Celebrating Christmas in Europe ─ Winter 2006

Created February 2007

So, after two trips to the Balkans and the Baltics in spring and summer of 2006, I pretty much finished seeing all the countries in Europe, undoubtedly the most The Above: Okay, from last tally, there were still a few European countries I had not yet visited after these trips: Belarus, Moldova, Macedonia, Malta, San Marino, Luxembourg, Ireland, and Iceland, also a few not-yet-independent countries (or unrecognized) such as Kosovo, Transdniestr, and Faroe Islands. So ther are still some work to do for me to "finish off" Europe....

Came the end of 2006: my job searching in the US was still full of misfortune and frustration. My part-time teaching job was finished after early December. Since my family don't really celebrate Christmas, I don't need to go home until mid-February for Chinese New Year. So what should I do for the latter half of December?

Standing in front the most famous Belgian icon, Manneken Pis, the Little Pissng Boy. To celebrate Christmas (I guess), he wore a red ribbon and a thermal hat.

Yes, Europe, once again! In my first Balkan trip, I became good friend with my assigned roomate Steven, a Flemish Belgian from Brussels. He had been inviting me to visit his small but interesting country since then. It occurred to me that Belgium is one of very few important countries in the world actually "smaller" than Taiwan in both population and land area (but far more visible and respected). It also surprised me that I had never stayed overnight in this country. I had visited Brussels for a few hours (had lunch there) with a Taiwanese tour group in 1991 and also pased by twice on the train . However, I had never been overnight there.

Yes, maybe it was time to finally visit this country that I overlooked too many times.

Since Belgium is just next to Luxembourg, a country I had never set foot on, maybe it's also an opportunity to visit another new country? While Holland lies just next door, I could also visit an old friend in Leiden (His older child must be almost 10 years old now). Then I found RyanAir (the largest budget airline in Europe) does have a hub outside of Brussels (It's called Cheleroi Airport, don't mix it with Brussels International Airport). From that airport, I can also fly to Ireland (another country I hadn't been to) for well under 20 Euro (?!)...

So, the plan was set. Another trip to Europe in 2006: to visit a couple new countries (Ireland and Luxembourg), visit some old and new friends, and to "rediscover" a country I had been passing by without paying to much attention to.

This would be first ever I spent Christmas Time in Europe. It should be a great way to end 2006, the most traveled year ever in my life.

The stormy west coast of Ireland: Inishmoor Island, Aran Islands. Yes, Ireland is a beautiful country, but the weather sucks!

My Travelogues and Photo Album from this trip

Coming Soon!