritage. The fishing industry has its sustained local communities for generations.
We went deep-sea fishing on a traditional fishing boat similar to the one shown. Lofoten, Norway is known for its charming red buildings. The unique red color of the buildings is the result of using cod liver oil as paint, which provides protection against the harsh arctic climate.
Deep-sea fishing between the stunning fjords of Lofoten.
Pasta night! Vanessa's homemade bolognese sauce, paired with authentic pasta imported from Italy, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and a bottle of red wine from a vineyard in Italy that we visited last summer.
Tuning in to the Ronde van Vlaanderen, the prestigious one-day cycling race that takes place in Flanders, Belgium.
Ready for four days of family fun at the Belgian coast.
We found a cute coffee shop called Brødwolf in Brighton, UK. We enjoyed a delicious Easter Monday breakfast there.
The West Pier in Brighton, UK. The pier was built in 1866 and was a popular attraction. Over the years, it suffered damage from various storms, and in 2003 a fire destroyed much of the structure.
A charming cottage in Lewes, UK.
If you're in Mexico and feeling adventurous, be sure to order a Mexican coffee. A mixologist will mix coffee, tequila, and Kahlua, light it up, and create an epic waterfall of flames.
We enjoyed a three-day trip to Mexico as part of Acquia's President's Club, a program that recognizes top-performing salespeople and employees.
"No Relation" is one of my favorite restaurants in the South End of Boston. Their sushi is absolutely amazing, and I love watching the chefs prepare the food. Everything about "No Relation" - the food, the decor, and the service - reminds me of my trips to Japan. It's the closest dining experience to what I've had in Japan.
Update from the upper deck crew: the roof deck is clean and ready for the Boston summer.
First, enjoy two bottles of wine with friends. Second, utilize the corks for party tricks.
Evening BBQ with friends visiting Boston. We chatted about life and family while enjoying G&Ts, wine, hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, and steak tips.
We spent the afternoon at the beach. We had fun playing Mölkky, als known as "Viking bowling". If you enjoy Kubb, give Mölkky a shot!
We had a great time hiking 6 miles near Crane Beach in Massachusetts. The trail took us through beautiful dunes and out to the beach. The loose sand made it feel more like a 9-mile hike though. Halfway through, we had a delicious lunch made by Vanessa - orzo with vegetables, served right on the beach. Great day!
We went camping in Maine for the weekend. On the first night, it started raining heavily with lightning and thunderstorms. Luckily, we had made a fairly last-minute decision to buy a tarp, which helped us stay dry and comfortable throughout the evening and night.
Due to the heavy rain, lightning, and thunderstorms, various campers jumped in their cars and left. We caught glimpses of their car lights through the trees. There is something special about listening to the rain pattering on your tent, so we chose to stay and enjoy the experience.
When we were kids, we would sometimes eat fries on the couch as we watched TV. We ate them on blue platters.
Recently, my mom shared these memories with my sister and expressed her sadness that we can't return to those days.
In response, my sister planned a surprise "Blue platter fries night". Those blue platters hadn't been used for 20 years and were hidden away on a forgotten shelf. But last night, the five of us – my parents, my brother, my sister, and I – enjoyed fries on our blue platters again, just like we used to.
Organizing it was a bit of a challenge since I live in the US now, but I'm so glad we did!
Axl turned 16! I'm filled with pride seeing the young man he is becoming. We celebrated this milestone with a beer, a moment we both looked forward to. (In Belgium, the legal drinking age is 16.)
Of course, we brought our trusty percolator along for our Airstream "glamping" experience.
We spent a few nights in an Airstream, an iconic American trailer recognized for its rounded aluminum exterior.
We hiked up and down Killington Peak in Vermont. In winter, Killington is a bustling ski resort. Parts of our hike were on the slopes. Another 4,000-footer in the books!
The Champagne region in France.
We were fortunate to visit Collard-Picard, a renwowned champagne producer, in the heart of France's champagne region. The owner, Olivier Collard, took the time to give us a private tour. The picture captures Olivier drinking his own champagne.
Bottles of Reinart champagne stored upside-down. This collects the sediment at the bottle's neck. After the sediment is consolidated in the neck of the bottle, that part of the bottle is frozen. The crown cap is removed, and the built-up pressure pushes out the frozen plug of sediment. This process is called "disgorgement".
25 meters underground in a champagne tunnel, which often stretches for miles/kilometers.
Welcoming the colder weather with a fire. Cold outside, cozy inside.
Enjoyed a weekend in the Belgian Ardennes with my family. Since I'll be in Boston on my birthday, we had a very early celebration. For my birthday meal, I asked for a family pizza-making contest. The photo shows my parents making their pizzas with Stan observing. The highlight? My pizza won! A nice birthday present.
I finally visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum after living in Boston for more than 12 years. The museum is famous for its art, but also for the 1990 theft of 13 artworks. The empty frame in my photo once displayed a Rembrandt valued at tens of millions of dollars.
Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday, mostly because it's focused on spending time together and enjoying food, rather than being centered around gifts or materialism. The tradition of preparing a turkey together captures the true spirit of Thanksgiving.
Hanging lights on the Christmas tree.
This Christmas is really special for us because it's the first time we're celebrating in our new home in Belgium. The table is ready and waiting to welcome our family.
Feeling fortunate to have shared yet another Christmas with my 95-year-old Oma!
