The newest installment of my Traveling With Kids column is on Classic Play! today. This time I talk about the importance of culturally preparing your children before visiting a new country and culture. These are simple things that can make a big difference for everyone involved and make your trip that much more enjoyable. Pop on over and let me know what you think!
You can check out my other posts in this series here and here.
There hasn’t been much action around this blog lately. We’ve been on vacation for the last few weeks and have been having a great time visiting family, friends and doing lots of Belgian-like activities. We’ve had everything from winter weather to 35 degree heat and we’ve cycled our little hearts out through it all. It has been an amazing holiday so far. Here are a few images from the last few weeks…
Standing on their sand castle and waiting for the tide to come in.
A great-grandfather and a great-granddaughter sharing their love of stamps.
Visiting a vintage wallpaper shop in Gent. The two old sisters who own it are worth the visit.
My kind of beach hut.
Some cows and on old German war bunker on the beautiful bike trails in Lier.
The kid’s set up a traditional Belgian bloemenwinkel (flower shop) on the beach.
Creating with clay with extended family.
A culinary experience involving paling (eel). And it was (surprisingly) good!
Pop on over to Classic Play! for my next Traveling With Kids post. This time we’re visiting the Kroller Muller Museum in the Hoge Veluwe National Park in the Netherlands. It’s a beautiful spot and well worth a visit.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and even experiences if you’ve already been there!
The other day we all piled into the car and headed north to visit family in Belgium for a few weeks. We started our day in 37 degree heat and air conditioning and ended our 12 hour voyage in 14 degrees and heating.
We are now in the land of chocolate, waffles, beer, french fries, mussels and so much more. The kids are over the moon to be with their grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.
After a few days of visiting various family members we headed to the sea. We arrived in the pouring rain to a beautiful seaside apartment (thanks dear Julie!). This morning we woke up to cloudy skies but dry weather and decided to do a long cycle ride to Holland and back. The goal for the kids to get through the 50 km bike ride was the promise of the best pancakes in Belgium at the end. We all got through it and they were indeed delicious.
During our cycle trip we came across an entire town in Holland that was transformed into an outdoor rommelmarkt (flea market). We stopped and browsed through it and ended up buying these vintage umbrellas. The kids were excited until hearing from the enthusiastic seller that he found them in an old box from the 50’s in a dead woman’s house. They are in great shape and were a bargain at 5euro for all three.
I also came across this old book about making old scary looking dolls! For 1 euro I was tempted to buy it.
Pensive cyclist dreaming of pancakes.
I’m really really excited to let you all know that I have been asked to be a contributor to one of my favorite blogs. I’ll be writing a Traveling With Kids column for Classic Play! and I’m over the moon ecstatic to be doing it.
Today my first column is published and it’s about our recent trip to Japan. For the post I asked the kids to give me their top 10 favorite memories about the trip and in the end they came up with the exact same ones I would have (except the Japanese toilets maybe!). I’d love it if you popped over there to take a look and even make a comment if you so please.
As some of you may know, we went on a two week trip to Japan a few months back with our three kids. It was an absolutely amazing trip. We saw and did so many wonderful things and met so many wonderful people. It was really a trip of a lifetime.
While there we had a few occasions to pop into various shops to browse around. Obviously with three kids these occasions were few and far between but I did manage to pick up some really neat little gifts and souvenirs. The Japanese are famous for their beautiful packaging and I’m a huge fan of everything they do. I love the care and time they put into making everything from cookies to presents to even toilet paper look pretty.
I’ve noticed that people who pop by our house are so intrigued to see our little Japanese purchases so I thought I’d show you a few here. Of course many of them have something to do with packaging (either the way it was packaged or something to help me package nicely).
These little mini packages of rice crackers with a face and clothing printed on the plastic wrapping. The kids bought them to take into their classmates as a souvenir from Japan.
Same idea as the rice crackers but these are two chocolate balls and instead of kimono wearing geishas and warriors it’s Russian Babushka dolls.
I tried one out today and although they’re cute they taste pretty crappy.
I couldn’t go to Japan and not buy the famous and over-used Washi tape. Even if it did cost more than it does in Italy. 
Striped and polka dotted twist ties. I regret not buying tons more of these. So great for all those bags of cookies and brownies that I leave in people’s mailboxes.
My daughters were given Japanese yen for their birthday from their grandmother and could buy anything they wanted. In the end they both decided to buy these Wabisuke purses Made in Japan.
