Mon., Dec. 22nd Janet's Christmas Hat Walk

We gathered in the Grand Place at the Hotel de Ville as we waited for all the walkers who were to join us today to arrive. We were also pleased to have several gentlemen join us, too!

Mon., Dec. 22nd Janet's Christmas Hat Walk

Before we left the Grand Place Tim and Janet helped Sarah with the decoration of her Christmas hat!

Mon., Dec. 22nd Janet's Christmas Hat Walk

So, here are most of us gathered to show off our Christmas hat attire. We added another walker along the way and we had the help of several additional photographers, one of whom, Cliff, took this for us.

Mon., Dec. 22nd Janet's Christmas Hat Walk

We did set off at a good pace with Janet in the lead as we made our way around the scenic, historical sites of downtown Brussels. With our Christmas hats we set off a much needed burst of color amid the drab ... very common here this time of year.

Mon., Dec. 22nd Janet's Christmas Hat Walk

And, here's today's fearless leader, Janet, still coordinating today's participant's arrivals with map in hand and providing directions where to find us!

Sandy actually in a photo!

Thanks to the presence of two gentlemen who kindly kept taking pictures - we have some rare pictures of Sandy (2nd from right) in action ... here's one of them!

Mon., Dec. 22nd Janet's Christmas Hat Walk

Here's a little better look at the array of hats that appeared for Janet's Christmas Hat walk this afternoon. And ... yes, there's Joan (3rd from right) with her potato masher, too! One never knows what one will find in downtown Brussels! Maija (right) from Finland was able to join us once again today during her trip to visit her family here for the holidays.

Mon., Dec. 22nd Janet's Christmas Hat Walk

Continuing Janet's tour downtown we stopped for this shot at the overview of the only location where one can still see the River Senne which now runs underground.

Mon., Dec. 22nd Janet's Christmas Hat Walk

We took our refreshments this afternoon around the large center table at Le Pain Quodient on Rue Antoine Dansaert at the end of Janet's guided walk through downtown Brussels.

Mon., Dec. 22nd Janet's Christmas Hat Walk

Here's an attempt to show the rest of the group at the other end of the table as we mixed in with miscellaneous "others" at the large cemter table in the restaurant/cafe.

Fri., Dec. 19th Christa's Lasne Walk

It was a lovely weather day for this event at this time of year in Belgium! With temperatures in the 6-7C area and bright, sunny skies, we couldn't have been happier. After the rain of the previous days, though, we did encounter a good amount of mud. We all parked at Christa's home and then followed as she led us around Lasne for about an hour and a half. We then returned to her home for delicious German style cookies, cakes and hot mulled wine as well as coffee and tea for those who preferred it. "Thanks, Christa" ...

Fri., Dec. 19th Christa's Lasne Walk

Nine of us posed for this group shot though several others are not accounted for in it and a few more walkers joined us later at Christa's home. Christa (right) led us around her neighborhood and we were able to anticipate what it will be like for her in the months to come when a new golden retriever puppy joins her family and this may well be the route they follow, too! We will wait to see this happen in the New Year ... something to look forward to. We were also happy to have our friend, Maija, (2nd right) join us today. She is back for a visit from her home in Finland.

Fri., Dec. 19th Christa's Lasne Walk

Here we are coming towards the final leg (so to speak) of our walk ... back towards Christa's home. The beautiful sunny skies stayed with us through out the afternoon!

Fri., Dec. 19th Christa's Lasne Walk

At least ONE of us was prepared for the water we encountered on this walk through the back streets of Lasne!

Fri., Dec. 19th Christa's Lasne Walk

What a beautiful holiday table was set for us. Christa served us on colorful plates with matching cups and napkins and then there were her holiday cookies and cakes to select from. It was our great delight to partake in this festive atmosphere this afternoon.

Fri., Dec. 19th Christa's Lasne Walk

Our hostess, Christa (left), paused briefly to check one of the delicious cakes she provided for us this afternoon. We thank her so much for the delightful Christmasy refreshments and the hot mulled wine to go with them! It was a great start to our holiday week ...

Fri., Dec. 16th Christa's Lasne Walk

With 16 of us it was challenging to get all the ladies in the photo ... We were, however, able to all gather around Christa's sumptious Christmas table.

Fri., Dec. 19th Christa's Lasne Walk

It was great to have additional walkers join us even later at Christa's to share her wonderful, warm hospitality of the Holiday Season! Because we were so royally treated and enjoyed our time with Christa so much we stayed on longer than we ordinarily would have ... but what a wonderful afternoon we had! Christa even sent us home with "goodie bags" after the event.

Mon., Dec. 15th Joan's Sterrebeek Walk

We met up in the parking lot across from the church in Sterrebeek for this new walk that Joan was leading for us today. Our "thanks" to her for organizing this and all the preparation she went to in the planning. Joan had hoped that the sunny skies that predominated over the weekend would carry through for us this afternoon but it was not to be. Perhaps next time!!! Anyway, we enjoyed her route and we look forward to doing it again sometime.

Mon., Dec. 15th Joan's Sterrebeek Walk

This was some of the dryer area we passed through and with fog and a temperature of 3C we felt the chill of the damp weather inspite of our walking pace. Of course we eventually warmed up as we always do but sometimes at the beginning one wonders if it will happen.

Mon., Dec. 15th Joan's Sterrebeek Walk

Yes, that IS ice that you see on the path we were following. We also encountered mud in the low lying areas but we got to stretch our legs and pass through some pretty countrysides as we moved along Joan's route

Mon., Dec. 15th Joan's Sterrebeek Walk

Anne and Joan consult on the map to decide on the final return route after we were about an hour and a half into the walk. We did make it back almost to the cars within the next half an hour where we stopped at a cafe/bar for our refreshments.

Mon., Dec. 15th Joan's Sterrebeek Walk

"Thanks to Jennifer for this photo" .. as the group paused for a few moments for everyone to catch up. Most of the afternoon we were all strung out in small groupings of 2 or 3 setting our own pace as we followed Joan's lead around Vossem and Sterrebeek.

Mon., Dec. 15th Joan's Sterrebeek Walk

With 15 of us today we split up into 2 tables when we stopped for our refreshments. Unfortunately, the mirror caught the flash on this photo when everyone was actually looking at the camera. Sorry about that ... We were all ready for the break though when it happened this afternoon after walking for almost 2 hours in 3C, overcast weather.

Mon., Dec. 15th Joan's Sterrebeek Walk

The rest of us sat around table #2 where we enjoyed our drinks and shared our continued conversations. Although this was a cafe/bar and there were a few smoking at the other side of the room at the bar it was not too noticable or obnoxious. The tea room that Joan had picked out for us close by was apparently not open on Mondays.

Fri., Dec. 12th Denise's Auderghem Walk

Denise (left) was a guest leader today and kind enough to show us through the area of the Foret de Soignes (her neighborhood) that she knows so well. "Thanks, Denise"... It was a bit of a challenge because we found workmen cutting trees and parking their large vehicles in the area where we normally park for this walk. Denise was able to route us around these inconveniences and gave us a very nice work out at the same time!