We finally made it to Salobreña, one of the bigger towns at the Costa Tropical, a very positive experience, soon on our website!
Snap of the Day- Lunch With A View
Tag: coast
Photo Essay – The Old Charm of Ostend
It looks like I do miss the Belgian coast! Or at least certain places…
Let me take you to my favorite place in Ostend.
The official name is Westerstaketsel. Just ask for the old pier.
I took these pictures in September 2017. There was hardly anyone on the pier.
The pier was closed some time for repairs, but reopened in 2019.
Of course, there is more in Ostend than the pier and the beach. There is the food, shopping, art, entertainment, …
Find out more about Ostend here.
Have you ever been in Ostend? Or somewhere else on the Belgian coast? Let us know in the comments!
Going For a Stroll In Duinbergen
Ah, the Belgian weather! So unpredictable. And so popular as a conversation topic. You arrive at work and the first thing you do, is to complain about the weather. Too warm, too cold, too wet, too dry. There is always something to complain about.
But the problem is more complicated. When finally the sun shines, especially in spring and autumn, almost every Belgian feels the need to be at the coast. Unfortunately, that is quite a small part of our little country. This means a lot of traffic and crowded beaches.
This is especially true for the bigger coastal towns that have direct train connections with the other parts of the country (Blankenberge, Ostend, for example). Duinbergen may be a bit harder to reach, but you can still enjoy some peace and quiet here.
Duinbergen has been a popular destination since the early 20th century. You can still see some typical villas in the center of the town. Close to the sea all you see are high-rise buildings. Unfortunately, this is the case of most of the Belgian coastal towns.
Granted, there is something magical about those autumn days, when it feels that summer has returned, if only for a short while.
I took these pictures at the end of September 2017, our last autumn in Belgium.
I will be back on Wednesday, with one of our latest randonautica adventures. A very different adventure…
What about you? Have you ever been to the Belgian coast? Or would you like to go there? Share your thoughts!
Snap of the Day – Blue
The snow from Sunday has already become a memory… Temperatures have gone up, and we now have lots of sunshine and blue sky. Is this a sign that spring is on its way?
Yesterday, the Viking had a craving for Danish food. So, off we went to Fuengirola (province of Malaga) and spent almost 50 euros in a store called Vikingos. Cute name! Instead of driving back via the same route, we went to Torrox, where our Spanish adventure started almost 3 years ago. It felt good to be back there. We kept on following the coastal road for some time and then returned home.
For the moment, we can still drive around in most of Andalusia. Probably on Sunday, we will be on the road again!
Is Blankenberge Worth a Visit?
Summers can be hot in Belgium. And as soon as temperatures approach 30 degrees Celsius and more, a lot of Belgians will go to the coast. Given the fact that our coastline is less than 70 kilometers long, bigger places like Blankenberge can become quite crowded during (summer) holidays and long weekends.
Part of the popularity of Blankenberge is its easy accessibility. There are many train connections between the town and other major places in Belgium. Moreover, the train station is located in the center.
Next to the train station is a big parking space. Better come early though during sunny days. Blankenberge is also connected to other coastal towns via the Kusttram (literally: Coast Tram).
The biggest attraction in Blankenberge is its art-deco pier, which is 350 meters long.
Originally, Blankenberge was a fishing village. Afterward, at the beginning of the 20th century, it became popular amongst royals. Finally, its development into a touristic destination started after World War II.
What about the titular question? It all depends on what you want… Looking for some relaxation? No problem. Nice food? Heck, this is Belgium we are talking about! Entertainment? Don’t worry about that. Shopping? Check.
The art lover, on the other hand, is better off in another coastal destination, which we will feature in two other posts.
Anyway, a couple of summers ago, Lars and I had a fun afternoon in Blankenberge, as you can clearly see in this video…
Travel Memories 