They are so well made with a thick canves in the most adorable fabrics.
Look at this elephant material! I wish I could have bought this by the metre.
And of course one of the all time favourite purchases was this Lego Candy we found at a stall in the Nishiki market in Kyoto. You can actually build stuff with it! I’m already planning my son’s birthday cake with these arranged on top.
I can’t forget that I also bought these Echino materials as well while in Japan and received these amazing Japanese Temari Balls as a gift.
The other day we took a little day trip to a small local lake called Lago d’Orta (30 minutes from our house). We visited the charming little town of Orta San Giulio that is located on the eastern bank of the lake.
The town is full of narrow cobblestoned streets lined with old stone building and beautiful courtyards. The town’s main piazza looks over the small island Isola San Giulio which is located in the middle of the lake. In the main piazza there are a few outdoor terraces where you can sit and have a meal or a drink and watch the boats and tourists. 
There is a lovely little walk along the lake which leads out of the town. From there you can also walk up to the Unesco Heritage site Sacro Monte di Orta (literally the Sacred Mountain of Orta) which is located at the top of Saint Nicolao hill. As you walk up the hill you can visit the 20 chapels that were built in the 1500/1600’s and are full of beautiful artworks. From the top there are wonderful views of the lake and surrounding hills and mountains.
If you want to visit Lago d’Orta and stay in style, you definitely have to stay at the luxurious Villa Crespi. They even have a 2 michelin star awarded restaurant. The villa has a colourful facade and an exotic middle eastern style of architecture (with minaret an all!).
Looking towards Isola San Giulio.
The colours of Orta San Giulio.
Stone house with wooden roof beams and windowsill plants.
(ps…the season finale of cylce 15 of America’s Next Top Model was shot in this little town. Like you wanted to know that, right? And why oh why do I know that?).
We loved trying all the various street foods. The “patat-tornado” was one of the favourites.
Dragon, cherry tree and temple all in one photo. 
Heian Shrine. Looks very peaceful in this photo. But there were about 10,000 people next to me taking pictures and admiring the view.
Girls purchased Made in Kyoto purses. Amazing how a new purse can put a little hop in your step.
Every morning the kids walked over to the local playground to mingle with the local children. They drew together, played football and exchanged chewing gum. It was a highlight of their day.
Preserved veggies in the Nishiki Market in Kyoto. They look like they’re buried in sand but one man told me it was a sort of rice flour.
Kids favorite snack in Japan. Pickled cucumber on a stick.
Babies love Tom. This one spent half an hour showing him places on the map.
These flowers smelled heavenly.
Cherry blossom blizzard.
Now back to Italy. We’ll miss Japan and the lovely people who live there.
Geisha sighting in Gion district in Kyoto.
Thousand paper cranes at Shinto Shrine.
Let’s hope whoever needed it got better.
Designer Japanese shrimp crackers. The packaging of all these products is so beautiful. 
I wanted to buy one of every kind ( but it would have cost a fortune)
Zen version of a sand castle. Very impressive.
Nico disappeared with my camera and came back with this amazing shot of a parasol.
One of Japan’s most famous images. Unfortunately it was closed off to tourists. I was tempted to jump the rope though. Very tempted.
Not just another cherry blossom. But a weeping cherry blossom…
Fortunes tied on temple trees.
First a samurai sword. Now a ninja star. Seriously…we’re usually quite a calm and peaceful family.
Miss Coco contemplating life on the Philosopher’s Path.
Department store melons for the bargain price of 150 euro ($185).
On bike ride around Kyoto. Many temples/shrines were visited, many kilometres were cycled. And there was only one small accident involving Chloe (surprise) and a pile of garbage bags.
At the entrance to Fushimi Inari Shrine. The colours were so vibrant.
Four kilometer walk up the mountain under thousands of red gates (at Fushimi Inari). 
On the way back down the path.
Cherry blossom bee.
Very old door at Nijo Castle.
A visit to the world famous Zen Garden of Ryonji.
Luckily for once I was actually looking in front of me while biking. This could have had a painful ending.
About
Jillian in Italy Interview by Classic Play!
Jillian In Italy interview on Pret A Voyager
Embroidery With Kids
Father's Day Origami Garland
Miniature Bulletin Boards
Surprise Activity Garland
Italian Crostata Recipe
Snail Mail Booklets
Doily Fairy Lights
Jan Fabre Exhibit With Kids
Japanese Handicrafts
Miniature Waffle Cookies
Jillian In Italy 
