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Belgian-Ardennes_fireplace

First of all, let me apologize for the photo quality. I only brought my iPhone. So worth it though. Sometimes you just want to enjoy things and not log a camera and lenses around. I still wanted to share a few photos with you.

Right. So we decided to get away together on a four day weekend trip – just the two of us. Now that may not sound like a big deal, but we hadn’t done that in about 12 years. My advice: do. Little snippet of wisdom.

We booked a little cabin through AirBnB in Hastiere, in the Belgian Ardennes, a mere 2.5 hours drive from our house. So close to home (closer than Amsterdam!) and yet, we were abroad (note: this is the French speaking part of Belgium). It was cold, I mean really cold. Luckily we brought coffee ;) and there was this super fireplace.

 

Belgium is known for its little chapels and tiny places of worship. If you’ve never been, they really just pop up on the side of the road, in people’s gardens or even in the middle of a forest. I just couldn’t resist taking a photo of this pink beauty. It’s a huge one by comparison:

Belgian-Ardennes_pink-chapel

 

We did a lot of hiking, on day two we stumbled across this very mossy area, which I immediately nicknamed Muppet Forest:

Belgian-Ardennes_muppet-forest

 

We found a trail leading to an old Roman campsite (no ruins, but beautiful views):

Belgian-Ardennes_camp-romain

 

Did I mention that it was overcast most of the weekend? Our timing was a bit off, yes… But somehow I quite like the melancholy atmosphere:

Belgian-Ardennes_rural

 

On day three we revisited the place where we went kayaking a few years ago. It was way too cold for that now, but we will be back again. It’s so relaxing.

Belgian-Ardennes_water

 

Ferns galore!

Belgian-Ardennes_fern-country

Belgian-Ardennes_fern

 

And then we found a ladder? Um, okay. We went up there. Obviously.

Belgian-Ardennes_steps

 

Always go up the ladder. The path transformed into a rocky, mossy and beautiful trail not many visitors had taken, by the look of things. That’s where you want to go to discover the best spots.

Belgian-Ardennes_mossy-roots

 

Moss, fungi, flowers and plants are allowed to grow wild and free here.

Belgian-Ardennes_fungi

 

Discovered this beauty on a fallen tree on the ‘trail’. If I hadn’t looked back while ducking to get underneath, I would have missed it.

Belgian-Ardennes_fungi2

 

And the colour of this water…

Belgian-Ardennes_water-colour

 

We also visited the caves of Han. Most of my photos were blurry, because well caves are dark, but:

Belgian-Ardennes_Han-caves

 

Impressive enough, but a little too touristy for our taste:

Belgian-Ardennes_Han-caves2

We quickly headed back to our warm and cosy fireplace. And some pasta ;)